Another Victim to the Ghia Window Installation...

[rotdog]

Ok, Ok We were defeated...So I have been following the this forum for about a year now about Ghia window rubber replacement and glass chrome trim installation etc. It all started when I finally chose the time to replace the headliner for my 68 Coupe and what shop to do the work because I neither have the expertise or tools to do the job myself. They did a super pro-job on the headliner and replacement of the side windows and rubbers...but then came the back window with the new rubber and old chrome trim. I found out how much old and new like each other, NOT! 3 hrs later back window and chrome trim are in! That was painful since they said only a 1 day job and now its 6:45pm. So now they decide to attact the front window. After 4 in and out trys and time is 9:45pm we throw in the towel. I ordered the rubber for the front window a year ago through CIP1. kept it in a box in a cool place but the tag on it was not a print out like the back window tag, but some hand written scratch paper ID# with packing tape? I called my friend who deals in WCM and he said the last 6 ID#'s matched theirs for front windsheild rubber. Now I am really confused and I was doubting if that was really the correct rubber for a 68? Well I got the car home and now will try ordering a new one from Jason at KGPR just to try and see if they can get me a correct one. I tried looking for the real good stuff from Lars Neuffer, but his web site is down. Long and same old story, just letting out some depression. Aloha Rdog

[ACSwede]

[rotdog]

Thanks AC, I will try contacting them to check shipping cost and time line to Hawaii. KGPR can have theirs to me in 4 days. Aloha Rdog

[HouseofGhia]

Remember House of Ghia has Blocked w/s seals for both early and late ghia's in stock.

email [email protected]

[volksaddict]

The only way I could do it after many tries, and with wcm rubber that looks good and fits the corners acceptably:

1. Rubber on glass
2. install in car
3. chrome on car last

It worked for me...

[70 140]

I never did get my windsheild in with the OG style rubber. I let it defeat me, and I wimped out and bought the Cal-Look style.

[rotdog]

WOW, So after almost a year...my glass is all in!!! This is a follow up post to all the wind sheild and rear glass installation inquiries. Heres the great advise on how it was done by the pros who are owners "Paul and Lisa"and installers of Als Auto Glass in Honolulu Hawaii. They are the BOMB and the best at what the do. Mobile service done in my drive way!This was my 5th attempt, 2 times with the Uplostery Shop who did my head liner and 2 times with Safelite Auto Glass. Both of those guys told grand stories of doing many VW's...but in truth not really having done a Ghia with the Chrome. I even wasted time by ordering new rubber from KPGR because the Upolstery Guy said the WCM rubber was wrong when he was really wrong himself. Well enough complaining heres how it was done by 2 REAL PROFESSIONAL people. Job was done in the hot 98 degree Hawaii sun so the rubber would be very soft! Paul made adjustment bends in the chrome until he was satisified with the contour. Then they began, I did not help them at all only supplying them water. Paul was pulling cord inside, Lisa tapping and pressure outside. Paul used his hook tool outside when needed.

1. WCM Rubber on Glass
2. Chrome Strip on Rubber
3. Pulling cord put on rubber, begining of pull cord middle bottom
4. Painters masking tape wrapped around the glass, cord, chrome and rubber, spaced every 8"
5. Very little silicone spray around the hole, NONE on rubber
6. Glass, rubber and chrome set up in hole
7. Tap all corners and edges until first lip of rubber drops in primary hole
8. Slowly begin pull of cord middle bottom, pulled right to the lower corner, pressure applied from outside by other person
9. Slowly begin to pull left to the corner, tapping and pressure applied from outside by other person
10. Slowly begin to pull right to the upper corner, tapping and pressure applied from outside by other person
11. Slowly pull left to upper corner, tapping and pressure applied from outside by other person
12. Slowly tap upper corners in and then continue right then left cord pull until you meet in the center and done

The cord cuts through the tape and the chrome stays in. Then remove excess tape inner and outter. Some will be left between the gasket and body but it will not be noticed. The installers took their time slowly working the glass and tapping by hand and also using a hook tool cotter pin remover along with a plastic spade tool the looks like a popsicle stick for plucking and prodding the WCM rubber. WCM rubber is good stuff for 1968 Ghia Coupe with original Chrome Strip! I had this stuff sitting around for a year!

Back Window took them only 25 minutes!!! The front windsheild took them 2hrs and 20minutes with resting and lots of drinking water. Paul and Lisa were the best and had special care to their job. NO scratching of my new paint, no complaining of the wrong glass or rubber, no damaging of my new headliner, no scratching of my rear window tint. No loose corners, wrinkles or buckling in the WCM rubber. Looks like it came from the factory! All chrome down and tight! Glass and rubber set up went in the first time, no in and out sutff like the other 2 shops and no excessive spraying of silicone every where.

Sooooo happy with their work I even gave them a heavy tip for their pro job. $90.00 per glass + tx base charge and depending your location will the be the mobile charge, worth every cent! If you live here you can check out their work on September 17 at the Alamoana Beach Park Show. Hope this helps. Aloha Mike Roth

[Batan]

You did exactly what I did. After no shop would either commit to getting the front glass with chrome(with CIP rubber) or they would said they could do it and phoned they canned, I found somebody. A 60 year old professional who took it easy, working in his spare time and actually did it in couple of hours! I had the car back after 4 days and all I paid was $100cdn for both windows! And he did not even brag about working on VWs. He does mostly american iron but he is the master nonetheless. Thumbs up for people like that!

[btrghia]

I had a guy here in Tucson, Az come and install my glass in and out installed in less than 1 hour(with the trim).. He was a guy from Mexico who had done lots of VW glass.

[joe comfort]

You got lucky on the WCM rubber install. Every time I tried to set the rubber arround the windshield with aluminum trim, the corners would fold over as I started to install. Became frustrated and finally called House of Ghia and got the "blocked" seals. Front went installed in about 15 minutes but the back one was tougher, finally took it to Ecology wrecking yard and had the windshield guys do it for $10!! What a deal, but they struggled with it for a bit, I thought for sure they were going to brake the glass the way way they were slapping it. 10 yrs later still looking good. That House of Ghia rubber is nice, nice, nice. A buddy of mine used the WCM on his 57 Ghia and it was pricey to have a installer make a house call. It went on, but has gaps on the corners.

[Ghiaddict]

We installed a windshield today using the steps outlined by
rotdog and it was a total success on the first attempt!

Using the tape was a big help (not done that way before) and
spraying silicone sparingly but only on the body opening was a
change in procedure as well.

Working on a '69 KG 'vert and using a windshield seal from BFY,
total time spent was just over an hour. Quickest ever install
we've done with no cursing in German.

Excellent results! Thanks.
_________________
****************************

Karmann Ghia & Beetle parts available.
Convertible tops installed.

[rotdog]

Ghia Addict, Thats great to hear! I wish I could post pictures of the whole process...Als Auto Glass in Honolulu are pros, they were reffered to me by my friend Jeff who had his 72 Ghia windsheild installed by them. Thanks Jeff!
Like I said this was my 5th attempt from months and months ago last year! I am glad its over. New windsheild really makes the Ghia feel fresh.
I saw my successful installers Paul and Lisa use very little silicone spray on the body only, he said because the seal actually needs the traction to grip the window frame lip and suck itself in. The other 2 guys soaked everything, glass, seals, chrome trim, openings, total mess and no hand traction even pushing the glass, thats why they failed. The tape wrapping the chrome in was another HUGE inovation the other 2 guys never did either. WCM Rubber was fine too. Glad to have helped. Aloha Rdog

[crocteau]

[kingkarmann]

Yes' BBT is now a wholesaler and not doing retail. Lars Neuffer maybe ?

[smuenchrath]

All,

California Import Parts sells the Blocked windshield seals (distributed from BBT).

I received mine a couple of weeks ago.

http://www.cip1.ca/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C21%2D0315
http://www.cip1.ca/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C21%2D0328

[crocteau]

Thanks for the leads you all, here and via PM. My Ghia isn't going to roll out with all stock parts, but I think there are plenty of parts where only stock will do. Viva la Samba!
Charley

[bowlingbrad]

I will be getting my new windshield, rubber and chrome within a week. I will try to take pictures of the whole process. I got a little tip from Scott at KGPR - after the rubber and chrome are installed on the windshield, and before you put it in, put a dab of super glue under the chrome on the corners to make sure they hold down. I'll keep everyone posted!

Question; do you think the new rubber will be the same dimension (coverage over the car) as the original rubber? I know this car was originally orange, now it's white. I just don't want an orange border around my new windshield rubber. Will I be able to test the new rubber properly?

[Gary]

Brad,

I can't answer your question, but I can tell you that after having installed found windows in my Super Beetle this year that a product called "Tire Wet" works great as a lubricant. It cleans up better than soapy water and works great at lubricating both the groove of the rubber and the window opening.
_________________
West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943)

[DSF]

I think everyone carries the blocked corner stuff. Just ask whoever you normally buy your parts from. Here's from KGPR site:

VW #: 143-845-121 C GR
T CHANNEL Fr Vin 146 530 703. Molded w/Corners, Made In Germany

German
Fits :
1966 - 1969 Coupe and Convertible

[NOVA Airhead]

I did mine last weekend. It was not a bad job and these instructions helped tremendously.

The PO had installed the CAL Look gasket. I wanted to go back to the stock trim. After finding a good used one at a reasonable price I purchased the good German blocked gasket. Here are some photos of the install if this helps anybody.

Where I started. I removed the wipers, rearview mirror and visors before starting after cutting away and removing the old CAL Look gasket. It came off pretty easy but I took my time making severl passes with a sharp utility knofe:

Next was the intslall of the gasket and trim on the windshield. It appears that a PO replaced the windshield at one time. Its in good condition.

I used a little silcone spray and a chopstick made this go much easier. Every time I go to a chinese restaurant I collect these. They are great to have around for cleaning small parts as they are strong enough to put a cloth at the end but the wood won't damage anything. I used the chopstick to open up the channel as I put the wire in. I used wire instead of string as I had no string but had the wire laying around.

Next I put a thin piece of bell wire in the inside slot. Now the windshield is ready to install:

I laid the windshield in the bottom channel using some silcone spray and then worked around from side to side pulling the wire and the gasket over the inside lip:

The finished result. Now I just need to put the wipers, mirror and visors back on:

_________________
Ghia Owner Emeritus