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 V

One thing I discovered after I sanded the trim clean is that the left and right sides are marked for reference (the curves are such that it is difficult to tell - but if you get them swapped you will never get the trim to stay). Note that "L" and "R" are as viewed from the front of the car so "R" corresponds to the driver's side and "L" corresponds to the passenger's side:





Before clipping anything in you should assemble the frame and place it approximately in position:



And, for reference, here is how a clip sits relative to the window glass:



The clip faces away from the glass, as shown earlier. Once you are satisfied everything is in place, you can clip it in. Verify that the lower trim piece is well-centered in the frame, then start in the middle and push the trim into the clips. It will snap in with a satisfying "click."



Coming soon, Part VI