Windshield Bottom Gasket/Seal

djester · Post by **djester** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:05 pm

I've completely restored my windshield with new paint, glass, hardware, etc. I'm ready to install the bottom rubber gasket and was wondering about using seam sealer under it to keep water from seeping under and sitting there.

The bottom of the windshield was badly rusted and needed a lot or repair and I was wondering if anyone had a better suggestion, or whether it is even worthwhile.

Dave

m-37Bruce · Post by **m-37Bruce** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:49 pm

Sid Beck; at Ace Surplus ( have to look for his contacts or John Bizal; www@midwestmil.com

Get a new windscreen pad, it should anchor to the bottom of the windscreen. If it's not level, then deal with the other issues.

djester · Post by **djester** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:05 pm

The bottom of the windshield has been repaired and I have a new gasket from Midwest.

I'm just wondering if anyone has used an adhesive of some kind to seal the gasket to the bottom of the windshield (in addition to rivets) to keep water from pooling between the gasket and the bottom of the windshield -- which i assume is what cause the windshield to be badly rusted in the first place.

On the other hand, at 71 years of age, I don't know why I'm worried about it. Having been blasted, patched, two coats of primer and three coats of OD paint, it will long outlast me!

Dave

Nickathome · Post by **Nickathome** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:38 am

I don't think they were meant to have any sealer on them because of the ability of the windshield to be folded down. If you're like me, it will never be folded down but just the same I don't think that area was meant to have sealer on it, just the rubber gasket.

BTW - When I repaired my truck's cowl in that area, I could not for the life of me get the gasket to sit exactly flat. Nothing I tried allowed it to sit flat. There is enough of the inner lip of the gasket down ot hold out any air. but if I were to drive in rain(which I won't) water would definitley get underneath. Fortunately my truck is garaged so I don't really worry about it.

djester · Post by **djester** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:15 am

I'm not making my self very clear. I don't mean to seal the windshield to the cowl, just the rubber gasket to the bottom of the windshield. The way the gasket is shaped, with a round bump as it fits up against the front of the windshield, it collects water running down the glass, rather than letting it smoothly run off.

Like you, Nickathome, my M37 will seldom, if ever, see rain, but it concerns me that this is such a great place for water to collect. My thought is that a flexible seam sealer type material would improve this situation by not letting water get between the gasket and the bottom of the windshield. Just wondering if anyone has done this. The problems is, obviously, if this is a bad idea for some reason I haven't seen, it will be a big problem to correct!

Dave

k8icu · Post by **k8icu** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:57 am

Looks like it hasn't been done before...so maybe you could be the first and post your results here?

refit1701 · Post by **refit1701** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 11:28 am

I don't see why you couldn't do it, as long as the sealer is thin enough not to warp the gasket surface where it meets the cowl.

knattrass · Post by **knattrass** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:31 pm

Indy Dave -

Our frame had filled with water, froze, and split wide open along the bottom seam. After we heat-n-beat it back into shape, we did the same thing you did. We applied a thin coat of w/s seal adhesive to the frame, affixed the seal and installed the flat metal retainer with s/s screws. Nick is right, there is not enough flex in the seal to kiss against the cowl. In fact, we took the whole thing apart, reversed the seal, and made it worse. We took a chunk of round closed cell foam from H/D and slipped it underneath the w/s to seal the air blowing in. No rain for us but it amazing to think that seal is so far off.

m-37Bruce · Post by **m-37Bruce** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:35 pm

refit1701 wrote:I don't see why you couldn't do it, as long as the sealer is thin enough not to warp the gasket surface where it meets the cowl.

I might try it as well, the right product should be available?

I'm just about at that point.[/url]

m-37Bruce · Post by **m-37Bruce** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:42 pm

Mine didn't leak before, but it was closed up by 8 layers of paint.

mattveeder · Post by **mattveeder** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:07 pm

If you used the aerove paint dont do it. It eats the paint. I know this first hand.

m-37Bruce · Post by **m-37Bruce** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:20 pm

Gilespie Coatings is the coating of choice!

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djester · Post by **djester** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:52 pm

I have some seam sealer that is about the consistancy of mayonnaise. It is literally capable of being brushed on. I think I'll try it.

Another question: someone mentioned a metal retainer. Don't remember seeing one of those when I took it apart. I was planning on riveting the gasket on and a metal strip makes sense. Can someone describe the strip? I would think a half inch wide, 1/16th strip would be a good idea to retain it.

Dave

m-37Bruce · Post by **m-37Bruce** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:02 pm

It is almost the length of the windscreen, & about 1/2" wide, it's attached by 6 or seven screws. (at least that is how mine was attached)

djester · Post by **djester** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:32 pm

Thanks, Bruce, makes perfect sense. Sure glad that was mentioned, will make a much better installation.

Dave

Windshield Bottom Gasket/Seal

Windshield Bottom Gasket/Seal

Do It Right Once

Windshield

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