Wow, Tom, great reply. I'm saving it. One added tidbit. I have a 1966 220 American manufactured in January 1966. It still has the slit-style gasket. Joe Fulton Salinas, CA --- TABunsey@xxxxxxx wrote: > On December 28, 2004 brahlf@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote: > > > Has anyone run into replacing the windshield > gasket for a 1966 American > > convertible. The 1966 parts book list the > convertible as having a different > > part number then the sedan or hardtop. I know > there are reproduction > > gaskets out there but will they fit the > convertible? > > > > Bruce Rahlf > > brahlf@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > Milwaukee, WI > > > > ___________________________________________________________________________________ > Frank is only partly correct: > > Here is what is going on: > > 1964-1965 Americans all used a windshield gasket > that had a "slit" in the rubber to accept the > stainless trim insert. > > Starting in mid 1966, the Americans changed the > windshield stainless trim. Previously, the trim was > inserted into the rubber windshield gasket (you can > easily tell that you have this style if you see > rubber on both sides of the stainless trim when it > is installed on the car). > > The new trim style used clips that attached to the > windshield frame under & behind the windshield > rubber gasket. The new style trim butted up to the > body and covered almost all of the rubber gasket, > leaving only about 1/8" rubber visible between the > trim and the glass. > > All mid 1966 and newer Americans (EXCEPT > CONVERTIBLES) use the new style gasket without the > slit. > > ALL American CONVERTIBLES use the "Slit Style" trim > & corresponding gasket. My 1967 Rogue convertible > has this style. > > Initially, AMC produced and stocked the two styles > of windshield gasket. Eventually, someone at AMC > realized that the only difference between the two > styles of gasket was the slit, and that the slit > style could be used with the non-slit style > windshield trim. Thus, AMC discontinued the late > style gasket and superceeded it's part number to the > slit-style gasket. > > Eventually, AMC discontinued both gaskets. > > Later, the aftermarket reproduced the American > slit-style windshield gasket, which can be used for > ANY 1964-69 American. Just use the correct trim for > your application. > > Either style trim will work on the cars (I put > slit-style trim in a 1968 American I was repainting, > because I feel that the trim that requires mounting > clips UNDER THE GASKET encourages water leaks). > > I think that the convertibles continued to use the > slit-style trim because convertibles have more body > flex than closed cars do, and the slit style gaskets > might permit more slip around the windshield. > > Anyway, I have owned 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967 > American convertibles, and they ALL used the > slit-style gaskets. But my 1967 440 4-door (and my > later-year Americans) all use the non-slit style > gaskets. > > Hope this helps. > > Tom Bunsey > > Tagged & insured cars: > > 1965 330 2-door sedan, 195.6 flathead & auto > 1965 330 4-door sedan, 195.6 OHV & auto > 1965 440H hardtop, 232 & dloor shift auto > 1967 440 4-door, 232 & auto > 1967 Rogue convertible, 360 & M-11 auto > 1968 440 4-door, 290 & auto > 1969 440 4-door, 199 & auto > > Project cars: > 1968 220 2-door > 1969 220 2-door > > ============================================================= > Posted by wixList Archiver -- > http://www.amxfiles.com/wixlist > > > > >