Anyone ever install a fiberglass windshield frame on a CJ? I tried installing the glass & seal and it doesn't fit in the frame all the way. It seems I have to shave the inner frame down because its much thicker than the stock metal frame, so the rubber doesn't go in all the way. I wanted someone's opinion who has done this before so I don't screw up my new frame...
Thanks.
By trimming, do you think it means making the inner frame that the rubber mounts to thinner or making the diameter bigger? Does your glass move at all if you push it or is it perfectly rigid in the frame?
Mine fits tight, but I am going to have to go around the weatherstripping with a bead of silicone type stuff as water still comes in around it (yes I replaced it when I swapped to the f-glass frame). Take the glass out of the weatherstripping and hold it up in the frame and see how much gap you have. I would probably get a dremel and try and grind a little off the lip that goes up into the weatherstripping and see if it goes in then. Better call the people you got it from first and ask them. Once you start grinding, you're in with no way of getting that grinded off material back.
You're right about the grinding, that's what scares me! I managed to get it in almost all the way but it moves and I don't want it coming off. The seal alone fits in perfectly, but with the glass in, it just won't go in all the way. I even used soapy water...
The lip is about 1/4 inch thick and the metal frame was about 1/8 of an inch thick. Do you recommend I shave a little off to make it thinner or will that weaken it? I would bring it to a winshield shop but I called a few and it seems they all know very little about CJ's, especially with custom parts... Maybe I should have gone with metal!
Nah, metal will rust eventually (I replaced mine with steel once, and it was rusted out after 6-7 years, even though I thought I did a very thourough job of painting it before installation). Where did you get the fglass frame? Call them and ask about trimming. I took my old steel frame with glass in it along with the new fglass frame to a shop and they uninstall/ reinstalled the glass for $40. Rather let them worry about breaking the glass.... If you can't get any info from the vendor, and can't get any shop there to touch it, you're gonna have to trim it if it won't go in. Just be real careful and trim a little (like 1/16" at a time) and try to get it in again. I don't think you will have any problem with the glass actually sliding around once it's in. good luck!
I just cracked the glass. I bought the frame on Ebay 6 months ago and just go around to installing it. It was new but from an individual, so no luck getting any info from him. Anyways, I will trim a little at a time and put it back in, then start shopping for new glass. F_ck am I an idiot!!!!!!!!
Thanks for your help though, I appreciate it!
You could always just put it on the jeep, and then take it to a shop and tell them you need a new windshield...... They might have some trick to getting it in that you don't know of, and might be able to do it without trimming it. I'd take it in, and if they have any trouble getting it in, I'm sure you'd hear about it, and they might have run into a windshield frame that was a hair undersized before and know what to do with it. OH and don't feel too bad, I forgot to latch my hood right after I got my new glass. It went bye right around the 40 mph and was nice enough to dent the hell out of my hood on it's way into my lap. That was on my way to my buddies to swap in a new steering box. Since I was already pissed I proceeded to twist the heads off the bolts holding the steering box onto the frame. Sometimes you just can't win for losing......
Its funny i read this today. We were just talking about how the wrangler windshield is glued in and the CJ used the rubber to hold it in.
So if the wranglers are glued in, that may mean that they are bigger. If that is the case, you may be able to glue in a wrangler windshield and not have to worry about the thickness of the frame.
So does anyone know if the YJ windshield is bigger then the CJ glass.
I never had a problem with 2 different windshields in my fiberglass frame. However, I never bought a pre-made windshield.....both times I brought the frame and gasket to my local glass shop and had them cut one out. Each time it cost me $40. I put them in myself and they went in very smoothly. They probably would have roped it in for like 5 bucks...it only took me 15 minutes.
I didn't know a glass shop could make a windshield, is it only tempered glass or does it have to meet requirements for safety? (not that we're really concerned about safety...)
If the shop can't install it, I'll bring it to a glass shop nearby to see if they can do it for me.
I'm starting to get fed up with this CJ I love so much - I'm starting a new thread on CJ vs. TJ
That's cheap. The cheapest I was able to find around here was 110 for the glass and 40-60 just for the install (one place quoted me $410 for the glass & install!)
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