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Before I start on removing and replacing the windshield the deer destroyed on my 57 custom 300, is there any advice out there from somebody that has done this and where did you get your replacement glass?? I also need to remove the Stainless trim from a 1958 ford that was there when I got the car 30 years ago!!! any help or advice I can get to keep me from making a mistake is appreciated, Thanks Glen

I installed windshield on my 57 Retractable (back in 2020, so most of this is from memory since I did not think at the time to take step by step photos).  These are the items I used

1) Windshield (of course).  I ordered mine from Auto City Classics (very happy with their quality as well as shipping container and protection of the glass.  I ordered the light green tint which is very light and was what was original to my car.  (Link Below)

https://www.autocityclassic.com/1958-pickup-ranchero-custom-models-66a-300-66b/1957-1958-ford/edsel-sedan-wagon-ranchero-pickup-windshield-w489/

2)  Windshield Seal (available from Auto City Classics also)
3)  Sealant.  I used clear silicone and I know there are lots of opinions on the sealant, but I wanted something that would not get too "tacky" too quickly
4)  Rope.  I ordered 1/8" nylon rope from Amazon that worked very well.
5)  Soapy Water (about 1/2 dishwashing soap and 1/2 water) I put this mixture in an old Windex bottle and kept spraying as the seal popped into place.  I only used this to install into the car and not to place the seal on the windshield before installation.

This is a 2 person job because you will need someone on the outside to "slap" the windshield as you are pulling on the rope.  I placed the windshield on a 6' table to install the seal prior to installation in the car.  It is super important to get the seal centered on the windshield.  Once in place, I added duct tape in several places to keep the seal from moving.  I also added a mark at the top of the windshield frame (pinch weld) so I could use it to align the windshield.  My installation was a lot easier than yours will be since I could do it with the top down and get open access to the top of the glass during the install.  I placed the rope into the seal while on the table, starting at the bottom and leaving about a 2 ft. overlap, then pulling the rope into the seal "pocket" as I went around the top and back to the bottom starting point.  I did this to start pulling the windshield in from the bottom (even though the manual says to start at the top).  It seemed to work better from the bottom start because the windshield weight help pull it into place at the bottom. 

The first step is to clean the pinch weld area of the frame as clean as possible before adding any sealant, then setting the windshield into the frame using the alignment marks to keep it perfectly centered.  I pulled the rope a little on each side of center so I could reach the corners at the same time on both sides.  The corners are difficult but doable, then work around the upper corners and windshield top trying to keep the rope equal on both sides so you reach center top about the same time. 

It is a challenging procedure, but if you take your time it is doable.

Good Luck,
Dave

GREAT detail! And the memory seems to be in good shape as well.
Gonna print this out Dave...just in case I get brave down the road.  :003:

I agree starting at bottom works better for me as well.  I just installed front and rears in another brand using that method.  I had to do it by myself so I used duct tape to hold the glass in place while alternately pulling the rope inside then going outside to push down on the glass, so a second person is definitely better.

Make sure to roughly mark the center on the body and on the glass with the trim at the top and at the bottom. You can use some blue tape and just mark.  It gives you a target to hit when you are first going to drop it on the body.

If you want to save a lot of clean up.  Blue tape around the perimeter of the trim leaving only about 1" Of body showing. 

Before doing the final seating and rope pulling do a check on the left/right centering of both the upper and lower trims.

If you plan to repaint or remove soon you can actually put the seal in dry or with soapy water and this allows the whole glass to be removed if needed.

I used the 3M windshield sealant on one of mine. It stays in a semi sticky soft state like the original.

Thanks Guys, I appreciate the response, great description Dave. From my 1957 Ford shop manual I'm a little confused looks like the stainless trim needs to be installed in the rubber seal while the gasket is on the windshield before the window gets installed!! So, does this mean to remove, the window must be pushed out from the inside with the gasket and trim still attached?? Thanks for Helping, Glen

Pictures from the manual

If I remember right on my wagon at least I took the stainless off before hand-at least the lower corner portion. Other wise it came off with the glass.

Mike

Quote from: glenmichael on 2025-10-21 08:59Thanks Guys, I appreciate the response, great description Dave. From my 1957 Ford shop manual I'm a little confused looks like the stainless trim needs to be installed in the rubber seal while the gasket is on the windshield before the window gets installed!! So, does this mean to remove, the window must be pushed out from the inside with the gasket and trim still attached?? Thanks for Helping, Glen

YES. Just remove the lower corner pieces and the screws. Be gentle removing the corner pieces, and hope the back tabs are still in existence. We've discussed the back tabs recently.

I think the rear was similar to take out if I recall correctly. 

Hello everyone, the metal building I keep my sailboat and the 57 ford finally got above 40 degrees inside, so I went to work on removing the windshield. Right now, I think the easy part is done!! the stainless trim and rubber were hiding a lot of rust and damage!! I will order a replacement windshield but looks like a lot of rust removal and repair work needed first... More to Follow!!

pictures so far!!!

Looks familiar... :-[

timely I just pulled the windshield, once I figured how it was put in. Mine looks a lot better but I'll be watching this.

That's gotta be a tough area to repair. I'm sure glad mine was nowhere like that.

Quote from: RICH MUISE on 2026-02-15 20:48That's gotta be a tough area to repair. I'm sure glad mine was nowhere like that.

X2

Now that the windshield is out, next step what to do with it? Drove into town and stopped by Safelite Auto Glass and the woman behind the desk said if I bring it in, they will take the windshield, and their glass supplier would pick it up and recycle it NO CHARGE!! They even removed it from the back of my truck, sometimes things just work out, Hope everyone's day starts out as good as mine did!!

Looking at ordering a new windshield and the two vent window glass pieces this week, it sounds like Auto City Classics is the place to go. Any comments or experiences anyone would like to share?? Thanks Glen

I have never heard of any issues with them, they have great products. Check their swap meet schedule to see if they are attending one near you. They will (at least use to) ship an order free to a swap meet they are doing for free. Shipping is big on a windshield.
jfyi, I got all my glass, my gas tank, and my radiator from them.

I got my side glass from them but ordered my windshield locally bc of shipping.

I went to the Auto City Classics web site and the only windshield they have in stock is Tint original green, I guess that I didn't notice a tint to the windshield that I removed... Is that tint the glass you guys ordered??

That's exactly what mine is, even though my side glass is the darker gray tint. Nobody has ever noticed the two different tints because the green is so light. If I ever replace mine due to chips, it'll be with the green tint again.

I purchased all of the glass for my Ranchero from Auto City Glass.
I purchased all of it in March of 2025. They delivered the flat glass to me at the Street Rod Nationals in August of 2025.
I'll get delivery on the windshield late March of this year, at a large indoor swap meet here in Louisville. The year long wait was for a green tinted windshield, WITHOUT the sun band.
They took the order in March of 2025 and it clearly states NO Sun Band. When I called to confirm delivery on my purchase,to the Street Rod Nationals (August 2025), I was told the windshield would be available in December of 2025, and that the production is done in Thailand. They would ship it for $$$, or I could wait for delivery to the swap meet I mentioned earlier.
I learned that there is a difference in price depending on who you place the order with. If you call the order in for delivery to a show they attend, you get a higher price than you get from the staff working at the swap meet.
Caveat Emptor!
 
 

I bought a green tint/no band one from them quite a few years ago (10 years?). I had it shipped to the glass place that installed it locally. VERY pleased with the product/process and value at that time... Would not go back to clear either.
 All my side glass was a matching tint, custom cut, locally sourced product...

Lynn

I got a new windshield for the Ranchero from a local windshield replacement company.  They ordered it with no "sun shiels", the green tint.  Took about a week, they called, come get it.  The total cost was 250, tax, titls and insurance.  I have no idea what place they get the "classic" windshields from, she would not divulge that info and the glass had no markings on it.  The new windshield for the Edsel is a different story. I wanted clear, no sun shield, "no can do" she says, you can get the green tint, no shield or clear with the shield.  So I ordered the green.  Again, just a little over a week it was in but the cost was 395!  No complaints, just my experience....

I want to Thank everyone for the comments and sharing their Windshield experience, I will call Auto city classics today and find out how they can help, delivery time and cost...

Just an update, reached out to Auto City Classics by phone, the windshield green tint, rubber gasket and vent window glass no tint was all stocked on the shelf!! Shipping from Minnesota to my house in Michigan, should arrive in one weeks' time. $438.00 parts and $225.00 for shipping and no Deer Meat the Coyotes got to it that night!!!

received the windshield today, just thought I'd post pictures

A couple more, arrived in perfect condition, I was surprised to see the gasket supplier !!!

before you get too far, measure the width. IIRC, the Customs should be around 17". if it's closer to 16", they sent a Fairlane one. Ask me why I now know to do that.

I'm real close to installing the windshield, just a quick question, the stainless trim on the bottom of the glass does that go on prior to installing the windshield?

The 57 Shop Manual states "Install any outside mouldings which are retained by the weatherstrip" as step #3 in their installation instructions.  When I installed my windshield (going by memory here) I believe I left off all of the outside trim until the windshield was in place and then installed the trim without problems, but if you are going by the Ford manual the trim would be installed prior to the windshield going in.  However, I also did not follow the manual on the last step in the manual which states that you should place the pull rope in a manner that would allow you to start pulling in at the top and then around to the bottom.  I started at the bottom and pulled around to the top which seemed easier and worked out okay also.

Good luck,
Dave

If I recall correctly, all the trim except the lower corner pieces, are installed into the seal after the seal is installed on the windshield. Then the  windshield / trim/seal assembly is installed into the car as OLD DAVE DID, bottom first. I recall there being a screw that goes thru the lower end of the side ss that goes thru the seal into the body. Those screws will end up being under the corner pieces.
When setting the windshiel into the opening, get it centered as well as you can. You do not want to be slapping/pushing on the curved sides of the glass to get it centered after it is sitting on the lower edge of the opening.
Be careful, and you'll find it's much easier than you may think. This is a two-person job.

I made some stainless versions of the fingers for the corner trim if yours are rusted away. I think I did a post on it.

Thanks Rich, my thinking was just as you stated put the rubber gasket on the windshield then install the lower stainless trim followed by trying to actually be putting the windshield in place. Over the years I have learned to ask the question first to avoid making a mistake just because you're afraid to ask for help...

Not just the lower pieces, the uppers need to be installed as well. EVERYTHING BUT the lower corner pieces.

Hello Seems like awhile back someone  ask Jerrys restoration about lower corner pieces. Jerrys said they put them in with (in gasket) with all the rest of SS trim. Didn't use screws. 

Those two small screws probably aren't going to do much of anything, but now it's got me wondering if anybody remembers REMOVING those screws from their car on disassembly??? Too long ago for me to remember.

Yup, the 58 Edsel Pacer had them in a four corners.  I often wondered how they got the corner pieces in after?

The photo shows the tab on the lower piece of stainless trim, same shape on the passenger side new screws will be installed upon installation. The rust damage has been removed and the good steel down to bare metal and my repair is ready for primer. The other picture shows the stainless trim that I believe is from a 1958 ford that installs on top of the rubber once the windshield is in place. One day I hope to post the finished picture wish me luck!!!

That is totally different than mine. Guess I never really looked at the Fairlane trim, never mind the difference between 57 and 58.

I removed the two screws from the windshield pinch weld area when I took the windshield out of my 1957 Country Sedan.  I remember there were only two, at the lower corner of the windshield area.  I do not think I had 4,  I have another that has the original windshield that I am parting out with a broken windshield.  I will take it out and see if it also has the two screws or four.

The body work is complete and in primer and ready for the windshield. I cleaned the glass and prefit the gasket per the instructions the next step is to remove the gasket and reinstall using Permatex auto glass sealer 7651259.Is that what you guys have used? the trouble I had putting the gasket on I hate to remove it...

I had trouble fitting the seal tight to the glass in a few corners. That problem was resolved by using a drop or two of super glue in those spots. That worked great.

The rubber gasket supplied with the windshield fit good it just would not stay in place along the top or bottom of the windshield, half a dozen drops of gorilla super glue is now holding the rubber in place! thank you for the information, Rich, the project continues...

 I'll tell my wife I'm apparently not totally useless afterall. Thanks

Rich we all have Talent hidden somewhere!!! I have been busy racing my sailboat on Lake Erie, that time of the year in Michigan. I found time to place the windshield on the car, I had to use super glue to hold the stainless in place and I am using suction cups to help pull on the glass from the inside since I have no help at this time, I will post the results, wish me LUCK, thanks Glen...

I've got to ask........why is the upper ss not installed? You won't get it in after.
NICE BOAT!!! cute name.


https://57fordsforever.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=13979;image

My 57 Custom 300 has the Fairlane upper and side trim ..

the trim

Hello everyone, As a sailor it has always been " Don't Give up the Ship ", This project it is the third time is the charm!! It's in, I think that I will let it sit for a few days before I clean the glass the install the stainless trim. Looks like I will be driving again, Watch out Deer!!!! Just shows you can do things by yourself, just don't stop trying!!

I'm really curious as to how well that trim fits, since the Fairlane windshield is 1" shorter than the Custom.

In the 30 years I have owned this 57-ford custom 300, I've installed a complete driveline from radiator to rebuilding the rearend, new interior carpet to headliner. body work, ETC... This new windshield replacement to me has been the most difficult part of this Hot Rod project that started when I found it stored in a barn all those years ago!!! Rich I will try to post installment pictures of the windshield trim that was on the car when I found it.

Quote from: glenmichael on 2026-07-11 08:43In the 30 years I have owned this 57-ford custom 300, I've installed a complete driveline from radiator to rebuilding the rearend, new interior carpet to headliner. body work, ETC... This new windshield replacement to me has been the most difficult part of this Hot Rod project that started when I found it stored in a barn all those years ago!!! Rich I will try to post installment pictures of the windshield trim that was on the car when I found it.

Watching close I have both front and rear windows out now while doing other work

The outside is complete, a couple of pictures and now too the inside trim...

Hope not too many pics!!

Quote from: glenmichael on 2026-07-11 12:25Hope not too many pics!!

Not possible to have too much money, too much fun OR too much pics!  :003:

Cool.  Great job.  I have installed about 5 on various 57s. The Fairlane 500 trim is the easier on to do.  Looks good and clean. 

Yeah, looks great. Thanks for posting. AsHugh said, never too many pics.

Quote from: RICH MUISE on 2026-07-10 19:47I'm really curious as to how well that trim fits, since the Fairlane windshield is 1" shorter than the Custom.


glenmichael.........I'm curious as well as to HOW this is done, knowing that the Fairlane windshield is 1 " shorter. Inquiring minds what to know.
BTW, It looks great.
John

Good morning, everyone, according to the door tag this car is a 1957 custom 300, the windshield I ordered and installed is for a custom 300. The windshield stainless steel trim and the side body trim was on the car when we drugged it out and put it on the trailer, being new to the 1957 ford at that time I just liked the look. The license plate I found behind the seat and the wire going to the hole in the roof made me think it was an ex-police car plus the man I bought it from said a friend of his bought it at a police auction, in the 1960's. What I do know is all the trim pieces line up with all the attachment holes in the body and fit like it was meant to be there. When I was living in Florida an older gentleman stopped by and said the car was too Damn Loud, but he liked the California trim package. Maybe someone on this site knows more about the various trim packages but that's what little I know, Thanks Glen

And now I'm curious about your car's driprail. Above pics appear to show a polished finish.?!

Quote from: RICH MUISE on 2026-07-13 08:05And now I'm curious about your car's driprail. Above pics appear to show a polished finish.?!

Curious...are you speaking of the polished trim on the drip rails? My Fairlane has those. My Couriers do not. Was that an option...or something that came with various different packages? My car has never been west of the Mississippi until I bought it...so not a "CA option" if there was such a thing then.
Just wondering...you made me think! <ouch>  :o

Well, now I'll have to check out the driprails on the next '57 Fairlane I see. This is totally new to me.

Now that I am finished with the windshield trim, I would like to replace the wiper blades where do you guys buy yours?

O'Reillys...

Yeah, most auto parts stores sell or can get the "Trico classic wiper blades". I have 12" on mine, was going to check next time if 13s were available. I'm having an issue with the ss arms.........Classic Auto in OK City use to carry them, but they didn't have them last time I checked, they told me Chevies were the same, but they are actually not, and the wiper blades fit them kinda sloppy.

I bought them in bulk.  I have at least ten of them left.  Stop by and I'll give you a pair.

You're the best Gary, Let me give Woody a call we need to visit you, I will get back to you !!!!

Just wanted to finish this little windshield project by saying Thanks to all the members that offered input to help me along the way. In doing the installment by myself the inside suction cups helped to raise the glass up and set it on the lower flange of the car that the gasket sat on ( I put a couple pieces of cardboard between the top of the windshield and the car opening to allow me to do that )  while pulling inward on the cups I was able to slowly pull the 1/8-inch line that allowed the gasket to lift up and settle down on the metal lip, I kept pulling on the cups while pulling the line around the windshield a little at a time going from side to side, a couple times going outside and giving the glass a push for encouragement!!! I believe the key to accomplishing the install was Patience and most important that little 1/8-inch line,,,