Re: [AMC-list] Glass rubber for late 60s American (was: Got a cool kid)

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

Contact Peter Stathes (www.amcrambler.com) about the rear glass rubber. There may not be a one-piece repro made. If not there is a piece that can be miter cut in the corners and used. Just remember to cut the rubber pieces about 1/8" long and glue the ends together with contact cement. The small grocery store multi-purpose adhesive tubes is fine. If the directions say to lightly coat both surfaces then wait a few minutes for them to dry before sticking together you have the right stuff. I glue the corners as I put the gasket on the window. Had to do the side windows of the wagon like that.

The windshield rubber is the inner lip-seal type. There is a raised flange that the gasket slides against with a lip on the gasket that goes over the flange. I usually run a thin but strong cord (NOT fishing line -- too thin and can cut the lip -- parachute cord works well) in the lip channel around the top, sides, and about 12-18" around the bottom sides. Then I put set the gasket in place on the bottom with the lip over the flange and work a few inches at a time up each side, pulling the cord out to flip the lip of the gasket over the flange while pushing in ans seating the gasket. Takes some time, but not too difficult.

The secret to getting one of these to seal is to use windshield sealant (not silicone or urethane!) in the channel that the glass sits in AND on the body where the gasket sits (the outside edge of the gasket, not against the flange). Glass shops currently don't do either -- they use no sealant -- and the windshield WILL leak in a hard rain. I had mine professionally installed then had to push it out a couple months later and install correctly. The main reason shops don't use sealant is because these old cars usually aren't driven in foul weather. Another reason given is that the windshield may not pop out in a wreck. It's not really supposed to, but the theory is that it will without sealant and somehow that's safer. If you're not wearing a seat belt having the windshield keep you in the car sounds a bit safer than getting hurled out to me. I know there will be some cutting, but more likely to survive that than hurled out.

The TSM mentions the sealer around the outside of the gasket, but not in the channel the glass sits in. A thin bead of sealer in that channel definitely helps though. The TSM also mentions a handy way to clean up any sealer. It says to use a "waterless hand soap" (Gojo, etc.) film on painted surfaces that might get sealer on them. Then you just wipe off the sealer and hand cleaner with a cloth when done.

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Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2011 16:08:48 -0500
From: Bruce Griffis<bruce.griffis@xxxxxxxxx>

My oldest son got me a snazzy new windshield gasket for Christmas. Way
cool! Found out today he ordered front and rear door seals, window
sweep sets and new a trunk gasket. I've got good condition used
windlace to replace what I have. Can't find anyone with a rear window
gasket. But wow! That is really cool! I'm looking forward to sealing
up that Rambler! I had planned to replace the carpet and take care of
some interior items once the car is sealed. Looks like that can happen
sooner rather than later!

Very happy. Really looking forward to stopping the leaks, making sure
it didn't start to rust, and replacing the carpet and trunk mat.
Hopefully it will be a dry Rambler in a few weeks!


--
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars"
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://www.amc-mag.com
(free download available!)


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