t-top windshield replacement

[85lebaron]

Anybody done a windshield replacement on an 88 Daytona Shelby T-Top? If so could you let me know what is involved?

[tryingbe]

169 US Dollar and 1 hour of waiting time.

[Adam]

This is not good.... I had to do this and murdered my molding because no glass shop would touch it. molding is discontinued, i work at a dealer i and i even ran dealer inquiries with other dealers, there are 2 pieces available and they are not the ones that go around the windsheild.

[85lebaron]

strikes me I am going to need to be very careful and remanufacture the trim. I am hoping to get some better instructions from SHELBYMOPAR89 and then having the trim on hand for the future sounds like a good idea.

[shelbyplaya]

I'm in the same boat as you are. I need to replace my windsheild so my car will pass tech in port alberni.

[ShelbyMopar89]

Sorry guys I have been having puter issues and unable to get to my email. 85lebaron I am guessing the email was from you. It is possible to remove the trim without breaking it, but difficult. I would first start with the felt strips that run across the front and back. Drill these out with 1/8 inch drill bit. Once the head is off tap the rest of the rivit into never nver land. Once they are removed the top front and rear trim will be loose, if you would like to remove them start at the center and pull up. The outboard ends have tabs that hold the under the A and B pilar respectivly. Once those are drilled out remove the T-top plastic end caps and the little plastic black end caps on the forward side of the channel. Next remove the black rubber U-seal that hold the headliner in. Once all that is done you can now remove the actual seal that runs from the B-pilar up around the t top and back down the A-pilar. The trick to saving your old seal is to go very very slow. I have found the best tool is a Craftsman gasket scraper the has about a 1 inch blade. Work it into the channel and slowly walk it up and around. There is a very good chance you will distroy the seal. I have done about 10 cars and been able to save 2. Once the seal is totally removed you can now get to the screws/rivits holding the seal track on the A/B pilar. You may have to clean off a lot of sealant to find them. Screws hold on the tracks that the seal rides in. Once you find them remove them and carefully remove the track from the plastic A/B pilar. They are stuck on there very well. I use the gasket scraper to pry under them and peel them off. If is seems like it does not want to budge, double check that you have removed all the screws, they hide very well under the gobs of sealant. Once those are off you will see screws/rivits that actually hold the A/B pilar to the body of the car. For the rear (B) push the original full frame door seal in (yes they all have the stock full door seal that was cut at the top) when you shove it back you will see the rivits, drill them out. There will be rivits at the top also. Once all the rivits are removed the only thing holding the trim to the body is a push type Christmas tree pin in the very bottomthat needs removed. As for the A pilar there are screws/rivits that run up the edge and also some at the top. Once they are removed it will require some very patient/carefull prying involved. Between the windshield and the edge of the frame they used some kind of sticky thick (about 1-1.5 inch) that sticks the inside of the trim. Near the bottom there is a clip. This is the hard part, you have to pry enough to break the seal of the gooey stuff WHILE you are pulling up on the trim. When I say pull up think of it as placing your fingers at the bottom of the trim and trying to slide it up the same plane as the windshield. To try to explain it more the metal side of the clip that is rivited to the body kinda looks like your fingers when you make the peace sign. On the trim side there is a button glued to the trim that slide down in the groove. If you try to pull/pry directly up it WILL break it off. Once that is done you are in the clear for a windshield replacement. I have the following NOS. Pass side A-pilar trim, all four of the top trim, one side (can't remember which one) B-pilar. All of the T-top seals, the rubber seal that goes between the glass and the inner side of the trim and the felt strips. Used I have the other side of the B-pilar and the Drivers side of the A-pilar.


Please PM me for the trim prices, fair warning they are not cheap.
Let me again stress the fact of going slow and being patient when you do this. They gobbed on a crapload of sealant and it will take some time to find all the screws and what not.

[damageincracing]

Would you happen to have the trim pieces that go around the windshield? I had my windshield replaced by safelite (NOT RECOMMENDED!) and they busted every piece. I don't care about the price since safelite is going to buy them.