1941 Dodge Business Coupe front windshield removal & install

[41RogueCoupe]

How do you remove the chrome trim that goes around the front windshield without bending it all up?

I can't seem to figure out how the trim come off around the lip it's attached to on the front exterior windshield surround. 

As you can see the original seal is falling out of my 41' Coupe and is petrified. It's the only thing barely holding the windshield glass in. 

I am missing/looking for the windshield division bar and interior garnish that holds the glass in if anyone knows or has one. 

I am hoping to find that and other things at the Hersey Fall Fleamarket this October. 

[Sam Buchanan]

Here is a Google search of the forum (much better search engine than the forum search button) about windshield replacement:

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3A+p15-d24.com+replace+windshield&oq=site%3A+p15-d24.com+replace+windshield&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i58.18609j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

Here is a particular thread from that search that you may find useful:

 

https://p15-d24.com/topic/33297-p15-windshield-replacement/

 

You do have a Service manual, right?

 

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=11042188&cc=1486110&pt=10335&jsn=496

Edited September 26, 2023 by Sam Buchanan

[joecoozie]

I sent you a Private Message but I am not sure you can get them yet because you are new to the site.

See if you can send me one

Joe

 

[Plymouthy Adams]

I cannot recall an issue when I removed mine....am wondering if a PO may have used a sealer to retain these when fitting the seal and glass.

[andyd]

41Rog..........I can't help re the outside stainless trim piece as Oz cars didn't have this but regarding the centre division piece good luck in finding one as they are a diecast piece that is prone to cracking & breaking......I ended up making a new one out of brass..........I used two pieces of brass......the 1st was a piece of brass bar 1" wide by  1/2" thick and the length of the centre piece.........I cut it lengthways to the overall side profile......I then used another piece of brass bar, 3/8" square that I cut to the tapered width to fit between the glass and rubber centre seal then drilled & tapped the 4 holes that the inner molding used to attach the centre bar...........I then soldered the 2nd piece to the 1" wide piece and after various adjustments had the piece rechromed.

......All this was done 45yrs ago when I was young & silly using a fine toothed blade in a hacksaw, a flat bastard file, a half round file and lots of effort then getting it chromed and the nice chromed brass centre piece has remained in perfect condition since........many people have asked how come I have a perfect centre windscreen bar when theirs is cracked & broken........lol.........well I say........lol.........this is what you have to do......good luck with yours....Andy Douglas. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Edited September 27, 2023 by andyd
more info.

[Plymouthy Adams]

If my recollection is correct, the division bar is the same as the D24..

Edited September 27, 2023 by Plymouthy Adams

[41RogueCoupe]

10 hours ago, andyd said:

Wow Andyd, for making the center bar yourself it looks amazing! I will place an order to have you make one

You could make a killing offering these custom-made bars in the community! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

[41RogueCoupe]

10 hours ago, andyd said:

Wow Andyd, for making the center bar yourself it looks amazing! I will place an order to have you make one

You could make a killing offering these custom-made bars in the community! 

Thanks for all the replies and info gang. I have to admit the windshield replacement has me nervous and I guess will have to be a learning process. I just don't want to mess it up.

 

I bought the new seal, which is not one piece, which I wish it was, but the thing I am trying to wrap my head around is how do you hold the two pieces of glass together with just the seal around and center seal strip in to place it in the car? 

10 hours ago, andyd said:

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

[Kilgore47]

46 minutes ago, 41RogueCoupe said:

 

I bought the new seal, which is not one piece,

I started out with the "not one piece" gasket and ended up cracking one of the new pieces of glass.  The local glass company that cut the pieces for me gave me a discount on another new piece.  Ended up ordering the one piece Steel Rubber gasket from Bob's classic auto glass for less than Steel sells them.  Second time worked and all is good.  Sometimes it costs a little more than you think it will.  

[41RogueCoupe]

2 minutes ago, Kilgore47 said:

 

That is my biggest fear is cracking/breaking the windshield. I wish I could take it to someone and say, "here you install it and if you break it you replace it" but there are no shops that are familiar with these old cars, as I would only trust someone who really knew these cars. 

[Kilgore47]

It's really not that hard.  I got in too much of a hurry the first time.  My first choice was to have the local glass company install the windshield.  But they stopped installing windshields.  Many shops have.  The tools to adjust the sensors on new cars are too expensive.  I used the rope method and silicon spray instead of soap.  Having a helper was a must.

[Sam Buchanan]

For the windshield installation in the '69 Beetle last week I used KY lubricant. Other than some comments from observers it worked very well.....for the windshield.

[41RogueCoupe]

1 hour ago, Sam Buchanan said:

For the windshield installation in the '69 Beetle last week I used KY lubricant. Other than some comments from observers it worked very well.....for the windshield.

KY would work well as it is water-based. I use a silicone spray. I have put in all the glass for a 74' SB restoration I did for my son and that was a pain

 

Edited September 27, 2023 by 41RogueCoupe

[RobertKB]

16 hours ago, 41RogueCoupe said:

Thanks for all the replies and info gang. I have to admit the windshield replacement has me nervous and I guess will have to be a learning process. I just don't want to mess it up.

 

I bought the new seal, which is not one piece, which I wish it was, but the thing I am trying to wrap my head around is how do you hold the two pieces of glass together with just the seal around and center seal strip in to place it in the car? 

 

If you have a shop manual, it will tell you exactly how to replace/install the windshield. A one piece gasket is the best way to go. 

[D35 Torpedo]

Just use masking tape to hold it all together. Rope it in with the tape around the seal from inside to outside. It will tear as you go along. Then you remove the tape once it is in place. Use erethane to seal it up after it is in. The chromes probably slip into the molding before it is roped in. Once it is in they are locked in for good.

[41RogueCoupe]

Thanks for the posts. I don't have the shop manual, but I have the parts manual. 

 

[41RogueCoupe]

I finally got the shop manual for the 41' dodge and for those who need some help on the windshield (which I still do) here are the pages for you.

A few questions I have if anyone can help:
 

- Does the windshield glass, without the rubber seal, fit right in the space of the windshield frame area or when you go to put the glass in from the inside does it butt up against the metal frame? Meaning when you hold the glass up to the windshield opening should it fit right in the open space of the frame or lay against the frame about 1/4 overlap on the inside? I am trying to figure out if my new glass is too big. 

 

- I also got the cheaper Andy Bergbaum windshield seal, but the profile of the rubber doesn't seem right or match the one they show online to what they shipped me. 

- I have the chrome trim piece that goes around the windshield frame and according to the shop manual the windshield seal goes over this trim piece, so you put that on first then the windshield glass with the seal? 

 

[41RogueCoupe]

I am very happy to report that I FINALLY got my windshield installed, well the glass is in anyway as I still need the hardware for the center division bar & interior garnish 

To start the whole process, I first needed to find the parts of the division bar and inside garnish, which my 41' coupe was missing (not easy to find) 

The glass I purchased was from Bob's Classic Auto Glass, who is great to work with, knows his stuff and provided the perfect fitting glass. 

 

 

I first purchased the lower cost windshield seal from Andy Bernbaum, which is where I order most of my parts, but as others have stated, the seal it is not very good and near impossible to install the glass as one piece since the seal is just a single strip and the center bar rubber is separate. I threw that away...waisted money
As others have also stated, I also recommend to bite the very expensive bullet and get the Steele gasket seal. It's all one piece and makes the install very easy. But your talking about a price difference today between say $80 and $270! Ouch! (crazy it costs that much for a rubber piece ... gouging ) But it works great and will make your life much less stressful. With a helper, you can get the windshield installed within 15-30mins.

 

Hope that helps others for the future some