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.

[racunniff]

Part III

Not much in this part - I have yet to actually clip the trim in (the PO rattle-canned it black, poorly (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif), so I'm going to sand it all off and repaint it black with some higher quality rattle-can paint). But, to cap off the first part of the task, here is the car with the window installed:



Hopefully, I'll get to the trim in the next week or so and complete the series.

And, finally, this series is dedicated to Howard. I did not know or interact with him, but he obviously touched many people, and will be sorely missed. My thoughts are with his friends and family.