39 truck windshield adjustment help

NCSUDucker

NCSUDucker

Senior Member
Ok for the life of me I can't figure out what is going on. The windshield as always stopped about about a 1/2" from closing all the way. I had a new gasket from Metro Moulded installed by a local glass place last summer. I took it windshield to them. Turns out they installed it wrong. So i ordered a new one from Steele and was able to install it quite easily today in the correct manner. I tested my window crank regulator and it goes all the way in without the windshield, no problem. I peaked through the arm holes and all teeth lol good. Added some grease, easy turning. Put the windshield back on and it still wanted to stop short, granted the new gasket seals correctly and will keep water out, at least by testing with the hose. I took the screws out from the regulator and pulled it all the way in. The window would not go in and wanted to sit out a couple of inches. Obviously it seems like it is binding at the top, i loosened all of the adjustment screws for up and down and front to back to try and get the window to seat properly but still no luck. Here's some pictures of where it stops. I've even tried pressing on the center while having someone turn the knob, but that only gains a little. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears although I dead taking that headliner panel off for what feels like the 100th time. One small victory, never noticed the little drain holes in the corners, yeah mine were draining straight into the cab. I attached some tubing and routed it underneath. Tested both and water flows quickly out of the out under the truck.

Thanks in advance
 

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Did you attempt to close the windshield assembly prior to installing the gasket?
Methinks the gasket is too stiff and / or not quite correct.
Many of the modern gaskets were made with rubber that is much harder than the authentic.
There are durometer specifications for that gasket. My guess is your issue isn't with the adjustment and / or the regulator but rather, the gasket.
 
NCSUDucker said:
Ok for the life of me I can't figure out what is going on. The windshield as always stopped about about a 1/2" from closing all the way. I had a new gasket from Metro Moulded installed by a local glass place last summer. I took it windshield to them. Turns out they installed it wrong. So i ordered a new one from Steele and was able to install it quite easily today in the correct manner. I tested my window crank regulator and it goes all the way in without the windshield, no problem. I peaked through the arm holes and all teeth lol good. Added some grease, easy turning. Put the windshield back on and it still wanted to stop short, granted the new gasket seals correctly and will keep water out, at least by testing with the hose. I took the screws out from the regulator and pulled it all the way in. The window would not go in and wanted to sit out a couple of inches. Obviously it seems like it is binding at the top, i loosened all of the adjustment screws for up and down and front to back to try and get the window to seat properly but still no luck. Here's some pictures of where it stops. I've even tried pressing on the center while having someone turn the knob, but that only gains a little. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears although I dead taking that headliner panel off for what feels like the 100th time. One small victory, never noticed the little drain holes in the corners, yeah mine were draining straight into the cab. I attached some tubing and routed it underneath. Tested both and water flows quickly out of the out under the truck.

Thanks in advance
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I did not and only thought about it afterwards. This one from Steele is definitely thinner abs more supple than the one that was installed incorrectly from Metro Moulded. It looks like sure windshield needs to go up as there is more of recess showing at the top but I'm out of adjustment in that range. But at the same time i feel like it's hitting at the top first. The frame doesn't appear to have any sag, but it may. If it will keep the rain out while driving I'll probably just live with it. It's been pretty much a daily driver since March, with about 4500 miles on it since then. I just hate having to worry about rain.
 
From the pictures it looks like your gasket is not up tight against the windshield frame.
If that is the case, then it will not ever close correctly.
 
nelsb01 said:
From the pictures it looks like your gasket is not up tight against the windshield frame.
If that is the case, then it will not ever close correctly.
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I think that's just the way it shows in the image. The channel was clean as a whistle and the gasket is all the way in and snaps into to place. The image at the top is where it is compressed all the way down like it should be once closed. At the bottom it's not and giving the appearance of being all the way in.

I did a little more digging on previous threads and found one about the hinge hitting the pinch weld. That didn't even dawn on me yesterday but mine definitely does, as I've had the header panel off many times before trying to stop a mysterious rattle. I remember noticing the hinge is only maybe a 64th away from the pinch weld. If that's the case the there is no way for the window to close all the way because the hinge hits a stop. I'm going to pull it again and see if the hinge mounts will adjust out some. I had loosened all the adjustment bolts but there is a good chance the in/out adjustment of the hinge was seized to the cab and not maxed out. I'm going to loosen all of them again and see if I can't tap the hinge mount with a block of wood to move the upper frame out some.
 
NCSUDucker said:
Yeah your thread was the one I came across. I'm going to pull that damn headliner one more time today and see what I can figure out🤣
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Have the same problem with my 39 Tudor. Tried a Drake seal and a carpenter one and still have the same problems although not as bad as yours. I put it on the back burner as I had to keep moving forward. Mine leaks when closed. It’s really a pita. I’ll have to revisit it later. But I’m not getting any younger.
 
One trick that often works takes 3 people. loosen all the adjustment screws and regulator screws. Retract regulator until fully closed. Then two people, one on each side, push the windshield back until the rubber seats all the way around. Then while the windshield is pushed against the body the inside person tightens all the screws. This should find the sweet spot to get the best seal.
 
Appreciate all the input. Unfortunately my radiator sprung a leak today so the windshield will have to wait...boo. We have an old school radiator shop here but no clue what it's going to run. Don't expect it to be cheap.
 
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