Drake's windshield frame seal 35/36

O

oldford

Senior Member
I would like to put a new seal on my 35 windshield frame and was wondering why Drake's seal cost double what everyone else does. He states that it features a "rain gutter" design. Anyone ever used a Drake seal.
 
I wondered the same thing. I need to replace the windshield seal on my '35 as well. While I was at Hershey I talked to both Drake and Carpenter about their WS seals. Drake wanted $40.00 and Carpenter wanted $20.00. The salesman for Drake claimed they have the best rubber parts available. Hmmmm, I don't know about that :confused:. I think I will try Carpenter and save the $20.00. Has anyone recently installed one that they bought from Carpenter?
 
Installed 1 of each,first up was a drake seal cracked at the corners after 1 yr,then a carpenter one ,that one is still in there and no cracks but both have leaked from the getgo. Maybe drakes is better now. This was approx. 15 yrs ago. ken ct.
 
I just put a Dennis Carpenter seal in my 34 , it fit good, took about an hour , be sure to clean out " all" the old seal, then I used lubricant stuff called KY and the new seal went in well and then just washed any surplus off with the hose and a little soap, I'm happy with the Carpenter seal so far. JMO ..:)
 
Speaking of windshield seals, where do the windshield drain tubes drain to? Is there supposed to be a special hole in the wood sills for the tubes to drop through? ('35 1 1/2 ton) ..B.
 
oldford-

I don't know if they are still available but the best window seal for a '35-'36 I have found was available form J.C. Whitney - that's right J.C. Whitney! The seal was an import from Argentina.

I was kind of suspect about the seal when I open the package. However, everything seemed to be the right size except the seal was 1/8" wider than the original. Well, I decided I would try it out. The seal fit the channel perfectly and formed a tight fit around the frame. The best part turned out to be the extra 1/8" width. This extra width not only created a better sealing surface but it also covered the crush line in the paint that was left by the old seal. I was so impressed with the seal that I made several careful measurements of it and send a letter to Bob Drake of my findings and along with my positive impressions. No response from Drake.

The seal is now ten years old with no signs of deterioration. Oh yes, the price, $9.95.

I admit that 99.9 percent of imports leave a lot to be desired but this one left a very positive impression.

Tom
 
Barlea said:
Speaking of windshield seals, where do the windshield drain tubes drain to? Is there supposed to be a special hole in the wood sills for the tubes to drop through? ('35 1 1/2 ton) ..B.
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The drains pass through the firewall via a rubber hose. Usually the hole is between and just below the choke and throttle rod openings. What are you talking about "wood sills"?
 
On my 34 car the drain hose that comes thru the firewall and between the choke and throttle holes is the Drain from the Cowel Vent are the pickups different ? I do have a hole at each end of the windshield on the body but there is no hose or a way to attach a hose for a drain, these holes are about 3/16" very small , what are they for ??:confused:
 
The hole at each end of the windshield on the body has a small pipe about 1/2" long pointing down. These originally had a rubber hose pushed over the pipe same size as a wiper hose. There were only hardened stubs of the original hose left that I assumed drained the water out of the cab by going down behind the kick panels and out the bottom of the cab. Could these hoses tee together with the drain hose from the cowl vent and exit through the firewall? Are these windshield drains present on other Fords to '39 with the crank out glass? ..B.
 
Barlea-

I can't speak for all pre-'40 windshields but '35 and '36 have the same thing you describe. As for the drains on the ends of the windshield troughs , you are correct, the water drains down behind the cowl panels with the hope it will find the drain hole at the bottom of the cowl pan and drain out. Of course, the hole becomes plugged and the water decides to gradually rot away the lower cowl.

To get around this I have seen several ideas. A common idea is to drill a small hole through the firewall on each side of the car and run a short piece of rubber tubing connecting the windshield drain to the firewall hole. This works but you will be adding to your firewall "hole collection" which is not something a lot of guys like to do.

Your suggestion of routing everything out the cowl drain hose is very "workable." In fact, this is exactly what I did to my '35. It works as planned and is easy to install. My only suggestion is to use a small piece of copper tubing to the cowl drain from each side rather than having everything all rubber tubing. If you use all rubber a sag can/will develop in the rubber tubes leaving a reserve of water in the lines at all times.

Hope this helps.

Tom
 
flatheadfan-

You hit the nail right on the head. The last time I installed one of these gaskets I thought if only this thing was 1/8" wider it would seal so much better. I called JC Witney and they could not find the item. Guess i will go with carpenter.
 
Lawson Cox said:
The drains pass through the firewall via a rubber hose. Usually the hole is between and just below the choke and throttle rod openings. What are you talking about "wood sills"?
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My bad. I was thinking of the cowl vent. My 35 PU does not have drain holes in the corners of the windshield.

I will pay more attention to this as I look at other pickups in my research for "The Book".
 
Hi Lawson, Several people here in CA have asked me when your '35-'36 PU book may be finished? Can you possibly give us a projected/estimated completion date? I know that's asking a lot but many people are wondering when it will be available and looking forward to getting a copy of that book.... including me.:D Thank you!
 
O K, here is the way most early V8's drain the windshield. There is a hole on each side of the windshield opening at the corner and a tube about 1 1/2 inch long extending down from each hole. A piece of windshield wiper hose is attached to each tube and goes down behind the kick panel to the bottom of the panel. The water drains out through drain holes on the bottom of the cowl side panel onto the running board. 35-36 trucks have the drain holes as described.
 
JM 35 Sedan said:
Hi Lawson, Several people here in CA have asked me when your '35-'36 PU book may be finished? Can you possibly give us a projected/estimated completion date? I know that's asking a lot but many people are wondering when it will be available and looking forward to getting a copy of that book.... including me.:D Thank you!
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I am wondering the same thing myself. lol. I have all sorts of information and photographs collected, and written up, but it still needs to be arranged in proper order etc, then passed on by the National Club etc. I am giving all of this information to my son who is going to start arranging it in proper format.

I am finding out things every day that need to be documented if at all possible. In fact, just this morning, (after reading the above posts about the w/s seal) I find that Jerry's trucks (35 & 36) both have a drain hole/tube in the corners of the w/s opening where my very early 35 cab does not have the drain holes in the corners and no indication that it ever had such holes. When were these added, or did someone on the line just goof on my cab?

You pickup guys help me out here. Does your pickup cab have those drain holes in the corners of the w/s opening. Let me know, and an approximate date of manufacture.

I have since talked with Fred Landis in Forney, Texas, and he has checked 7 truck cabs he has, and some have the holes and some don't. It seems the ones that do not have the holes are large truck cabs, with early removable garnish moldings. Just what this all means is up in the air for sure. Old Henry sure keeps us guessing doesn't he?
 
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Was there more than one manufacturer of the Ford pickup body in 1935 and 36? I know Ford did not build their own until 1940 and before that it was Budd in 1935-1936-1937-1938 -1939 and Murray mayby before that? Mayby one builder included the drains mayby another didn't.
 
As far as I know Budd built all 35-36 PU bodies. From what I have garnered so far, and it is not the final word, it seems that the 35 Big truck cabs that had the removable garnish moldings on the doors did not have the drain holes in the windshield openings while ones without removable garnish moldings did have. Take that for what it is worth. Not Gospel by any means at this point. Research continues.
 
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