[DeTomaso] Windshield Seal

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 12/18/16 9:50:20 AM, fred at creekspeak.com writes:


I need to get a windshield seal for my '72 Pantera. The one that was 
recently installed didn't fit well at all. I was told there is a two piece, but I 
was told to get a one piece seal. Any suggestions for a source that has 
worked for you. Please EMAIL me. I don't check this list every day. Thanks in 
advance.


>>>Fred,

Some of the USA vendors sell a windshield gasket that is truly awful.   
AWFUL.   Although it's sold as a one-piece gasket, in a telling admission of 
how bad it is, it comes with instructions offering suggestions regarding the 
various ways and places you can cut it apart and change it “if” it doesn't 
fit (and it never fits).

The good news is that quality seals made by the ORIGINAL supplier in Italy 
are still available, but the bad news is that the nominal cost is greater.   
However, if you are comparing the cost to install an expensive part that 
fits and works perfectly, versus the cost to fit one that requires hours of 
labor ($$$) and may or may not work when you're done, the quality solution, 
besides being better, is almost assuredly cheaper.

Unfortunately you've already gone down the other path, so now you will have 
to pay twice to get it fixed.   But at least you should be happy with the 
finished result.

Here is a link to the original supplier in Italy:

http://www.cicognaniguarnizioni.it/Detomaso-148/pantera-148-i05

(Note that they offer original rubber for ALL De Tomaso cars, even 
Vallelungas!)

The site is available in either English or Italian; if it comes up in 
Italian, click the British flag at the top right corner and it will switch to 
English.

The early 1971 Panteras used a complex two-piece windshield molding, while 
the 1972-on cars used a four-piece molding.   The two setups use different 
rubber gaskets, so be sure to order the correct one.   Cost is 280 Euros for 
either one.

If you don't want to order over the web from a company in Italy, you can 
order from our buddy Roland Jackel in Hamburg, Germany.   He imports them from 
Italy and sells them retail for the same price (last time I checked).   At 
least that way you're buying from a friend.   His website is www.detomaso.de 
and his e-mail addresses are:

roland at jaeckel-partner.de
detomaso at gmx.com

Roland is a lurker on this forum too....

Mr. Fiat is (apparently) a retailer for this Italian company.   They 
advertise De Tomaso rubber and list all the models as well, which suggests that 
they are selling the Good Stuff and not the cheap stuff offered by the USA 
vendors.   Located in Atlanta, they advertise Pantera rubber here:

http://mrfiat.com/italian/de-tomaso/pantera.html

The cost is MUCH higher here.   However, this reflects the costs of 
shipping to the USA and taxes etc.   Nevertheless, armed with the knowledge of how 
to buy them directly from European sources, I suspect it would be much less 
expensive to go that route, especially considering the Euro has fallen 
against the dollar, so your dollar travels further today than it did a few months 
ago.

Your installer needs to know that the metal trim needs to be inserted in 
the rubber, and the rubber around the glass, BEFORE he attempts to install the 
windshield in the car.   If he just wraps the glass with the gasket and 
installs it, there's no real way to then add the trim afterwards, as it's held 
in place with the crush between the edge of the glass and the edge of the 
body.

Hopefully he uses some quality 3M windshield sealant during installation.   
My glass was installed dry (25 years ago), and it squeaks when driving down 
the road.   I can actually reach up and feel the glass moving inside the 
gasket (my aftermarket windshield might be a tiny bit smaller than the 
original?).   I've never taken the time to fix it, but a bit of good windshield 
sealant would probably do the trick.

Note that Panteras are notorious for leaking at the bottom corners of the 
windshield, so special attention should be paid there.

And do NOT simply use conventional RTV silicone.   Jack DeRyke has reported 
(and I fully believe) that normal RTV is slightly acidic, and can actually 
cause corrosion (and thus leaks) to form.   3M Windshield sealant is The 
Good Stuff.   They are a bit proud of it ($$$) but you don't want to cut 
corners here.

Good luck, and please let us know how it turns out!

Mike
-------------- next part --------------
   In a message dated 12/18/16 9:50:20 AM, fred at creekspeak.com writes:
   I need to get a windshield seal for my '72 Pantera. The one that was
   recently installed didn't fit well at all. I was told there is a two
   piece, but I was told to get a one piece seal. Any suggestions for a
   source that has worked for you. Please EMAIL me. I don't check this
   list every day. Thanks in advance.
   >>>Fred,
   Some of the USA vendors sell a windshield gasket that is truly awful.
   AWFUL.  Although it's sold as a one-piece gasket, in a telling
   admission of how bad it is, it comes with instructions offering
   suggestions regarding the various ways and places you can cut it apart
   and change it aifa it doesn't fit (and it never fits).
   The good news is that quality seals made by the ORIGINAL supplier in
   Italy are still available, but the bad news is that the nominal cost is
   greater.  However, if you are comparing the cost to install an
   expensive part that fits and works perfectly, versus the cost to fit
   one that requires hours of labor ($$$) and may or may not work when
   you're done, the quality solution, besides being better, is almost
   assuredly cheaper.
   Unfortunately you've already gone down the other path, so now you will
   have to pay twice to get it fixed.  But at least you should be happy
   with the finished result.
   Here is a link to the original supplier in Italy:
   http://www.cicognaniguarnizioni.it/Detomaso-148/pantera-148-i05
   (Note that they offer original rubber for ALL De Tomaso cars, even
   Vallelungas!)
   The site is available in either English or Italian; if it comes up in
   Italian, click the British flag at the top right corner and it will
   switch to English.
   The early 1971 Panteras used a complex two-piece windshield molding,
   while the 1972-on cars used a four-piece molding.  The two setups use
   different rubber gaskets, so be sure to order the correct one.  Cost is
   280 Euros for either one.
   If you don't want to order over the web from a company in Italy, you
   can order from our buddy Roland Jackel in Hamburg, Germany.  He imports
   them from Italy and sells them retail for the same price (last time I
   checked).  At least that way you're buying from a friend.  His website
   is www.detomaso.de and his e-mail addresses are:
   roland at jaeckel-partner.de
   detomaso at gmx.com
   Roland is a lurker on this forum too....
   Mr. Fiat is (apparently) a retailer for this Italian company.  They
   advertise De Tomaso rubber and list all the models as well, which
   suggests that they are selling the Good Stuff and not the cheap stuff
   offered by the USA vendors.  Located in Atlanta, they advertise Pantera
   rubber here:
   http://mrfiat.com/italian/de-tomaso/pantera.html
   The cost is MUCH higher here.  However, this reflects the costs of
   shipping to the USA and taxes etc.  Nevertheless, armed with the
   knowledge of how to buy them directly from European sources, I suspect
   it would be much less expensive to go that route, especially
   considering the Euro has fallen against the dollar, so your dollar
   travels further today than it did a few months ago.
   Your installer needs to know that the metal trim needs to be inserted
   in the rubber, and the rubber around the glass, BEFORE he attempts to
   install the windshield in the car.  If he just wraps the glass with the
   gasket and installs it, there's no real way to then add the trim
   afterwards, as it's held in place with the crush between the edge of
   the glass and the edge of the body.
   Hopefully he uses some quality 3M windshield sealant during
   installation.  My glass was installed dry (25 years ago), and it
   squeaks when driving down the road.  I can actually reach up and feel
   the glass moving inside the gasket (my aftermarket windshield might be
   a tiny bit smaller than the original?).  I've never taken the time to
   fix it, but a bit of good windshield sealant would probably do the
   trick.
   Note that Panteras are notorious for leaking at the bottom corners of
   the windshield, so special attention should be paid there.
   And do NOT simply use conventional RTV silicone.  Jack DeRyke has
   reported (and I fully believe) that normal RTV is slightly acidic, and
   can actually cause corrosion (and thus leaks) to form.  3M Windshield
   sealant is The Good Stuff.  They are a bit proud of it ($$$) but you
   don't want to cut corners here.
   Good luck, and please let us know how it turns out!
   Mike