How do I Replace a Windshield on a 1978 Ford

Cracked windshields are not only illegal in most states, but are not safe on the road. Damaged windshields also let in moisture which, according to Auto Media, causes corrosive rust to form on steel surfaces and to compromise the adhesive bond of the windshield glass. To replace a windshield on a 1978 Ford vehicle, you will need a few tools, a powerful bonding agent and an assistant to help guide you. Contact your local Ford manufacturer to order replacement glass that fits your 78 model.

Instructions

1

Wear safety glasses and utility gloves to protect yourself against hazardous glass.

2

Dismount the rearview mirror. With a small Phillips screwdriver, remove the screws that secure it to the glass. Slide a small flathead screwdriver underneath the mirrors base and begin to pry upwards. If the adhesive is too strong, slide a thin razor blade underneath the base so that it will cut at the adhesive. Set the mirror aside once you have removed it.

3

Use a trim removal tool to remove the cars top trim piece that lines the outside of the windshield. Insert the hook of the tool inside the gap between the base of the windshield and its weatherstripping. The hook must reach all the way inside the trim until it stops at the trim clip. Once the hook reaches inside the clip, pull upwards on the clip so that it will loosen the trim. Once the trim is loosened, you can remove it manually.

4

Use a carpet knife to cut the windows inside molding from the outside of the Ford. Make the cut smooth, slicing around the perimeter at a steady pace.

5

From inside the vehicle, push on the glass with both hands to dislodge the windshield from its frame. Have an assistant catch the glass from the outside of the car so that it will not fall and break.

6

Use mild soap and a rag to clean away the sticky adhesive buildup from inside of the frame before replacing the windshield.

7

Apply a bead of urethane caulk on the inside of the window frame. With your assistant, set the glass in the bottom of the frame first, and then lift the upper portion of the glass up and inside the frame. Press your body weight on the glass so that it creates an airtight seal.

8

Allow the urethane caulk to set for 24 to 48 hours. Remount the rearview mirror with a mirror adhesive, which you can buy from an auto parts store. Follow the remounting process as directed on the product label.

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DIY Windshield Glass Scratch Repair

Common causes for scratches on vehicle windshields can be attributed to airborne rocks and other debris slamming into the glass at high speeds. The repair for scratches and nicks in a windshield is fairly simple, and you only need a few materials. Gather them then try to work outside on a sunny day. This will help speed the drying time for the repair.

Instructions

1

Combine water and a mild dish soap in a bucket. Pour in a few drops of denatured alcohol and stir with your hands. Put on your goggles.

2

Soak a cloth in the solution, then wipe down the entire windshield.

3

Soak another cloth in clean water then wipe down the windshield. Dry the windshield with a dry cloth.

4

Remove glass shards from the cracks. Use the corner of the razor blade to carefully dig out the loose pieces.

5

Fill the syringe with resin then squirt a few drops out to release air bubbles. Check the amount of resin that comes out as you press it.

6

Fill the cracks. Put the syringe tip in the crack, push down on the syringe end to release the resin. Allow it to overfill the entire crack. Let it dry for a few hours in the sun.

7

Remove the resin that has hardened above the surface by turning the razor blade on its side and scraping evenly across the surface.

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How to Repair Star Break in Windshield

A star break is a kind of break in a windshield that is usually made from a regular sized rock hitting the car. It looks like a small "x," or sometimes it can appear as just a little sliver. It doesnt really obscure your view, but over time, star breaks can grow into large cracks that will make the entire windshield to have to be replaced.

Instructions

1

Gather your tools. Grab your drill with a carbide tip. You also need a torch to heat up the break to prep the glass. Get cellophane patches and a couple of anaerobic resins like Stone Chip of Chipfix, Inc. products that works with ultraviolet light. You also need a UV light. Get out a probe to use as a chisel on the break. Pull out a regular razor blade to scrape the glass and most importantly for windshield repair will be the bridge. The bridge, also called Injectors, is the piece of equipment that sticks to the glass. It uses a piston that injects the resin in and siphons air out

2

Understand the process of repairing a windshield of make of. Windshields have two layers of laminated glass. When a rock or something hits the windshield, air gets in between the two layers, which will make the break contract until you have a long crack across the windshield. When the resin is injected inside the break, the bridge fills up the cracks while at the same time it pulls out any air that has been caught between the glass layers.

3

Make any break into a bullseye break. A bullseye break is the only kind of break that isnt going to keep on cracking because instead of little stars or lines shooting out that air gets in and expands, bullseye breaks have a little circle that surrounds any sharp fingers. Tap the probe into the center of the star break until the glass forms the circle. You dont have to tap too hard.

4

Drill into the center of the break. What you want to do is make sure there isnt any loose glass floating around in the broken area. As you drill the center of the break, a circle will pop around the break, making it become the classic bullseye, which is what you want.

5

Inject the resin into the Bridge or Injector. Place the Injectors tip right in the center of the break. Screw the feet down to secure it to the glass. Pull the vacuum. Some bridges have hand pumps, or may be electric or spring loaded. The vacuum draws the air out of the glass. Do that a few times to get all the air out.

6

Leave the Injector there and either let this cure in the sun or place an ultraviolet lamp next to it.

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How to Fix a Closed Crack in My Windshield

Vehicle windshields are highly susceptible to cracks and nicks. You can easily repair the windshield on your own without having to bring your vehicle to a professional. Less time and less money will be spent if you do the repair on your own, and you may have almost all supplies in your home already.

Instructions

1

Prepare the cleaning solution by combining water, dish detergent and several drops of denatured alcohol in the bucket. Mix it with your hands, and then place a soft cloth in the solution to soak. Put on your safety goggles.

2

Carefully scrape the loose pieces of glass from the crack using the corner of the razor blade. Scrape off any caked-on dirt and oil by laying the blade flat and pushing it across the surface.

3

Wash the area with the soap solution, then dry it off completely.

4

Get the syringe ready for the repair. Place the tip of the syringe in the resin bottle, and then pull back on the end to fill it.

5

Squirt a small amount of resin into the crack. Let it spread into the crack on its own. Add more if needed.

6

Let the resin cure for several hours. Go back and gently scrape any excess hardened resin from the surface.

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How to Remove a Windshield From a 1996 Oldsmobile Delta 88

The Oldsmobile Delta 88, or "88" for short, was a full-size vehicle manufactured at the end of the 1940s until 1999. You can remove the windshield from your 1996 Oldsmobile Delta 88 to save you the expense of paying an automotive glass shop to do it for you. It is not a difficult task to accomplish if you have someone to help you remove it. And it should take you only about 30 minutes. You will need a few tools and supplies, which you can purchase at a hardware or auto parts store.

Instructions

1

Lift up the windshield wipers to the cleaning position. Loosen and remove the nuts that hold the wipers in place with an adjustable wrench. Pry up the windshield wipers with a flathead screwdriver.

2

Put on gloves and pry up the rubber seal around the windshield with a pry tool. Remove the seal from the windshield with your hands after you have loosened it.

3

Poke the wire tool through the seal between the windshield and the frame. Run the wire around the entire perimeter of the windshield. This will break the urethane seal.

4

Position your helper at the outside front of the Oldsmobile. Have your helper put on thick work gloves. Sit inside the Delta in the drivers or passengers seat and push the windshield out of the frame with your hands while your helper catches it from outside the car.

5

Scrape off any old glue from the windshield frame with a utility knife.

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Windshield Replacement Procedures

Windshield replacement is an unfortunate aspect of owning an automobile. Small dings and cracks can quickly spread, disrupting your vision and weakening the integrity of the auto glass. Full coverage car insurance will often pay anything over your standard deductible, but those who do not have this type of coverage often face an expensive repair bill. One way around this is to simply to do the repair oneself. The procedure to change a windshield is relatively straightforward and can usually be accomplished by anyone who has an assistant and a basic tool set.

Prepare for Windshield Removal

It is important to prepare the automobile for windshield removal as a means of preventing damage from happening when the old windshield is taken out of the car. The most important step is to completely seal all defroster vents with masking tape. Small dust-like particles of glass are sometimes present when auto glass is removed. It is important to keep the glass out of the defroster, which would blow it around the car when turned on.

Also remove the windshield wiper arms from the car. If your new windshield does not include the rear-view mirror, you may wish to remove the one from your old windshield to reuse. Use a flat screwdriver to gently pry the mirror off of the surface of the glass.

Old Windshield Removal

Inspect the rubber gasket that runs along the border of the windshield. If the rubber is in good condition and can be peeled away in a single strip, the gasket may be able to be used again. If the rubber is cracked or damaged, the gasket will need to be replaced when you install the new windshield.

Peel back the gasket to free its grip on the auto glass. If you will be replacing the rubber, you may find it easier to just cut through the rubber with a utility knife. If you choose to do this, remember to go back over the area after the glass is removed to trim away any remaining pieces.

Attach suction handles to the outside of the windshield. If no suction handles are available, wear thick gloves that are resistant to cutting. Have one person push the old windshield free from the inside of the car, while another lifts it away from the outside.

Install the New Windshield

Use a shop vac or a brush and dust pan to clean the area where the old windshield was removed. It is important to clean away any dust or glass as well as to trim away any rubber that may still be attached to the metal of the car. If any rust is spotted, sand it away and paint over the metal with paint primer.

Clean the edges of the glass and allow the windshield to dry. Once dry, rub a generous amount of windshield primer around the edges of the glass. When primed, use adhesive to secure a rubber gasket to the border of the windshield. Have a friend help you carefully lower the glass into place and secure its position with windshield adhesive.

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How to Remove a Car Windshield

A cars windshield takes a beating from various debris encountered on the road. Chips can become cracks, which reduce visibility as well as the effectiveness of the safety features within the glass. Minor chips can be repaired without removing the windshield, but substantial damage requires replacement of the damaged windshield. The first step in the replacement process is, of course, to remove the existing windshield. Thankfully, doing so is a relatively straightforward task that can save you money by avoiding the cost of labor associated with professional removal.

Instructions

1

Remove the windshield wipers, if applicable. Many cars have windshield wipers that rest against the surface of the windshield when not in use. Other cars have windshield wipers that come to rest below the windshield in the cowl. Windshield wipers that rest against the windshield must be removed before the windshield can be removed. Windshield wiper removal tools are available at most auto parts retailers. The tip of the tool slides underneath the wiper and is then used to pry the wiper off of the wipers post. Other wipers are attached to the vehicle with clips or screws, which must first be removed before the wiper can be pulled away from its post.

2

Remove the chrome trim that surrounds the windshield, if applicable. Chrome windshield trim typically appears on vehicles manufactured before the early 1980s. A trim removal tool is necessary here. The tip of the tool slides between the trim and the edges of the windshield. The tool is then pushed away from the windshield, which in turn pushes the trim away from the trims retaining posts.

3

Use a razor blade to cut through the weatherstripping that surrounds the outside edges of the windshield. The weatherstripping must be cut away until the edges of the glass can be seen.

4

Push on one side of the windshield from the interior of the car until the windshield breaks free from only that side of the car. If the windshield will not break free, check to ensure that the weatherstripping has been cut enough to expose the entire circumference of the windshield.

5

Push the opposite side of the windshield from the interior of the car until the windshield breaks free.

6

Lift the windshield away from the vehicle to complete the removal process.

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Parts of a Windshield

A windshield is the front window of a vehicle, such as a car, truck, bus, motorcycle, airplane or train. The glass protects people from the elements during travel and helps preserve the internal temperature of a vehicle. Windshields also help support the roof of some vehicles and can serve a critical role in rollover accidents.

Glass

Windshields are generally made out of "laminated safety glass," a sealed combination of two pieces of glass with a layer of vinyl encased in between. Some windshields are designed to be more lightweight while maintaining a high impact quality, such as the acrylic plastic found on motorcycles. Other windshields need to withstand high levels of pressure, such as those found on submarines and space shuttles, and are made out of reinforced polycarbonate.

Frame

A windshield is held in place by a metal piece of trim, a sticky seal, metal clips and a plastic or metal molding. This frame sits within the core structure of the vehicle and ensures that the glass doesnt slip or vibrate out of place.

Wiper

Although the wiper is not attached to the windshield, it serves a key role in keeping the glass clean. The arm, blade and motor work together to sweep the windshield in an oscillating arc. When the blades wear out or the arm doesnt correctly press against the glass, streaks will form on the windshield that can limit visibility.

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How to Repair Cracked Windshield

Small stones, sticks, plastic and other road debris can cause damage to the windshield of a car. Chips and cracks can be sealed and repaired without having to replace the entire windshield, saving the vehicle owner hundreds of dollars. Windshield repair at home requires approximately one hour.

Instructions

1

Clean the windshield with a rag and glass cleaner. Make sure loose glass chips and dirt particles are removed from the crack.

2

Place the suction cup that comes with a repair kit on the end of the resin-filled syringe. Secure the suction cup over the crack in the windshield.

3

Depress the syringes plunger. Pull it slowly back up to remove air from the crack. Slowly depress the plunger again, pushing the resin into the crack. Depress the plunger at least 10 more times. Keep the syringe attached to the windshield. Let the resin cure for 30 minutes after each depression of the syringes plunger.

4

Remove the suction cup and syringe from the windshield. Scrape excess resin from around the crack with a razor blade. Do not scrape the resin in the crack itself.

5

Clean the area with glass cleaner, and wipe it down with a clean, cloth rag.

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How to Repair an Automobile Windshield

A damaged windshield should always be promptly repaired, if not replaced. The windshield is actually a major structural component of your vehicles cabin, and driving with a damaged or unstable windshield can be dangerous, especially if you encounter strong winds or are involved in a crash. Windshield work often requires professional help, but for the experienced practitioner, it is possible to repair your own.

Instructions

1

Acquire a thorough understanding of how to remove and install windshields by reading a good selection of auto repair manuals. You can obtain such manuals and reference materials from your car dealership or you can purchase windshield repair videos, either from your local bookstore or online. You should feel absolutely comfortable in repairing your cars windshield.

2

Wax down the windshield moldings until it is completely soaked, allowing you to easily remove the trim without damaging the windshield itself. If possible, repeat this process everyday for at least three days, especially if the trim is old and rusted. When the molding is completely soft, removing the trimmings should be almost automatic.

3

Slip the hooked trim removal tool underneath the trim so that the hook can connect with one of the clips. Release the clip by pulling the tool toward you or the middle of the window. Normally the trim will be connected with a snap on clip or a bolt on clip. Repeat this process for each clip along the windshield.

4

Cut the butyl window seal away from the windshield with a utility knife. Do this around the whole circumference of the windshield. This must be done with caution in order not to further damage the glass.

5

Use the cold knife to penetrate the butyl material. To do this, position the 90 degree blade of the cold knife into the channel between the windshield and metal frame. The blade should be in alignment with the frame of the windshield. Pulling the T-handle of the cold knife should allow it to penetrate the butyl material. The whole process of cutting through the butyl material should take no longer than six minutes.

6

Push out the windshield gently from inside the car. As you do this, the window will stay in place due to the factory rests attached to the cowl. Seek an assistant or two to hold the windshield up until you get out of the car. Once the windshield is removed, put it aside for repair and installation.

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How to Remove the Windshield on a 66 Beetle

Perhaps you are painting your classic Volkswagen Beetle and you want to remove the windshield so you can paint under the trim. Or maybe the rubber seal around the windshield has started to rot and crumble. Removing the windshield on a 1966 Beetle is not a difficult job, because the windshield is flat, small, and fairly sturdy. Still, be careful not to push the glass too hard or warp it, lest it break.

Instructions

1

Sit in the passenger seat of the Beetle. Starting at the top right corner, slip the blade of a utility knife between the rubber seal and the windshield, holding the handle of the knife as closely as possible to the windshield. Press the blade until it slices through the rubber, touching the metal frame beneath the rubber.

2

Cut the rubber seal horizontally along the entire top side of the windshield. Similarly cut the rubber seal on the left and right sides of the windshield, cutting from top to bottom.

3

Place your hands on the inside left and right sides of the windshield. Gently push the windshield out, applying pressure equally to both hands. Pivot the glass on the bottom edge where the rubber seal has not been cut. Push until the glass will stand by itself an inch or two outside the top edge, but do not push so far that it will fall out.

4

Step outside the car and carefully lift the glass away from the car and rubber seal. Pull out the old rubber seal from around the window.

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