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.

[rhodyguy]

i'm in the middle of pulling one and this may help a bit if your trim is nice and you don't want to trash it. the trim on this car was not so good and removal went quick.

1. in the clip picture you can see the little curved notch the slight radius of the outside edge of the trim slips into.

2. end view, note previously mentioned outside edge. this edge needs to be released from the clip. slide the covering piece to one side and start in the center top

3. if you were to notch a putty knife so it could go around the clip, you can gently push from the inside edge and release the trim. with the putty knife so thin, you won't (shouldn't) distort the inside edge much. work your way across, sliding the knife. when you come to a stop you'll need to walk around the clip you just bumped into.

4. it was cool this am and the butyl was pretty stiff. i'm leting it sit in the sun to warm up and it's pretty squishy. i could be impatient and do it now, but i'm not. by 1 or 2 it's going to release very easily and i'll have a nice sigla windshield that only has a few pits. if you plan on polishing your trim, you might think about doing it in place prior to removal. not as apt to bend it up.

k

edit: discovered a few things. too much heat is no good as it softens the butyl so much it stick/rebond upon touching. i grabed a handfull shims and started them narrow end in after releasing a section. as you move forward you have to fall back once in a while, adjust the shims and re-release any sitcky points. have a breath now and then, work slowly. when it's all loosened, put a strip of foil under each side to avoid any butyl to butly contact. i'm not quite ready to store the window and i'll leave it resting on the frame until just before the body leaves. i pulled the tarp back over to let things cool down slowly. i've broken more than one window in the past.

k