I'm not in the position to remove my windsheild.

and im about a week away from tapping everything off and ready for primer.

i dont want to remove tap and find very fine lines where the tap covered the old paint along the windsheild.

is there any tricks of the trade that would help me get it as close as possible without leaving old paint visible or paint on the windsheild strip?

 

Remove the rubber around the windshildthen you'll have 1/4 inch gap, tape off the windshield...primer,paint, remolve tape replace weather stripping...

 

i thought u cant take off or put back on the strip unless the windshield is off.

not saying your wrong just was under the impression it couldnt be done. or done right.

anyone else want to agree or disagree? i'll be more than happy to do it that way. would definately solve my problem just dont want to jump at it and be stuck with no way to get it back on.

and would i have to replace it or use the original strip?
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oh and what is the best way to remove the strip around the windshield?

 

On later models it is wide and earlier ones it is thin. I do believe it does sort of go in with the windsheild but not in such a way it isnt removable. Since they age, its a good time to replace it anyway. Go by a windsheild repair shop and see where they get the moulding that will go in after a windsheild is installed.

 

I wrestled with the same problem, gave up, and taped carefully around the window strip. It is more like a hard plastic than rubber, and it has "one way" nubs on it, that make it lock in when it's pushed in, and impossible to take out. I couldn't see that I could get that strip out without destroying the window seal. Can anybody confirm whether it will really come out without wrecking everything? Does someone sell a replacement seal?

 

my car is a 1986 trans am.

keep the posts coming guys

 

Start at the bottom of the windshield and pull it up. If it gets tight use a sharp razorblade and cut along the side thats tight. The only thing holding the strip in place is the urethane that is holding the windshield in place. Once its out you can clean up the channel by cutting out all the old urethane for easy replacement of the strip after your done painting. Any glass shop will have the replacement strip and will likely have a half tube of urethane lying around. Pre-fit the strip to see how it will fit before you fill the space with urethane. Fill the void half full or a little less with urethane and press the stip into it making sure the edges are flush with the windshield and the frame. If they want to lift use masking tape (good idea even if it sits nice) to hold them in the proper place. Once its sat for 20min or so you can remove the tape and clean up any excess urethane with a wax/silicone remover. Re-tape it and let it sit overnight. Be sure in your pre-fit that everything fits well because once the trim is pressed into the urethane its a messy situation to try and pull it out again.


Tys

 

I say just remove the windshield. A little pricey, but well worth it in the end. That means you get a cleaner paint job, what not.