1965 Griffith 200 front windscreen / rear window install
Discussion
I am looking for some guidance with the installation of the front windscreen and rear Plexiglas window in my 1965 Griffith 200. I will be finishing up with the new interior installation with new headliner in the next few weeks and will be moving on to the front and rear windows.
The questions I have are
- do you fit the rubber molding to the fiberglass window frame(s) first and then fit the windscreen and Plexiglas into the rubber molding that is already set into the fiberglass...working from the bottom up to fit them?
OR
- do you fit the rubber molding to the front windscreen and rear Plexiglas windows and then offer them up to the fiberglass openings of the body and use a fishing line to pull the windows into the opening from the inside working from the bottom to the top?
Also -
- do the ends of the seals that wrap around the front window and rear Plexiglas meet at the bottom of the windows (most photos I have seen show this...so I assume that is how the factory did it) OR at the top of the windows (I've seen a couple like this).
- does the ends of chrome locking strip that fits into the rubber seal meet where the ends of the rubber seals meet or do you put it in opposite so that the rubber seal meets at one point and the chrome locking strip meets 180 degrees from that point?
- do you need to use any type of sealant in addition to the rubber seal between the rubber seal and the fiberglass and/or the rubber seal and the windows? If so do you apply the sealant before installing the windows OR after by applying into/under the seals in the car? if so, suggestions on sealant brand please.
Any assistance with this endeavor would be greatly appreciated so I lessen my chances of cracking the windows, fouling up the headliner and/or the windows leaking in poor weather.
Any photos of the process that are out there that may help would be appreciated as well.
The questions I have are
- do you fit the rubber molding to the fiberglass window frame(s) first and then fit the windscreen and Plexiglas into the rubber molding that is already set into the fiberglass...working from the bottom up to fit them?
OR
- do you fit the rubber molding to the front windscreen and rear Plexiglas windows and then offer them up to the fiberglass openings of the body and use a fishing line to pull the windows into the opening from the inside working from the bottom to the top?
Also -
- do the ends of the seals that wrap around the front window and rear Plexiglas meet at the bottom of the windows (most photos I have seen show this...so I assume that is how the factory did it) OR at the top of the windows (I've seen a couple like this).
- does the ends of chrome locking strip that fits into the rubber seal meet where the ends of the rubber seals meet or do you put it in opposite so that the rubber seal meets at one point and the chrome locking strip meets 180 degrees from that point?
- do you need to use any type of sealant in addition to the rubber seal between the rubber seal and the fiberglass and/or the rubber seal and the windows? If so do you apply the sealant before installing the windows OR after by applying into/under the seals in the car? if so, suggestions on sealant brand please.
Any assistance with this endeavor would be greatly appreciated so I lessen my chances of cracking the windows, fouling up the headliner and/or the windows leaking in poor weather.
Any photos of the process that are out there that may help would be appreciated as well.
Windscreen fitting method.....
If you are not using an original rubber / and or screen then start from scratch.
1. Measure thickness of the rubber between the glass and body aperture of the moulding.. it should be somewhere between 5 and 6mm
2. cut 4 6 inch sections of spare rubber and fit 2 to top and 2 to bottom of screen
3. loosely fit screen into car with the 4 short pieces.
4 carefully inspect the gap around the edge of the screen and ensure it has at least a 5-6mm clearance to allow for the thickness of the screen rubber as previously supplied.
5. You may have to take out the Dremmel to ease the fibreglass screen aperture ( especially at corners ) if the screen to fibreglass is tight.. It commonly is on the tight corners especially if the shell has been sans screens for a long time.
6. When you are confident you have clearance fit the rubber to the body hammering if firmly home in the corners then offer the screen to the rubber
7. For rear screen I found it necessary to have a man lie on his back and push up the rear of the roof so it pulls the body shell to the correct shape.
8. Forget using the paracord method.. it doesn't work. Offer screen into position then use a blunted rounded knife or screwdriver with blunted rounded end or something similar to push the rubber from the outside into the inside of the car starting at bottom middle and working to both top corners.. You will find you need plenty of silicone lube or windolene etc to make the rubber slippy and if you have a second person handy to apply pressure to the screen / rubber to help it fold around the body aperture. take your time and you fit the screen without the spreader it should go in.
9. When screen is fitted clean off the silicone lube and leave clean and dry. then mask off body to rubber and rubber to screen so you won't get any sealant on the paint or screen...
10. Inject the sikaflex sealant body to rubber externally and also screen to rubber externally. when you have squeezed a bead all the way around then commence fitting spreader trim.
11. Fit spreader trim starting at middle bottom using a correct spreader trim fitting tool and a second pair of hands.. As you press / slide and insert you will squeeze out the sealant as it bites into place.. Once done v carefully peel away the tape when sealant is still wet and you won't get any sealant marks on paint or screen. This way leaves a keen edge to rubber..
12. Last job is to inject a bit of sealant at the rubber joint..
NOTE: Rubber Joints should be at Top of front screen and Bottom Middle of rear screen.
Buy a professional quality Sealey windscreen install kit to do the job.. about £30 on e-Bay.
Neil.
If you are not using an original rubber / and or screen then start from scratch.
1. Measure thickness of the rubber between the glass and body aperture of the moulding.. it should be somewhere between 5 and 6mm
2. cut 4 6 inch sections of spare rubber and fit 2 to top and 2 to bottom of screen
3. loosely fit screen into car with the 4 short pieces.
4 carefully inspect the gap around the edge of the screen and ensure it has at least a 5-6mm clearance to allow for the thickness of the screen rubber as previously supplied.
5. You may have to take out the Dremmel to ease the fibreglass screen aperture ( especially at corners ) if the screen to fibreglass is tight.. It commonly is on the tight corners especially if the shell has been sans screens for a long time.
6. When you are confident you have clearance fit the rubber to the body hammering if firmly home in the corners then offer the screen to the rubber
7. For rear screen I found it necessary to have a man lie on his back and push up the rear of the roof so it pulls the body shell to the correct shape.
8. Forget using the paracord method.. it doesn't work. Offer screen into position then use a blunted rounded knife or screwdriver with blunted rounded end or something similar to push the rubber from the outside into the inside of the car starting at bottom middle and working to both top corners.. You will find you need plenty of silicone lube or windolene etc to make the rubber slippy and if you have a second person handy to apply pressure to the screen / rubber to help it fold around the body aperture. take your time and you fit the screen without the spreader it should go in.
9. When screen is fitted clean off the silicone lube and leave clean and dry. then mask off body to rubber and rubber to screen so you won't get any sealant on the paint or screen...
10. Inject the sikaflex sealant body to rubber externally and also screen to rubber externally. when you have squeezed a bead all the way around then commence fitting spreader trim.
11. Fit spreader trim starting at middle bottom using a correct spreader trim fitting tool and a second pair of hands.. As you press / slide and insert you will squeeze out the sealant as it bites into place.. Once done v carefully peel away the tape when sealant is still wet and you won't get any sealant marks on paint or screen. This way leaves a keen edge to rubber..
12. Last job is to inject a bit of sealant at the rubber joint..
NOTE: Rubber Joints should be at Top of front screen and Bottom Middle of rear screen.
Buy a professional quality Sealey windscreen install kit to do the job.. about £30 on e-Bay.
Neil.
I use a PU7 polyurethane structural sealant, The type used for bonding car panels together etc. It needs to be a structural bond. lots on the market, Tigerseal, sikaflex do various Upol do loads... 
I used this on the last car I think.
https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-accessories...
N.
I used this on the last car I think.
https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-accessories...
N.
Edited by Dollyman1850 on Tuesday 2nd July 21:42
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