Possible to remove rear glass and re-use gasket?

[65PlymSatellite]

Hey All,

Addressing all the visible rust on my 1965 Satellite, I see some spots creeping out under the rear glass gasket.

Has anyone removed the rear glass and re-used the gasket? There’s nothing wrong with the glass or gasket, and it would be nice to reuse it.

 

[WileE]

Is it original ? Been in there since 65 ? Been out in the elements ? May not be re-usable. It could be hard. It could crack.

 

[R413]

Yes it is possible to reuse it, depends on how well it aged. Only way to know it's to take it apart. The razor knife is the wrong tool for this.

Remove trim, unlock the lock strip and open up the gasket. On a warm day put the car out in the sun before you try pushing the glass out.

 

[65PlymSatellite]

Is it original ? Been in there since 65 ? Been out in the elements ? May not be re-usable. It could be hard. It could crack.

Yes original. Been in the SoCal elements since new. Rubber isn't hard or brittle though as I can dig my fingernail into the exposed areas an it "rebounds"

 

[65PlymSatellite]

Yes it is possible to reuse it, depends on how well it aged. Only way to know it's to take it apart. The razor knife is the wrong tool for this.

Remove trim, unlock the lock strip and open up the gasket. On a warm day put the car out in the sun before you try pushing the glass out.

Unlock the locking strip? Have you ever done this? What does it look like? Where is the locking strip?

Pardon my ignorance, never removed any glass before.

 

[R413]

Yes, easy. With trim off it exposes the seam. You take a dull tool and separate at the seam and it opens up. Then you can pull the gasket off the glass towards the body to expose the glass edge

 

[Jhn824]

It is possible but you can buy a new gasket from Joe Suchy for about $100...that back glass has become unobtainium so the less you have to touch it the better!

 

[Dave6T4]

I agree with previous post. It is way cheaper to buy a new gasket than glass. The old gasket is not likely worth saving, anyways.

 

[BigFlo]

Yes, easy. With trim off it exposes the seam. You take a dull tool and separate at the seam and it opens up. Then you can pull the gasket off the glass towards the body to expose the glass edge

View attachment 1957483

You are referencing the front window gasket. On my 65, the rear gasket did not have the locking feature- only the front gasket did. The rear window went in with the rope and sealant method.
To the OP, no matter how good you think the original gasket is, once you get it out, you will probably find it is not as good as you thought. It is set in its place as it has been for the last 60 years and is not as flexible as a new gasket. As difficult as it can be to get the rear window in, you’ll want as flexible a gasket as possible. I would spring for a new gasket.

 

[65PlymSatellite]

Thanks all! I was hoping to save the original gasket because I thought I read somewhere that the 65 and older reproduction gaskets and glass are TERRIBLE. my windshield is cracked and needs replacing too since I’m replacing the cowl. Got a new windshield and gasket for that, and I’m expecting to run into a bunch of issues if what I read is True. So since the rear glass and gasket is good, I was hoping to put it back how it is now. I wouldn’t be messing around with them if not for the rust spots.