Preparing for painting

The question should be not how hard it is to pull the windshield, but the fact that, if the thing is not leaking water now, it may with a removal/replace. And if you cut the gasket to easily remove the glass, a new gasket may be $250 USD. Getting the assembly to seat at the gasket edges after being disturbed is often a problem- not at the glass but the gasket to body area. I recommend a continuous bead of glass-specific silicone sealer applied all the way around under the gasket lip. I also recommend leaving off any chrome or black windshield trim; from 10 ft away, the bare gasket looks just like the popular 'blacked-out' trim without the hassle of reinstalling it onto the car.

Glass-specific transparent silicone is different and does NOT smell like vinegar when curing. Ordinary silicone exudes acetic anhydride which combines with moisture in the air to form acetic acid, and some will be trapped between the silicone and the body. Corrosion worse than rust will be the result. But removing the windshield does give one the opportunity to repair the inevitable rust pits in the cowl window channel.

I would not follow Jack's advice and leave off windshield trim, it is a part of the overall assembly for holding the windshield in place. The drip gutter trim can be hard to remove without damage. If this is a driver as it sounds and you are obviously painting the same color I think you could get away with masking the windshield and gutter trim etc.

I would hope that your painter has mixed up enough paint to do the whole car as there is risk in shade matching if mixing piecemeal for each time you have something painted.

Julian

If the windshield gasket and the trim are in good condition meaning they do not leak or need to be replaced. I lift the outer edge of he gasket and place a rope say 1/4" to hold up the gasket. Prep and pain the area under the lifted gasket and remove the rope. Works really well for a repaint. A restoration on the other hand requires removal IMO.

I guess I have been lucky. I've done several restorations and the glass has been removed by pushing out with one's feet while your back is against the seat. Generally, the gasket has been reused.

I was able to remove and replace the windshield while re-using the gasket on my car. I did this because the trim had dents in it but the gasket was in really good condition.

We did not push with our feet however. One was on the outside pulling and the other on the inside pushing gently while at the same time folding the rubber gasket lip over the car body flange.

quote:

Originally posted by ItalFord:
If the windshield gasket and the trim are in good condition meaning they do not leak or need to be replaced. I lift the outer edge of he gasket and place a rope say 1/4" to hold up the gasket. Prep and pain the area under the lifted gasket and remove the rope. Works really well for a repaint. A restoration on the other hand requires removal IMO.

The rope trick seems the way to go, to risk getting it out with ones feet seems too chancy and the cost of a new one scary!

the roof and door trims also look a safe bet to paint around, getting any Pantera parts to the UK is expensive enough, thanks for all the input everyone.

I know it's not "stock, but the PO of my car installed the windshield like that of modern cars, and simply glued it in, flush with the body. It looks super clean, and with a 1/4" bit of paint around the edge, you cannot tell it wasn't ever not supposed to be that way.

I think that's a special oversized windshield. I don't think a stock windshield could be glued in.

I have painted about 12 panteras, I always prefer to leave the windshield in place if possible. Yes, I use the rope under the windshield gasket to blow a little paint under the gasket so it looks professional.
If there is rust in that area or the car is a color change, the glass comes out.
I have always been able to remove the glass and reinstall without problems except where it comes to the windshield trim.
It can be difficult to get the trim to "lay down" flat at the corners. Once in place it can be very difficult to get that trim to move or fit just right.