Finally got my car painted and before I drive it home we need to put the windshield back in. I bought front and rear window gaskets on eBay and received Uro parts in the correct number. The rear window went in fine, but the windshield gasket is just hanging off the windshield. It's about 2-3 inches too long. Is this normal or did I receive a bum gasket that's too long? Past experience tells me you sometimes need to lay the gaskets out in the sun to get them to stretch over the windshield, and I can almost twist a loop in the extra material in this gasket.

Can someone confirm this is actually bad before I go drop $100 on another one?

Thanks,
Darel

 

The rope trick that worked on the rear window doesn't work with the windshield.

Go to Lowes or Home Depot and buy a bunch (10 - 12 or so) of WOODEN paint stirrers. The gasket IS NOT too long. You'll need help, so get an assistant. Put the gasket on the windshield,put the windshield roughly into position on the outside of the body opening and have your assistant hold it in place (be carefull and DON"T PRESS or get rough). Go inside the car and using your paint stirrers lever the rubber gasket over the body seam. The windshield will go right in. I used this method when I changed the windshield gasket in my '83 coupe. It's a little tedious but not difficult.

Good luck!
Roger

 

OK, wasn't expecting that. So this gasket is really supposed to be this loose and saggy? You can't even keep in around the window when you're handling it. I can almost twist a full loop in it.

 

As you work the gasket into position it will take up space, tighten and all will be fine. BTW, keep the join/seam in the gasket at the bottom center of the windshield.

As a "test fit" run the gasket into position (without the glass) around the seam in the body opening and you'll see that it fits.

 

I don't recall there being a "Gap" in my gasket when I installed my window in my 82 xjs. It was just one big loop, and it fit snug around the windshield. I dropped the WS in and worked the gasket around from the bottom to the top a little at a a time from the inside and the out. Gravity held it in and I did it by myself. (Although help would have been nice). Oh yes, lots of petroleum jelly to help it along. The only trouble I had was in the top corners. It took forever for a crease in the outside lip to lie down. I'm not trying to stir anything up, just trying to add my experience. I hope this helped, Bud

 

Yeah, I have no gap, just one continuous piece. We did try laying it in the car as well as around the glass.

I ordered another one. If it's the same, I'll have to figure out a way to make it work. I do expect it to be at least snug around the glass though, as buddyluv sattes. Glad to hear this was true for at least one other person.

We'll have to see what happens when the new one gets here. I cannot imagine this one I have getting in there at all. If they're the same, well, I'll have to figure it out.

 

*states

 

Thinking back I remember a seam in the rubber seal - no gap; it's been more than ten years since I replaced mine and my memory maybe isn't as sharp as it was. In any case I had no trouble installing my windshield. I did use silicone spray to slick things up.

 

"Chevy engine swaps kill Jags"

Bingo! If I wanted a Corvette I would have bought one!

 

You need to read The Book. For an XJ-S, the windshield gasket is installed in the opening of the body, which will force it to compress. The windshield is then installed into the seated gasket.