Date:         Tue, 9 Jun 1998 21:19:50 -0400
Reply-To:     bertschi <bertschi@BRIGHT.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         bertschi <bertschi@BRIGHT.NET>
Subject:      Re: Q:how to install the plastic front window trim
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Larry  & Bill,
  I hate to challenge you on this, but I believe the plastic trim serves as
a "lock strip" that actually forces the rubber apart to better hold and
seal the glass in the body frame.
  I worked at truck assembly plant for five years, and when they installed
the windshields, they did it like this...
1. warm the rubber and trim
2. install rubber in window frame
3. lube rubber w/ soapy stuff
4. slide in glass (sometimes pounding w/ a rubber mallet, I DON'T recommend
this of course!!) and used a special tool to correctly pull rubber out on
top of glass. (working from outside of vehicle, rope trick from inside van
should work here)
5. lube track for "lock strip" (plastic trim)
6. install "lock strip" (plastic trim) using special tool. (screwdriver
handle w/ loop at end to force open track as trim is push in)
  Best recommendation is to go to a glass shop and watch this being done
first. maybe the glass person will loan you his tool for a 40 oz Bud?!!
(It's worked for me!)
  I'd wait for a sunny day to make use of the "solar" heater to warm the
rubber, then you shouldn't have to remove the glass. (it's hard to remove
w/ out breaking it, or cutting the rubber off) If you have to remove the
rubber, better to cut the rubber, it's MUCH cheaper than the glass.(but
only if necessary)
    If the glass is out already....
1. clean rubber and glass
2. wrap rubber on glass ( lay glass on saw horses w/ board and blanket)
3. have friend help put glas on front of van and use 'ol rope trick (again,
go watch the glass people)
4. lube track and put in strip w/ proper tool.
   hope this works for you...it should.  Best bet is to ask as many people
as possible first, especially the pros.
dan

----------
> From: BILL <BILLV2@PRODIGY.NET>
> To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Q:how to install the plastic front window trim
> Date: Tuesday, June 09, 1998 7:05 PM
>
> > A question for those who have been there:
> >
> > I bought new (WCM) front window plastic trim from Ron Salmon when we
> > were en route to Manassas. The old trim came out easily and the rubber
> > seal cleaned up with no fuss. I applied liquid dish soap to the slot in
> > the rubber trim as a lubricant and then tried to insert the new plastic
> > window trim. It was very difficult but I succeeded in working in about
> > one foot length. This was obviously the wrong way and I'd probably
> > damage the new trim before I swore my way all round the window.
> >
> > Before I bust something, what is the correct way to install this shinny
> > silver colored plastic trim into the slot of the rubber window seal?
> >
> > Larry Johnson
> > '86 Syncro Westfalia
>
> I had a glass shop do mine and they used a special tool which slides the
> plastic chrome colored trim into the window molding. The only way to
> install it is to remove your windshield. I helped the guy install the
> plastic trim, and with that "special" tool, it went in easy--also used
some
> soapy water. You can do it by hand if you have the time, but the
windshield
> has to be out of the van in order to open the groove. When the windshield
> is in the van it pinches the plastic trim in the windshield molding.
>
> I am in the process of replacing the plastic chrome trim around my side
> windows and the only way I can do it is to remove the window from the
van.
> Using soapy water it slides in easy. And with the window out I can
re-tint
> the windows easier!
>
> Bill
> '85 GL
> [*Magic*Bus*]
> Big Sky Country
> <><