GT Veloce windshield sealer

[JHertzman@xxxxxxx]

In AD7-180 John Justus asks about sealants and sealing on gasketed front and
rear glass on GT Veloces.

The bodyshop manual shows a curved, thin-nosed nozzle on an air-supplied gun,
the nozzle inserted between an inner lip which fits between the glass and the
body, and an outer lip which serves the dual purpose of retaining the trim
strip and providing a second seal against the body, as well as a handy cavity
for sealant. It also helpfully says "apply the specified compound" but nowhere
specifies the compound.

The 3M company's Automotive Trades Division puts out a Mechanical Service
Products catalog, of which I have a vintage (1987) copy, so product numbers
may/may not be valid, but in it they have a section "Windshield
Installation/Repair Products". 3M Automotive Bedding and Glazing Compound,
part number 08509 black or 08506 clear, is described as "A nonhardening,
pliable, water resistant, medium bodied sealer for sealing auto seams and
between windshield rubber and car body. Also can be used as a supplementary
sealer for auto glass installation." It comes in a caulking-gun type tube, and
they recommend (surprise!) their applicator gun # 08992 three pages further
on. They also list a "3M Grommeted Windshield Sealer", black only, #08513 in a
pint can or #08511 in a 5 oz. tube, the can product used with a different
applicator gun which they also list. Then several pages of products for glue-
in windshields. About fifty pages of special automotive products in all.

John's second question is "how far do you seal?  The reason for this question,
is again, the rear window was sealed around the top and sides but not the
bottom." Many many years ago, when I was young and impressionable, one of my
mentors taught me The Plumber's Philosophy: "Shit don't flow uphill, Friday's
payday, and The Boss is a prick." The odds are against serious uphill-leakage
problems on the rear glass, but people with a boss-mentality might want to go
ahead and do the whole thing right on principle. That is why you own an Alfa,
isn't it?

John H.

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