Windshield install, Traditional style, with trim clips Options

[racunniff]

Spent the day installing my windshield. Started with new windshield clips from Pelican Parts (you will need 19 of them):



This picture shows the "top" and "bottom" of the clip. The "bottom" of the clip pushes into the windshield frame and also has the notch to capture the trim (see picture below for how this works). The "top" of the clip has the rivet that you'll need to drive in to permanently attach the clip.

You'll also need some of this, Butyl Tape (I got mine at NAPA) - 1/4 inch is the recommended size:



Note the warning about eye and skin irritation. I don't know if it's true, but I did the final cleaning and install wearing gloves, so I would not know. I do know that it is extremely sticky, and would likely be a lot of fun to get off your skin without evil chemicals like acetone.

You'll also need these - window spacers (also available from Pelican Parts - you need 2):



The butyl I bought also came with spacers, but they are not the same shape/size, so I do not trust them.

Now for the clips. I dry-fit them on my trim to verify the orientation I wanted when I installed them:



Installing the clips is pretty straightforward. You put a clip in a mounting hole:



and then you push the clip in with your thumbs as far as you can:



You need to get it very close to flush, because if you don't, when you try to push the rivet in, it will just pop the clip out of the hole (ask me how I know (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) ). This is not fatal, though, because you can usually use a pair of pliers to pull the rivet back out and start over (assuming that you have not mashed the rivet as you try to push it in).

Part II, coming soon.

[sfrenck]

Just did an install last week. My 2 cents - my friend and I carefully dry tested how the winshield would fit prior to putting the butyl tape on the frame. Good thing I did, because my windshield had some unexpected tapers (not cut quite right? frame a little different? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) ) and the butyl tape had to be very placed close to the edge of the frame - not close to the clips.

One thing I wish I had done while the window was dry-fit positioned: mark the location of the window relative to the frame with some masking tape (piece on the frame and matching piece on the window in a couple spots). That way when you go to set it in, you know your close to it's final resting position (don't have worry so much about the window sticking to the butyl in the wrong location). My friend had shorter arms than me and the windshield was almost too close to him when it touched the tape!