I just had the front and rear windshields reinstalled after getting my Dart painted, and it's a disaster. I can tell they cut corners, and now I'm curious if they even installed it right at all.

I'd like to know a little bit about what I'm talking about before I go back and complain. Things like the proper use of bedding compound vs. urethane, etc. Anybody have knowledge on this topic?

(Please ignore the sawdust all over the car.)






*I did not pry the trim out to fit the yardstick in, but merely slipped it up to show how far out the trim is sitting.)



The rear window is about the same, just less urethane used on the outside of the trim.


Oh, and then I just noticed the chipped paint! Arg!

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I'm no expert on glass install but I know SKEEROOOD when I see it.I'd be all over those yahwhoos like a new suit. If you cann't get anywhere with them PM me as there's a couple good glass installers up here in PA.Good luck

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83 B-150 slant 6,4 speed. 79 B-300 360 pathfinder 4x4. 74 W-300 318 4x4 git-r-done 80 B-100 sl6,4speed

WOW now there is NOTHING right about that job!!!!!!!!!!! I dont even know where to start theres urathane everywhere,the windows are set in too deep and you dont use urathane to hold on the trim.I would ask for my money back and if they refuse contact the BBB or like organization

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Nick
86 d150 turbo /6.
64 valiant 4 door

What is the name of the shop that did this so we all know who to avoid?

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

I thought on a rubber gasket windshield you just put gasket in and sucked windshield in. No need to use urethane as it isn't a glue in windshield. The trim is supposed to be held in with clips isn't it? Not a very professional looking job. I'd be all over their @ss and make them pay for fixing the paint. I had a guy try to tell me my gray tinted windshield was originally green tint and turned gray over the years. He was trying to sell me a green one. Needless to say I told him he was full of it and took my business elsewhere. I would take it to a reputable shop and ask them what they thought and get a estimate to fix it. I think the gaskets will have to be changed as they will never get that urethane out of there without trashing it. Just my thoughts Mike

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Thanks Mike

Yeh, it looks crappy, but having done several of those in my own family's 75 & 74 darts, I know the headaches involved. Before you completely blow-up on them, there are some things you might consider (then have a stern talking to them later). #1- the trim clips are most often 30% to 60% broken, rusted away, or badly bent, rendering them unusable or marginal at best when re-installing the trim. I keep a stock of extra's gleaned from my parts cars, or almost similar new ones from the auto paint specialty store. #2- If the gasket is original, and the windshield has been replaced 2 or 3 times in the life of the car, that 35 year old gasket is stiff, and may have finally cracked when they were installing it again. If that is the case, they may have tried to patch it together and fill the tear or crack with extra goo, to save you money and them the aggrivation of having to do the whole job over with a new gasket ($85.00). #3- The right and left lower corners of the windshield frame - the steel where the gasket attaches- are incredibly poorly designed. Those areas collect water and rust out under the gasket, and you may not discover how bad it is until you remove the windshield. Proper fix for this is a whole lot of manual labor of rust removal, chemical treating, epoxy primer, filler and more primer. The windshield guys can't do that, or they will charge you lots of $$. So they just knock off the loose rust, add lots of goo, and continue, hoping the extra gallon of goo will seal it for a year or two. From my experience, on my old '74, '75, and '76 Darts, I would never think a "windshield specialty" guy could do the job as it really needs to be done. Either pay a shop that specializes in restoring old cars, or do it yourself, maybe with some experienced helper or mentor. Those window guys may have gotten themselves in way over their heads on your job. Still learning, Pat

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"Louise", a 1976 Dart Custom project, (now sadly reverted to being just an "organ donor" to our other project Darts.)

6shot: I have a good glass guy too. I just let my painter use his guy...oops. Thanks though.

turbo: Yes, I will be going back to let them know I'm not satisfied with their work. I'm just trying to learn a thing or two first so they don't try to talk over my head to try to get out of it.

Reed: I'm going to wait to post that until everything is settled. They only have two stores, and both are on the peninsula near me, so you should be safe.

lowbudget: You're right. They did it wrong...

louise: I agree it's a headache, but that's no excuse for not caring about your work. Don't worry, my parent's didn't teach me to throw a fit in order to get my way. I'll be going back to have a polite, civil conversation with them shortly. You bring up some very valid points. #1- They supplied all brand new clips. #2- The gasket was new with the last windshield ~3 years ago. #3- This was a virtually rust free car (amazing for Washington, I know!), which was just completely stripped to bare metal, and repainted. That is why the windows were removed in the first place. So the window channel was/is in beautiful condition. Still learning here too, Ethan.


Oh yeah, I forgot to mention... they still leak!

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Good man, Zorg!
Checked your wiper pivot seals/gaskets? (and cowl drain holes) Hey, flash your porch light, maybe I can see you from my house in West Seattle! Pat

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"Louise", a 1976 Dart Custom project, (now sadly reverted to being just an "organ donor" to our other project Darts.)

Hopefully they used the correct clips...I bought a set from year one and compared it to a set that I bought at a local auto finishing supply store...the clips I bought locally were listed in the hardware catalog being for A-body mopar...the ones from year one were a dead ringer match for the original clip, the other ones sat too high and would have caused the chrome to be just like you have pictured...

-D.Idiot

Good call DI. The ones I got from Laysons years ago and stashed away for this day turned out to be too tall. The glass shop had some that were a perfect match for my originals, though. And not all of it protrudes like that, I just took pictures of the worst spots...

On a side note, the same shop resealed my buddy's '73 front glass the week before. I've not seen it yet, but he says it looks normal, and the trim sits correctly.

Louise76, I redid the wiper pivot seals with the Schumacher kit a year or so back. And the little vent boxes are bone dry inside. I like your thoroughness though! Where'bouts in W. Seattle? I'll be getting off the ferry over there next week, as I have a job up in Issaquah.

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If it were me, I would be royally ticked that an auto glass shop thought it was OK to return my vehicle to me when (a) the windows they were supposed to be resealing still leaked and (b) the chrome trim, which fit fine when the vehicle was dropped off, obviously didn't fit when the work was "done." I can appreciate giving them the benefit of the doubt, but something was obviously wrong. They never should have released that vehicle to you and claimed they had done they job right. They should have leak checked it and looked at the chrome, then given you a call and said that it would be a few more days while they ordered the right parts. At the very least they should repair this for free and pay for the touch-up work on your paint.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

All the windshield shops where I live will look at the gasket/moulding and tell you if you need a new. They will also tell you it is also dependant on how it comes out. A phone call to you should have been made if gasket was bad. It looks like it WAS in good shape from the pictures....except where they have it pooched out with urethane. As far trim clips go again a phone call should have been made. There is no excuse for the job to look like that It is sloppy, poor and lazy workmanship. I could have done a better job and I haven't put one in for 30 years. Grease the gasket up w/hand cleaner, put it in, lay cord in it, set windshield in, pull cord around it inside..if I remember right. I do remember my Auto Body teacher saying don't let customer see how easy it was.LOL There's no excuse for it. I would be all over them. Sorry about the rant but people doing a 1/2 @ssed job and trying to pass it off as done just trips my trigger. The kicker is chipping the new paint. I feel for you bro.

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Thanks Mike

Lowbudget: the gasket was new ~3 years ago, and was still in great shape. The only phone call I received from them, was on Friday evening when they asked if they could keep it longer, as they were still fighting two clips. How those two clips took another day and a half, and caused the rest of the trim to sit all funky, I will never know.

Anyway, long story short, I gave Auto Glass Plus the opportunity today to make things right, and they readily reimbursed me for their labor charges. I'm kicking myself for forgetting to push them to compensate me for the chipped paint, but oh well. I'm just glad to be done with them. If I were a jerk, I'd send them a couple photographs once it's done right...

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Zorg, check your P.M. Pat

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"Louise", a 1976 Dart Custom project, (now sadly reverted to being just an "organ donor" to our other project Darts.)