I screwed up!

[Deleted User]

I really screwed up!!, Last Night my brother-in-law and I TRIED to put in the front windsheild in my Jet. I used the old rubber which had been soaking in armor all for about 2 or three months. It wasn't to bad just a little stiff, so we started putting it in, well after about an hour and half of cussing and smashing fingers it went, POP!!! Now I have a nice shattered windshield! I have one windsheild left, It has a couple of chips, but it is better than nothing. So this morning I ordered a new Windshield rubber from K-Gap. I guess I should of to begin with.

Two questions, Is the K-gap products good? ( my first order with them.) And is there a certain way or trick in getting this damn windshield in without turning it into junk??



Thanks, Barry Smedley:mad:

rambos_ride

The Hudson Body and Fender manual gives a pretty good step-by step...

Just to qualify - I haven't installed my Hudson windows yet - but I have done hundreds of other cars with glass of this type including the front windscreen on a 1960 Phantom V Rolls Royce (in 1980 the glass was over 1k alone) that took 3 people 8 hours to fit in because the glass and seal was so tight...



I've always roped windows in using cloth clothesline - double roped, and a helping of vaseline - same with the inner edge the riope is inserted into and the inner edge of the window seal that you are pulling over the metal lip. This can be done without messing up the interior as well!

The biggest issue is if you have any chips in the edge of the glass - doesn't matter the source - there is more risk of breaking doing this type of install...its just part of process or "experience" as I like to call it.

It does help to have 2 people as a small downward pressure or slapping of the glass while working the rope around help set the glass, and keeps it from falling out!

hudsonguy

hoosiercrosley wrote:

I really screwed up!!, Last Night my brother-in-law and I TRIED to put in the front windsheild in my Jet. I used the old rubber which had been soaking in armor all for about 2 or three months. It wasn't to bad just a little stiff, so we started putting it in, well after about an hour and half of cussing and smashing fingers it went, POP!!! Now I have a nice shattered windshield! I have one windsheild left, It has a couple of chips, but it is better than nothing. So this morning I ordered a new Windshield rubber from K-Gap. I guess I should of to begin with.

Two questions, Is the K-gap products good? ( my first order with them.) And is there a certain way or trick in getting this damn windshield in without turning it into junk??



Thanks, Barry Smedley:mad:

Barry,



I've not bought the Jet windshield rubber from K-Gap, but I've purchased and installed virtually every piece that they offer for my stepdown, which is a lot, and they are the best of quality. Just like new, with no problems fitting anything up. Good Luck.

7XPacemaker

K gap's stuff is good. I dealt with Kaylene primarily. Rambo's installation instructions are good. As he says, the Hudson manual goes in depth on how to do it. RAMBO: That is one of the UGLIEST cars that I have seen lately! It somehow makes even the "Pacer" look good!!!

[Deleted User]

Thanks Guys, Does anybody have a body and fender manual that they could copy and send to me or fax?? (Just the part on installing the windsheild) I would deeply appreciate it, I will dance at your next wedding! (But I won't jump out of a cake!)



Thanks, Barry

Unknown

use go-jo soap the kind without the grit - just cream, and rope overlapped and find thin pliable plastic that won't scratch the paint - use at least two people three is better - take your time.



If you determine it won't fit (gasket is to big) should know within twenty minutes - do not fight it! - determine where it is to big and take it to have some glass cut away.

MikeWA

Seems to me that if there was ever a time to call on an expert, this is it. Take Jet and windshield to the oldest, most experienced auto glass man in town (or bring said geezer to Jet)- I did so with an old Mercedes (with very expensive glass), and it was like watching an artist at work. Pull the cord a little, a little push there, plenty of inspections with head tilted back (bifocals), a gentle slap here, and pretty soon, it was done. A fine time had by all. Best 50 bucks I ever spent.

rambos_ride

Mike (WA) wrote:

Seems to me that if there was ever a time to call on an expert, this is it. Take Jet and windshield to the oldest, most experienced auto glass man in town (or bring said geezer to Jet)- I did so with an old Mercedes (with very expensive glass), and it was like watching an artist at work. Pull the cord a little, a little push there, plenty of inspections with head tilted back (bifocals), a gentle slap here, and pretty soon, it was done. A fine time had by all. Best 50 bucks I ever spent.

There is an art to it - and a lot of pushing and slapping the glass...the trick to the "art-o-slap" is the slapping motion is in a directional force to push the glass into place (sometimes this helps move it a centimeter left-right-up-down)

The slapping motion itself is not for the feint of heart - you have to be comfortable knowing you probably won't break the glass...good thing is Stepdown windows are relatively cheap in comparision and are one of the few items readily available aftermarket....

Have fun spanking that glass!

Geoff

I go along with Mike's advice. There are some jobs you leave to the experts with the correct equipment. I took my Jet, new screen, with new K-Gap rubber, along to the windscreen specialists, and got them to do it. Took them three hours, charged me $200, which I reckon was good value, considering the availability of Jet screens!

Geoff.

SamJ

A friend of mine is restoring a 56 Pontiac and he was having problems getting the flat glass made. He found an retired 78 year old glass guy, bought a sheet of automotive safety glass, and had the guy cut it right in his shop. I watched, and I couldn't believe it. Not one piece was even chipped. The old guy said you can only score the glass once with your cutter, you can't go over the cut again, so you better get it right. The rear side windows are curved on top, and he snapped those curved pieces right out of the sheet, no problem. I always find other folk's talent so annoying...:rolleyes:

mars55

A 1948-1954 Hudson Body Manual can be ordered from the HET Club Store. It's item #378.



http://www.hudsonclub.org/hetstore.htm

[Deleted User]

SamJ wrote:

A friend of mine is restoring a 56 Pontiac and he was having problems getting the flat glass made. He found an retired 78 year old glass guy, bought a sheet of automotive safety glass, and had the guy cut it right in his shop. I watched, and I couldn't believe it. Not one piece was even chipped. The old guy said you can only score the glass once with your cutter, you can't go over the cut again, so you better get it right. The rear side windows are curved on top, and he snapped those curved pieces right out of the sheet, no problem. I always find other folk's talent so annoying...:rolleyes:

Brother Sam... I have always thought you were very talented... and I am not in the least bit annoyed at you... my friend.



Cheers from Texas

SamJ

Heart_Of_Texas wrote:

Brother Sam... I have always thought you were very talented... and I am not in the least bit annoyed at you... my friend.



Cheers from Texas

LOL. Thanks, Ken. It's not the people I find annoying, it's the fact that they can do things I can't and make them look easy. But of course I say this with tonge firmly in cheek...:D

bigboy308

My father and his body/paint person had a heckuva time with Dad's Jet windshield. Steve has removed/installed numerous windshields (He's been a bodyman and has owned his own A/B Repair for many years) and thought that this was the hardest. They used a K-Gap rubber but ground the glass to make all fit. K-G Rubber was EXCELLENT product, apparently the die to manufacture makes it a little bit thicker than the original Hudson gasket, so some grinding needed to make fit.

Even with grinding, the 'shield ended up with one tiny crack---stopped by repair. Both Dad and Steve stated they would let a glass-man do the next one, if it had to be done again! FWIW. Thanx.

Nevada Hudson

From past experence, I would have a professional glass shop do it. Just broke perfect new door glass, trying to put it in myself according to the shop manual. Now, I have to have a new piece recut. The point is, if the shop breaks it, they have to pay to have a new one cut-not me!

PAULARGETYPE

Well As For K Gaps Rubber I Is Great Now As For The Best Way To Install The Windshield Take It To A Pro And Have Him Install It In Pittsburgh We Have A Guy Who Will Install A Windshield For $50 Well Worth The Price

[Deleted User]

You Guys talked me into, I will have a pro do it. Last night I just found out that the guy that lives at the end of my driveway, (my driveway is 1/2 mile long) son puts in auto glass for a living. I guess I am going to have to see if he likes to moolight.



Thanks for the advice!! I will let you know how it goes. Barry Smedley

Uncle Josh

Nothing should ever be done for the first time.

Unknown

Uncle Josh if that were true we'd all be sitting around in a cave eating roots in the cold....lol...even then....I dunno