I have a '61 Falcon with windshield rubber so hard that I can't cut it with a box cutter. A chisel will chip it, though. What's your trick to remove without destroying the embedded trim or gl***?
A razor knife with a new sharp blade. I'd work it from the inside, not the outside as the interior usually isn't quite as hard. A PITA for sure....
Last one I did I said "screw it" and I said next time I would let someone who is an expert at this do it.
Caution with that saw blade you'll take out the gl***! I've never had one that a razer knife would not cut and trim out.
To tell the truth, given the cost of a new windshield (about $200), unless the one that's in there is perfect I'd just cover it in a couple of layers of cheap shelf paper on both sides (so you're not cleaning up splinters) and knock it out. UV exposure over time makes gl*** more brittle and easier to crack. And if it's been in there that long, I'm sure it has some sandblasting damage and/or wear.
Soaking it with silicone spray or dielectric grease may soften the rubber. Though I wouldn't expect instant results. Give it some time to hopefully soak in. Years ago I seem to remember hearing about using one of the cream-type hand cleaners, like GoJo or D-L, to soften rubber weather strips. Maybe it was the solvents in them like mineral spirits that did the work. The newer formulations of the cream hand cleaners may not have much, or any, of these solvents in them anymore though.
When I pulled the windshield on my '54, the rubber was rock hard. I slipped a screwdriver under the rubber from the inside of the car, gave it a very small prying motion and the inside portion snapped off every 10" to 12" or so. Once the inside was off, I went around the outside edge with a razor knife then gently pushed the upper part of the windshield from inside the car while my wife held the lower outside portion to keep it from falling to the floor. Came out rather easily! Did the same to the rear gl*** also.
What evintho said, also have used a gasket s****er and a rubber mallet, just be careful. By the way, on a Falcon don't forget those tiny screws in the corners of the windshield holding the chrome trim on..
Brittle rubber can be a blessing. Many times it can be slowly chipped away using a screwdriver but you have to be careful and think of a good technique that doesn’t involve using the gl*** as a fulcrum point.
The inside, as mentioned, should be more pliable. Just go slow, and as said, don't pry on the gl***. It really hates that. WD-40-slather it on, wait overnight, let it warm up, and go slow.
Piano wire. thin stuff wrapped around a piece of wood make small hole through gasket, wrap around stick saw it out.better with 2 people. When all else fails, search you tube
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