Posted by Gary in CO [64.234.252.216] on Friday, January 10, 2014 at 11:17:14 :
In Reply to: 1958 W300 Power Giant-need windshield posted by cdm [76.109.156.111] on Friday, January 10, 2014 at 06:37:10 :
Here is a link to a pdf of everything I know about PG and Town Wagon windows. I am pretty sure that 1956 Ford windshields are the same and the big 60s into the 70s LCF Dodges are the same. You should be able to order it from any good shop, but this info is a bit old and I lost track of Larry B. a long time ago. Gar
http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/show.php?i=1249233&cat=0&force_expand=y
Here is the windshield part:
The windshields are still available, in both "tinted", and "shaded" (same as tinted, plus a 5 inch dark green band
across the top). Our trucks were originally equipped with "clear"(no tinting or shade whatsoever), however,
that version has been discontinued.
PPG part: # DW425GTN (tinted) - Retail list: $525.45
PPG part: # DW425GBN (tinted & shaded) - Retail $525.45
Can be purchased for about $225.00 by any auto glass company or body shop.
The correct windshield gasket(rubber), is also available still.
Made by "Precision Rubber Products Inc.", and it is top quality!
GASKET: Pt# WCR D425 - Retail list: $63.29 Jobber= less 25%
It fits perfectly, has the correct moulded lower corners, and
the correct groove for the lock-strip insert.
The lock-strip comes in black rubber, 5/16" round (as original).
Or mylar chrome, approx. 5/8" wide (flat).
BLACK LOCK-STRIP: pt. # WLS900 - $11.75 ea.
CHROME Lock-strip: # WLS913/914 - $28.85ea.
If you would like my professional opinion, (26+yrs) I would offer the following recomendations:
1. Don't waste your money on any other gasket, from any other manufacturer! You'll pay about the same or
more $, and what you'll get is universal, incorrect, ill-fitting, pourous, leaking, non-uv protected, dry-rot in a
year, worthless garbage!! Period!
2. If you choose to use the chrome mylar lock-strip, be aware that it will begin to dull and deteriorate after
two or three years of exposure to the elements. Just look at any '73-'87 gm truck, or pre '90's bmw 3 series
car, that hasn't been covered or garaged for all or most of its life, and you will see it's brown and crispy.
3. Again, with regard to the lock-strip, both the black and the chrome will shrink some over time, creating an
ever-widening gap.To combat this shrinkage, be sure to cut the lock-strip about an inch or so longer, overlapping
the point where the two ends will meet,or "seam" together, in the middle at the bottom of the windshield.
Then, using a sharp blade, cut each end cleanly & squarely to make the most invisible seam possible.
Only trim a tiny sliver at a time off each end until you are satisfied with the appearance of your seam. Then
you can force the overlapping extra inch or so down into the groove causing the two ends to push tightly
together. As time goes by any shrinkage of the lock-strip will be offset by the extra inch of length that was
squeezed into the groove, and the seam will stay tight instead of wanting to pull apart making an ugly gap.
Or, you can obtain a chrome coupling clip from any '70-'91 dodge full size van, to hide the seam completely,
which is how the factory solved the problem of the unsightly gap. The connector is about an inch long, and
simply hid the ever-widening end gaps until they had shrunk up enough that the connector clip fell, or blew
off somewhere on the highway or the jet-wash.
All civilian style (conventional cab) Dodge trucks used the DW425 windshield, beginning with the 1955 "C-
3"(second series) that debuted on April 11, 1955, As did the "D" 100-800's , and the "W" 100-500's up
through '60 for the pick-ups and larger trucks with regular cabs ( the rear wall & rear window directly behind
the bench seat).
A new body style began for 1961, and uses a DW605 from '61-'71.The Town Wagons & Town Panels
retained the DW425 until the end of their production run in the fall of '66 .The DW425 windshield continued
in use in the largest Dodge trucks, such as the diesel and gas powered semi-tractors, such as "C"SERIES
500-1000's , "CT"800-1000's , "CN"800-1000's , "CNT"909090T"900-1000 tandems, and finally the last of the
Dodge heavy duty haulers, the infamous "BIGHORN", which finally became extinct in 1975!
Larry Bissillon