Does anyone know of a good instruction manual, or a book with a section, covering the techniques, proper procedures and best materials to use for correctly bedding new door window glass in the bottom window lift channel in a 1955 Ford Fairlane? Or, if an instructional booklet or some other printed source is not available, can/will some of the forum members reply with detailed instructions on how to bed automobile window glass and what is the best bedding materials to use? I've tried to find this information, but have had no luck so far. Thanks for any help! Its really appreciated.

A year ago my buddy and I did the door windows on my 55 bird and his OT 56. Most of what we used came from restoration specialties. To bed the glass in the bottom channel we used modern windshield urethane. We asked everyone, and got the same advice everywhere. The channels, whiskers, etc were all repop stuff, just the bedding was a modern material.

We ran a bead down the channel, put the glass in and let it set up. Rigged up a little jig to keep it centered till it set.

http://www.restorationspecialties.com These guys were great to work with, and have a long list of products.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

On my 55 I used glass setting tape from Dennis Carpenter for all the flat glass. It is a cork/rubber strip that you moisten with mineral spirits then wrap around the edge of the glass and press into the reatainer/channel. Trim with a razor knife, clean it all up and Bob's your Uncle.

Miker and Brodie55, thanks for the information. I still have one question though, "The bedding material comes in different thicknesses, so how did you determine which thickness to use?" I want to be sure and get it right the first time. I don't think there will be much room for error given that I will be working with pretty powerful adhesives that probably won't be very forgiving of mistakes! Thanks to all for your help.

When I did mine, I replaced the bottom channel. I'm sure it was original, and the new rollers were loose in it. But I was told the setting tape had to be "pounded" in. As in a rubber mallet on the top edge of the glass. If I knew there was a way to slide it in, I'd probably gone that way, like Brodie did. If you can't get the factory stuff from Mac's or someone, measure the glass width, and the width of the channel top and bottom. I'm sure the guys at restoration specialties will know what you need.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

As far as I know there is only one thickness of glass setting tape. All your flat glass is 1/4" thick if I remember correctly. Moistening the tape with a solvent (mineral spirits) makes it slicker than owl poop and no pounding required just light taps. The tape swells and when the solvent evaporates everything is nice and tight. The biggest problems you will have is removing the glass from the door itself and then removing the old glass from the channel. Then there's the first aid you will need because your arms will look like you've been in a knife fight!

Brodie55, I know what you mean about the first aid! I already have my glass out of all four doors and there are more sharp edges inside those doors than the law should allow. As for getting the glass out of the bottom lift channels, I have bought new repro channels from Mac's for the front windows, but I cannot find new channels for the rear windows(four-door sedan). It appears there is no one reproducing the rears, and so far, I cannot find any NOS channels either. So, are there any tricks or other means of getting the glass out of the channels without damaging them? It looks like I will have to re-use the rear ones. I think they will be OK when cleaned up. They are not rusted nearly as badly as the front channels and show very little wear.

Thanks to all for your help and advice.