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Tue Nov 26, 2002 10:28 pm

I've got a strange question. I bought a 74 Super in August, and since I didn't have a garage at the time I had to let it sit outside in the weather. To protect the dashboard I put a piece of cardboard inside to act as a sunscreen. Well, I've got my garage now and was starting to work on my Beetle when I discovered that there was a cloudy white haze all around the edges of the windshield where the cardboard wasn't. I've tried several cleaning solutions, and it won't come off. Has anyone else ran into something like this?? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
thanks

Wed Nov 27, 2002 4:47 am

if the haze in on the window then its bad news...the window is constructed of two sheets of glass with a plastic sheet glued between them..this forms the safety glass...anyway...the ultraviolet light from the sun along with moisture has most likely caused the plastic layer between the two glass layers to haze up...if this is the case you will ahve to replace the window as well as the ruber seal.

Wed Nov 27, 2002 3:27 pm

Ok I just bought a windshield and a cali rubber seal. I was going to paint my car in the spring and would like to put it in then(when I paint it to get a better job all round) What else would i need to put into the seal. I have the glass and the rubber but nothing else. I heard of a cable etc... Is there anything else I need to install the new windshield? a glue etc?
thanks for ur input MARK
PS once installed can u take it out and reinstall it since I have the haze on my window too. what if i put it in now and then decided to take it out when i painted it?

Wed Nov 27, 2002 8:08 pm

To remove any fixed beetle window (including the windscreen) you cut the rubber on the inside all round the bead, then push the glass out carefully (with someone outside to gran it!) The rubber is a one-use item.

To install the window, first put the new rubber on the glass with NO lubricants. If the rubber is cold and stiff put it in the sun or near a heater for a while to warm up - DON'T put it in hot water as you want the rubber dry on the glass for a good grip.

Now take a length of strong string, venetian blind cord, plastic clothes line or similar and wrap it twice around the frame groove - starting and finishing in the middle of the bottom side, and make sure you have long "tails" to grip.

Place the glass against the outside of the frame and get your helper to hold it there whilst you get inside and grab one "tail" and start pulling the string out of the groove. The bead should pop over the frame to the inside. It helps if the outside helper has cotton gloves on so he/she can slide their hands along the glass opposite the string as it's pulled out whilst keeping gentle pressure on the glass.

Two wraps of string means that if parts of the bead don't pop over the frame cleanly you get a second chance. A couple of plastic or wooden flat sticks are useful too - to ease the bead over if it gets stubborn.

If you need lubricant for this part of the operation - use soapy water - NOT silicone spray or WD40 which will stain the headliner.

The curved superbug windscreen is the hardest to do, and the most likely to crack if you get it wrong.

The rear side windows are the easiest (you can sometimes pop these out without cutting the rubber first).

If you use the original style rubber with chrome strip, that strip has to go on once the rubber is on the glass, but before it's put in the car. It makes the rubber stiffer to work with so is harder to install than the cal-look no-chrome rubber.

Rob
Rob and Dave's aircooled VW pages
Repairs and maintenance for the home mechanic
http://www.geocities.com/aussiebug1970/