CJ5 Windshield install

[JimsCJ5]

Holy Cow what a PITA
We are on our third piece of glass and are determined not to break this one!

We are installing the glass with new rubber on a crown repop frame which may be part of the problem. When you lay the frame on top of the glass there is a gap in one corner. Too warped to use?

I called a glass install place and after I explained what a CJ5 was (?!) they said it would cost $216 and they would take no responsibility if the glass broke during install. Nice

Another question. Does the thick part of the window gasket go outside or inside? I would think inside but there is no way to pull the lip over from the inside. Here's a pic of the rubber. The rope is in the channel already so you can see it.


I wish we had another CJ to look at but there are none around.

Thanks everyone... Im sure we'll get it eventually.

 

[Hedgehog]

I wish I could help. Man, how much does your glass cost. I almost thing I'd bite the bullet and have the glass installed by a professional.

 

[mstar]

Don't feel to badly about the broken glass. When I took my OEM w/s frame ,new rubber and old glass that came out of the same frame it took two experianced glass guys and myself to get the thing in there. It was tight. Hope you get it done OK. mike

 

[JimsCJ5]

Gave it another shot. Went pretty smooth until the last section which was the top. It got a little stuck so I turned the glass over just to check and in that corner where I noticed the gap the glass was popping out of the rubber. If I had tried to go any further I think it would have broken. Again.
Anyway, it looks like I need another window frame. This really sucks.
I guess I'll order one from Morris or Quadratec and keep looking until I get a straight one. Bollocks.

 

[hdgapeach]

Are you getting glass that comes already cut for a CJ? Last one I put in took longer to cut the glass than it took to zip it in the frame. I used the broken windshield as a template and cut the windshield out of what was left of a sheet of 4' X 8' tempered glass. Cheaper than ordering a CJ windshield and quicker than ordering one. Most glass shops will have what you need and can cut one out in just a few minutes.

You could do the same if you can make yourself a template out of a "sheet" of cardboard to match the frame opening. Just reduce the outside dimensions enough to account for the gasket thickness. Place the cardboard pattern on the glass, mark it, etch it, burn it and snap off the excess. Won't matter how out of specs the frame is doing it this way.

Good luck!
Third windshield...........That's a bummer for sure

 

[JimsCJ5]

Are you getting glass that comes already cut for a CJ? Last one I put in took longer to cut the glass than it took to zip it in the frame. I used the broken windshield as a template and cut the windshield out of what was left of a sheet of 4' X 8' tempered glass. Cheaper than ordering a CJ windshield and quicker than ordering one. Most glass shops will have what you need and can cut one out in just a few minutes.

You could do the same if you can make yourself a template out of a "sheet" of cardboard to match the frame opening. Just reduce the outside dimensions enough to account for the gasket thickness. Place the cardboard pattern on the glass, mark it, etch it, burn it and snap off the excess. Won't matter how out of specs the frame is doing it this way.

Good luck!
Third windshield...........That's a bummer for sure

Big time. But I have not broken this one.. yet. This last one was on ebay but the 2nd one I broke was from morris. The mfg looks to be the same but a little cheaper on ebay. $99 shipped.

I don't think the opening is out of spec as much as the frame seems warped. It sits flat on the glass except for that one corner. When we checked the old rusty frame the glass sat square all the way around. I think we are breaking the glass trying to bend it to conform to the frame but I have been wrong before.

I like the idea of getting it from a the local glass place. Is the tempered glass the same as safety glass? This is my son's vehicle and is street driven.

 

[JimsCJ5]

Update: We checked the warp factor by laying the glass right on the frame and guess what? It sits flush all the way around. So, assuming the glass is not bent the frame might be OK. We also measured the new frame against the old frame. Turns out the opening is larger by quite a bit on the factory frame. We think a 1/16 all the way around. It is very apparent when you lay the glass (sans rubber) on the old frame vs. the new frame. Tomorrow we will try enlarging the opening a bit. We still need a new piece of rubber though . Drat.

 

[Dolamite]

I went through that process a while back. It was a PITA for sure. Here is a copy of my write up:

My CJ5 had a cracked windshield when I purchased it. The insurance company required me to replace it. I bought a new windshield and was going to have a professional install it, but when I talked to him on the phone they told me it was a 5 minute job and he didn't feel right charging me $90 to do it. He explained how to do it over the phone, which matched the directions that I read online. It didn't sound to bad, so I figured since my father in-law was in town we'd give it a try.

After an hour of screwing around and tearing my new windshield gasket, I had to check to make sure my new windshield had the correct dimensions. It did. We just screwed it up. Here's how we finally got the new windshield in.

1) Soaked the old windshield gasket in soapy hot water and cleaned out all of the mud.
2) Politely asked my father-in-law to give it another go. A few Busch Lights facilitated an "OK."
3) Sprayed the perimeter of the new windshield with Windex.
4) Slipped windshield gasket onto new windshield.
5) Had a beer.
6) Generously lubed up the outside of the windshield gasket that slips into the windshield frame with olive oil.
7) Slipped a piece of 1/4 inch rope into the outer perimeter of the windshield gasket that interfaces with the windshield frame so that the ends of the rope intersect at the bottom center of the windshield.
8) Poured olive oil onto rope.
9) Drank a couple of beers and talked about how much it is going to suck if we rip another windshield gasket.
10) Picked up the windshield and inserted the bottom edge of the gasket into the bottom of the windshield frame.
11) Had my father-in-law apply slight pressure to the outside of the windshield while I pulled one side of the rope carefully around the bottom passenger corner of the windshield.
12) Repeated process on the bottom driver side.
13) Pulled rope up passenger side of windshield and around top passenger corner.
14) Repeated process on driver side.

Intermission: Pulling the rope to pull the top of the windshield gasket into place got difficult. I was very apprehensive. I didn't want to rip another gasket (once bitten, twice shy). A couple more beers and some discussion was necessary. During our intermission, my father-in-law had the idea of using a putty knife to push the gasket in from the top while I pulled on the rope. Lucky for us, I had a plastic putty knife available. We figured the plastic would be less likely to cut the rubber gasket.

15) Had my father-in-law gently push the rubber gasket down from the top with the putty knife while I pulled on the rope from either side.

I was surprised how easy the rest of the top installation went with this procedure.

Here is the list of tools we used:

1) Windex
2) Olive Oil
3) 1/4 rope
4) Plastic Putty Knife
5) Busch Light

This may not be the easiest way to put in a new windshield, but it worked for us!!

Read more: http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f7/jeep-cj5-new-windshield-installation-20549/#ixzz3DuCrAm4C

 

[hdgapeach]

Big time. But I have not broken this one.. yet. This last one was on ebay but the 2nd one I broke was from morris. The mfg looks to be the same but a little cheaper on ebay. $99 shipped.

I don't think the opening is out of spec as much as the frame seems warped. It sits flat on the glass except for that one corner. When we checked the old rusty frame the glass sat square all the way around. I think we are breaking the glass trying to bend it to conform to the frame but I have been wrong before.

I like the idea of getting it from a the local glass place. Is the tempered glass the same as safety glass? This is my son's vehicle and is street driven.

Yeah, safety glass / tempered glass is the same stuff (or at least it used to be back when I was getting it). If you ever end up utilizing this option, make sure YOU look the sheet of glass over and check for scratches before you let the shop commit to cuttin'. Once they cut it, it's yours! You'll usually find the scratch potential on left over glass brought back from a job site. The last one I had cut (in LaGrange) cost me every bit of $58.00. And the guy helped me zip it in the frame out in the parking lot of the shop before I left. We had pulled my cracked windshield out to use it as a pattern. Even reused the original gasket. I don't think I'll ever purchase a store bought flat "windshield" again. Costs too much compared to what I can get at a reputable glass shop.

 

[rocmoc]

Glass installs from outside in / from the hood side of the frame. Fat side of the rubber goes on the outside. Place the rubber on the glass. Use cream style hand cleaner (goop or similar) and place it on the inside and outside of the small lip of the rubber to ease the lip over the metal frame's lip. Small / light rope / cords inside of the two rubber lips with the two ends meeting in the bottom middle. Set the glass with the rubber in place with the bottom edge starting first. Pull the two cords / rope ends at the same time towards the outside. Stop every foot or so and light to med pat the glass on the outside pushing the glass in place. Continue this all the way around the glass. After install, just wipe / clean the excess hand cleaner off the rubber. Don't be afraid to use plenty of hand cleaner during install, this helps the rubber slip over the metal lip of the frame. Don't pat it so hard you break the glass, you are just setting the rubber / glass. Don't go too fast. Easier to install with the frame on the Jeep. There is a tool to pull the rubber thu, looks like a Phillips screwdriver with multi bend in the end and a point. There are also non-metal sticks used to move the rubber around. Any glass shop should be able to show you the tools. Only place you use to be able to get then was from the Snap On guy. Maybe a google search. What ever you do keep metal away from the edge of the glass. Good luck! Also beware of wearing a ring when patting the glass, it can break the glass.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

 

[Posi]

I ordered glass from my local glass shop for $80 (clear 74 CJ). I'm guessing most all CJ glass is shipped in from china (mine was). When I got it home I matched up the new glass with the old original glass and found the new piece was too big. I traced the outline of the original glass onto the new glass and returned to the shop so they could cut it down.

Once cut to the original specs the glass was an easy install. I used the two piece gasket set for the 74. I had the glass installed in 10min and the rope gasket that locks the glass in took another 20-25 mins.





Check for proper glass size first

 

[JimsCJ5]

Thanks to everyone who responded. We got the glass in without breaking it but it was not easy. I trimmed around the window frame about a 1/16" but I probably should have done a little more. Here are some comparison pics to the old frame:
This shows the new glass in the old stock frame. Note the gap between the glass and the lip.


Here's the same glass in the new frame. The gap is gone:


Same thing but looking at the corner:


Same view with the new frame. The gap disappears.


I think trimming helped with the install but it is still a poor fit. The rubber seal does not lie flat on the glass. I think we'll be doing this again after final paint.

What is more disappointing is the overall fit of the window frame. It's awful.
It looks like they made it thinner than stock so the brackets no longer fit flush.





It really looks like . Are they all the same? This one is from Crown I believe.

 

[graycj7]

I am about to install the windshield in my CJ7 .Here is the problem that I have. The gasket has like a half twist so I cant put it on the glass. It is as if the gasket was twisted when it was joined during manufacturing. Has anyone ever run into this. Could it be a defective gasket. Or am I missing something. Thanks for any help.

 

[JimsCJ5]

Mine seemed twisted until I put it on the glass. Have you tried putting in on the glass?
Wish I could be more help.

 

[graycj7]

Yes I tried doing that I just kept chasing it around. I tried twisting it but no way. I had my brother look at it also. It must be defected. Thanks for your reply anyhow.

 

[JimsCJ5]

Where did you get it? I've had to buy three and the best ones I found were on ebay. The one I got from Morris did not fit right.

76 86 Jeep CJ5 CJ7 CJ8 Windshield Frame Glass Seal 5453949 12301 04 | eBay

 

[JimsCJ5]

No comment on the repop windshield frames? I can't believe they would try to pedal these replacements knowing the dimensions are so far off.
I have a chance to buy an OEM frame in good shape. I think I will go that route.

 

[tarry99]

No comment on the repop windshield frames? I can't believe they would try to pedal these replacements knowing the dimensions are so far off.
I have a chance to buy an OEM frame in good shape. I think I will go that route.

Replaced many old windshield frames ...........the only way to go is OEM if you can find one that suits your needs. Try and find early CJ frames! They all seem to have a little rust where the rubber meets the glass outside above the cowl & inside when tilted where the vent and cowl seal meet and all have extra holes from old top installations.........but these are all no issue as compared to that Chinese or Philippine Junk!

 

[JimsCJ5]

Replaced many old windshield frames ...........the only way to go is OEM if you can find one that suits your needs. Try and find early CJ frames!

Why the early frames?

 

[Posi]

He is just saying good early CJ5 frames are hard to find.