Technical 46 chevy truck windshield leaks

Hello everyone,

I’m curious to know what others experiences are with the crank out windshield on a 41-46 chevy trucks and if they leak. I have a 46 chevy coe build in process now with a brand new windshield frame and brand new weatherstripping from Steele. The glass will also be new as well, but I haven’t had the glass cut and installed yet. I plan on leaving the crank out windshield functional, but I am concerned about leaks.

also, if others have any tips on reducing the chances of it leaking, I’d appreciate the advice.

thanks everyone

 

I had a 46 2 1/2 ton Chev wrecker with a tilt out windshield, I liked it ...sure a little water would drip inside when driving in the rain but while parked it would depend on how hard it was raining.
I found by putting a little Vaseline where the rubber makes contact helps seal it and let's you still use it....I had one that someone had sealed it closed with looked like 10 tubes of silicone sealer.
All new parts ,if fitted properly, will obviously be better than old worn out parts but remember that design was done when vehicle speeds were alot lower and in them days they were work trucks and not used for pleasure driving so the concerns of a little drip was usually not a big deal.
Also make sure the crank is working properly and adjusted so that it pulls the window up snug but not so much to cause it to distort and twist out of shape and also cause leakage.

 

I’ll be darned. When I meet up with pops in the afterlife I’m chewing some ass. He had a 1.5 ton ‘46 he built a rollback on to haul his Dozer. Spent many a hot summer day riding in that truck and wanting more air breeze. The one he had the windshield wasn’t a cranker.

 

My '37 is similar to the later ones so this may work on yours. I use a second seal around the windshield to stop all leaks, it fits in the cab opening for the windshield. The windshield frame hits it. It looks like a seal that goes around a trunk opening, soft rubber type stuff, universal fitting. The outer seal fits as normal and seals the frame to the outer edge of the cab, my inner seal seals the frame to the cab. I will get a picture later today.

 

i have never been able to stop mine from leaking. contrary to the thought that new parts help, the windsheild gasket that they sell now is not the same as the original. i have not added a inside gasket in the cab opening which might be a good idea. i am building a 39 with a chopped top/windshield frame so i may look at adding a gasket.

 

I'm building a '49 International truck and it has a separate gasket that goes on body around windshield opening to seal against windshield frame when cranked closed.

 

Had 48 aero sedan and the windshield leak was standard equipment

 

Thanks for the tips! I never thought of a seal against the cab that the frame would close against. Good idea! I’ll have to look into that! The Vaseline trick is also a good idea.

I rebuilt my windshield regulator to work correctly and now works like new but nothing has been adjusted since I’m missing the glass. I realize a lil leak back in the day wouldn’t have been a big deal since these were work trucks… but just wanted to get a general idea of how bad they would leak ( if at all ) to help me plan for placement of components under the dash.
I’m assuming the majority of leaks happened around the top of the frame and corners?

 

In the rain, mine would leak in the two lower corners. '37s have hinges at the top, so the inner seal can only go around from hinge to hinge with a piece between the hinges. It really cut down the wind noise on mine. I had three different seals around the outside that all leaked, the forth was from Steele and has been working good for years now.

 

Just remember, Vaseline is detrimental to rubber..Don't ask how I know!

 

Ok....I went back and did some online investigation and ....well forget about the Vaseline tip , yes it does help soften dried out rubber gaskets, but eventually breaks it down...but K-Y Jelly is OK.
Oh ya I did read that it's NOT recommended for use as a sex lube either because it breaks down latex condoms and sex toys.
Just saying....

 

I think that's a feature of all crank-out windshields, they leak. My dad has a 41 international, after about 5 years of trying to seal leaks he removed the frame and sealed it. If you expect it to be permanently wind and water tight without maintenance, you'll be disappointed. If you don't mind a little maintenance and the odd drip, then the second seal seems like a good plan.

 

....Right on. T-Tops and crank out windshields. They leak.

 

Yep. I took out the crank feature of my 46 GMC for that reason.