Windshield Swap Flat Top To Curved Top.

1968 flat top, bottom wipers. Hood prop.

 

Those foam blocks that folks use on canoe gunwales when transporting on rooftop work really well for this. Or a length of pool noodle.

 

I agree. I have seen a lot of hoods damaged from the windshield being down. There is no bracing built into the hood. Dent it and get over it or don't drive with it down.

 

I received my new windshield and frame from Summit! Just have to sand/prime/paint before I can install. I'm planning on painting with duplicolor rattle can semigloss black wheel paint. Seems to me the wheel paint is maybe tough enough to resist chips and UV damage etc.

Does anyone have any crucial tips on installing the windshield, weather stripping, or cowl gasket?

 

To install the glass in the windshield. You need to have a helper.

I mount the frame to the Jeep. Place the rubber seal around the glass, I like to put the gap at top, and the channel for the locking strip to the outside (front of Jeep). Trim any excess with a single edge razor blade.

Place a piece of cord (parachute cord will work) into the groove of the seal all the way around with enough length to cross over at top with enough to get a good hold on it. Lubricate the rubber with either dish soap, or Gojo hand cleaner, set the bottom groove onto the flange of the frame with the glass leaning toward the front of the Jeep.

With the helper pushing down on the top rubber and inward on the glass toward the frame you pull on the cords from the inside of the Jeep to cause the rubber to pull over the flange and seat into the groove. Once installed, the locking strip will need to be inserted, pulled in using a tool specific for this purpose.

On the cowl seal. I have bought a couple that were about an inch too long. I found one that fit perfectly, and will look back to see if I can find out where I got it.

The brand of cowl seal I found that fit perfectly was "Precision"

I didn't find the same seller on Ebay, but did find another seller with this brand of seal.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3710236207...9sjc3/lEYGLwlPkkO1ATR9lw==|tkp:Bk9SR4zjvIPrYQ

 

I had the same issue finding a correct length cowl seal. I used the info from this thread to get one from eBay that fit properly. http://www.earlycj5.com/xf_cj5/index.php?threads/147775/

I had a glass shop install the glass into the frame, it wasn’t very expensive but I had previously worked with them on other projects and had a good relationship with them. Do you have the wiper parts for the new set up? I found it easier to install the mechanism with the frame off the vehicle.
Tim

 

I found its easier to install flat glass from the inside because as you pull the rope the seal folds over better without the locking strip in the way. If you put it in from the outside the inside will be a solid piece of rubber and its harder especially if you use an old seal. Overall pretty easy job just use plenty of dish soap and plastic bicycle tire irons come in handy for the corners

 

I put mine in from the inside with the windshield off. No helper so that if it broke it would be on me. Nothing easy about it.

 

Before you attempt installing the glass, size up the glass dimension and the opening for it in the frame. I have seen aftermarket frames that need to be trimmed to allow an even gap for the gasket.
-Donny

 

Awesome! Added to cart!

I hadn't started thinking about wipers yet hahaha. hmmmm..... Do you guys have any links for complete kits? My current windshield has only a single manual wiper. I'll need the whole shebang!

 

I don't think there are complete kits available for the '75 and earlier. I have seen the mechanisms for '76 and up modified to fit earlier.
Not sure if the motor goes inside or out. There was some welding involved. It looks like the intermediate motors are available again.
Not sure if the covers are to be found. If you don't have a bottom mount setup, it makes it difficult to go to the later style windshield.

 

Crap haha. Maybe I'll fab up a cover plate to atleast keep the rain out in the meantime. I'd also be fine with adding a single manual wiper again.... just need to find one with a long enough pivot that'll go all the way through the deep frame.

 

Barneys has a complete replacement (adjustable) for the lower wiper mechanism for this windshield
https://www.ebay.com/itm/154422524588?hash=item23f44cbaac:g:KbwAAOSwY~1aCfq~
Dennis

 

I did not see or forgot I saw this. Looks good. Barney is a pretty cool dude, too. He's been around jeeps for awhile.

 

I ordered one also. I have a new one that I purchased years ago and did not like the fit. Cleaned up the old one and it was great.
The rubber then tuned hard and slick...reducer gassing off from the paint maybe. The paint had been on at least 15 years.

 

Following up on this! I FINALLY got it done! Here are some pics of the process....

Got a crown w/s frame and had to sand off burrs, slag, razor sharp edges etc. and of course, scuff and paint.

Also painted the accessories to match.

Getting the glass in took almost 400 years. But I managed to do it without breaking it or scratching my new paint job!

I got the kit from Barneys! Thanks for the tip!!!!

Had to add a new fuse block to accommodate the wiper motor

I cut a tiny notch out of the inside facing part of the w/s to cowl gasket and was able to run the wiring like this instead of cutting a new hole in my dash .

Stripped all the rust from the old upper hinges, recoated em in POR 15 and had to grind down the sides of them in order to make the windshield/latches line up. The chinese repop frame was just the tiniest bit off

Im still waiting on my 2nd wiper blde to arrive so I've only got one installed but everything seems to be working!

Most importantly, I CAN SEE STOPLIGHTS FINALLY without having to hunch over!!!!!! The higher windshield is AMAZING!!!

Thanks for all the help!!!!

 

Nice job. I think the curved top windshield is a huge visibility improvement.

 

Looking good! How did you like the windshield cowl gasket? I received mine but have not looked at it yet.

 

The curved glass is nice. I lowered my seats some and have no complaints. Finishing up the wheelbarrow notch. So much fun to do on a painted Jeep.
Just need to cure the problem of the body not sitting on the frame squarely. I thought I had it right. Must have been the that's "good enough" mentality
while having a two few many s.

 

That's basically how it worked at the factory when it was built the first time.