1949 Plymouth 3 passenger Coupe rear window gasket replacement

[Loren]

Talk about monkey and football routines!

I checked three shop manuals and they don't mention the Business Coupe rear window installation.

What had me a little confused is that because the Coupe doesn't have a window surround ( it's part of the gasket ) to hold the headliner, the window and gasket are installed from the inside. On the rest of the cars it goes in from the outside.

With an outside install you have gravity on your side and one person can install the easily.

Going from the inside is almost impossible. Just too much juggling to do. I suppose two folks can do it but you might not be friends anymore.

After considerable thought about the problem I came up with a solution ( beside hiring a glass guy to do it which is a good way to go ).

I got an 8 inch vacuum cup with a gauge and pump built in and a set of suction cup with a plastic bridge to hold the window while you get it started.

The cheap suction cup/bridge pieces will hold their suction just long enough for you to put two pieces of Gaffer's Tape over them. Gaffer's Tape is used any place you might use Duct Tape but it is so much better. The mastic doesn't make a mess ( it comes off with the tape and holds better ). However they are the key tool.

The Vacuum cup gives you a handle to hold the glass and push it if you have too.

You should also have a radiator hose removal hook. When I started in auto repair I struggled and almost quit the trade until I found that tool. So it is a "Must Have".

The photos should show how it's done without explanation.

 

Edited April 3 by Loren
photo not right

[MikeMalibu]

Thanks for the tips. I need to do the same sometime in the near future.

[Loren]

An update:

I just finished doing the windshield. That is a two person job even with the suction cup tools. Not hard just takes too many hands.

If the car is a Deluxe it goes in from the inside, unlike the Special Deluxe models with the chrome trim.

My final thoughts on the matter are the Steele rubber gaskets are very expensive but they work!

If you buy a car look at window gaskets very carefully and factor in the cost of replacing 75+ year old window gaskets.

You’ll have about $550 in parts solvent & sealer, $80 in tools and $175 in flat glass.

If changing gaskets is not in your budget right now you can buy a box of 3M strip caulk to fill and seal any gaps for about $35.

Just remember you have to clean any stickum you use now off the window and the body when you change the gasket later.