How do I measure for a Windshield?

How do I measure for the windshield on my '52 Plymouth?

I bought the gasket, I was going to have new glass cut, but I spent a few hours last night trying to figure it out, and failed. I was using cardboard to make a template, which may have been a problem, but I couldn't get the template into the groove, and when I took the gasket off the car, the cardboard template I made was too small for the gasket. We did cut down the template a little bit, because we thought the gasket may need a little extra space, so I don't believe its the wrong gasket for the car.

This is my first time putting a windshield into a 50's car, and not sure how exactly to do it, or get the right sized glass cut.

Maybe I should post an ad for front glass, too?

Thanks for your help.

 

Glass guy will be along soon and tell you the correct way to do it,but in the meantime I did it this way.
I put the rubber in the frame and held it tight in place with some tape.
I then places a piece of hardboard over the hole and had some-one very carefully draw round the inside of the rubber. i then measured the gap from the edge of the rubber to the top of the inside and added that measurement to the line drawn on the hardboard, I then cut out the hardboard template and trial fitted it into the rubber whist it was still taped to the car.
Then you should have a template for the correct size of the new screen.
But as i said Glass guy should be along soon and tell you how the pro's do it.
John

 

scott try talking to 440 hudson he makes all glass for old cars .he might have the timplets.even for the back window

 

I will try messaging 440hudson then. That would be very cool if he has the patterns.

 

Here's what I did and it worked OK.

Hold cardboard up to the window opening (without rubber installed) from the inside and trace around opening.

Look at the rubber from the side (profile) and you can see the difference from the groove where it hooks over the edge of the window opening and the groove that holds the glass. Measure the difference of the two - probably like an 1/8"?

Subtract that 1/8" from the line you traced on the card board and trace a new line 1/8" inside the first one.

Cut that shape out of the cardboard and transfer it to plywood that is the same thickness as the glass, cut it out and install it - with the rubber - as if it were the glass. Adjust by sanding edges of plywood if needed.

Once you have your plywood so that it installs semi easy but still snug, you have a template to give to the glass guy.

To install the glass (or plywood template) in the car: Hold the glass and install the rubber all the way around it. Place a length of 1/4" soft cotton rope into the groove that attaches it to the window opening - all the way around and leave enough length of rope to pull with.

Have a friend hold the glass/rubber/rope combo up to the opening from the inside with the extra length of rope hanging out of the car. Start the bottom edge of the rubber over the lip of the opening with your friend holding the glass tight against the inside of the opening while you - on the outside - continue to pull the rope around the opening as friend continues to push it up snug against the opening. This will lift the edge of the rubber over the lip and suck the glass into it's assigned locale.

 

Wow!!! Thanks a bunch!!