dladd74roadster

and found that I have absolutely no rust at all. :lol: :lol: :lol: But in removing the stainless piece that runs along the top edge of the windshield frame (not the moulding but the flat piece on which the soft top seals.) I found a puddy/clay type material underneath. I assume that this keeps water from seeping under this piece and getting to the back half of the frame. Can someone who has done this windshield process tell me what this substance is and where I can buy it new. If not, what can I use as a substitute?

Thanks as always for the help.

dl

Chris@VetteFinders

Windshield companies use a couple different things. One is known as "dum dum" I believe. It is a material that never hardens kind of like clay. You can also buy strips of another material that usually goes between the metal that holds the windshield and the metal that holds the weatherstrip.

dladd74roadster

This stuff doesn't hold the windshield in place. This is a gray puddy substance and it wasn't hard after 27 years. It looked like no one had ever had this piece off of the car so I think it is original. It does sound like this dum dum stuff you refer to. Where can I buy it to replace it. It came out in many pieces.

dl

lbell101

I think you can get that stuff at just about any auto or paint supply. I believe it's called body caulk. Just ask the guy at the counter. I've bought it several times and once I got black by mistake so ask for gray. It comes in a box with 'strings' of cualking about 3/16" dia. There are a few layers in the box seperated by wax paper.

Chris@VetteFinders

Yes, that is what I am talking about.

zwede

This is NOT caulk. Caulk hardens and comes in a tube. What you need is "ribbon sealer', aka 'butyl'. Comes in a roll. I got mine at Autozone. It was called a 'windshield installation kit', $7. Long ago this was used to hold windhshields, but nowadays they all use polyurethane.

You're lucky you didn't have rust. My '71 is a Texas car with a rustfree frame, yet all 4 corners of the windhsield frame had rust holes. Just got done welding in the new metal, and yesterday the glass shop came over and installed a new windshield. Today I'll be re-installing trim pieces.

lbell101

Funny ... this CAULK comes in a box and is exactly what he's looking for.
Hmmm.... http://www.drclassic.com/cgi-bin/dat..._Care&a=W00009

dladd74roadster

Ibel101: Thanks for the link. I just order the the stuff. I didn't realize that it was used for other things. It will come in handy during my frame-off I am sure.

Thanks again, I knew I could get my answer here.

dl

zwede

Hi Larry,

I stand corrected! :)

lbell101

Whew :D
After I typed that I read it and hoped you would know I wasn't picking on ya.
They have to find a way to put voice inflections on the boards!
Glad you took it the way it was intended :)

BTW - the registry needs your car!

Corellian Corvette

Just a heads-up as I went through this same issue a few weeks ago, and ended up with the same results. :)

When you pulled up the trim, what you found (if it was like mine), was a "roll" of putty, about 1/3inch around, and it went from pillar post to pillar post? Is that correct? It wasn't holding anything in, just laying there inside the trim?

What you got (which is also what I used), is not going to be NEARLY enough to reproduce that roll. It's going to come in very small, thin strips, and like play-dough, you can roll it up but you won't have enough, so don't waste your time :)

What I did was to use these dum-dum strips on the sides of the trim, so when pushed together they sealed. A thin strip on the inside to seal to the frame, and a strip along the outside to seal to the other chrome. I also used some on the inside of the side moulding, to help keep water from seeping down inside as well. Just imagine that this stuff is like double-sided tape and you needed to tape all this stuff down. Cover just inside the edges of all the trim.

Also, be careful using any sort of degreaser around these strips. The degreaser will dissolve this stuff and you'll be wiping up a mess.

Good luck! When it's all put together it will work great.

71roadster

I just had my windshield out and am now in the process of remounting the trim. I didn't find any of the stuff you guys are referring to but I will see if I can find it tonight at pep boys.

One suggestion I would make tho is that if you need new trim, see about getting your original stuff straightened and polished. I had this done to my thin top piece ($35, MUCH cheaper than replacement with new) and it came out so nice I just dropped off the two side pieces ($30). I think the scuffed up trim would have really stood out next to the new glass. The polished stuff looks GREAT!

Chris

zwede

Hey, no poblem. Never seen it referred to as 'strip caulk' before. Guess you learn something new every day.

I'll fill out the registry submission this weekend.