Lockstrip Install Front or Rear glass Barracuda Valiant and Dart
Remove the old lockstrip and clean the gasket with soap and water to remove grime. Wipe gasket with mineral spirits if there is sealant stuck in the groove where the lockstrip goes remove all sealant. Lacquer thinner will clean out the stains in the gasket but use sparingly.
Reseal the gasket to the glass and body if you have experienced any water leaks in the past. See photos.
First make sure you have a square cut end on the lockstrip to start with. Recut the end with a single edge razor blade or razor knife making sure the end is square cut.
On the front and rear on Valiant and Dart, install the lockstrip from the center of the glass where you want the splice to occur.
Do not stretch the lockstrip when pushing it in. There are tools to speed up lockstrip installation, but I use my trusted nylon sticks to spread the gasket open and lay the lockstrip in the groove of the gasket pushing the non-chrome edge to seat the lockstrip. Work the lockstrip all around the opening until you get close to the starting point then "crowd" the lockstrip in. That is to cut the lockstrip longer than needed and force the ends together. Usually 3/8" longer is good for making sure the joint is tight.
Barracuda rear gasket requires a splice at the rear lower corners. The factory used a splice cover at the corners but the the profile does not match the replacement lockstrip so they can be eliminated by miter cutting the lockstrip into the corner and sealing the joint with clear urethane sealant. The same can be done with the front lockstrip instead of the metal splice. The splice is usually made at the center of the car on the lower side of the lockstrip.
You may also use the metal splice cover at the joint of the front glass being careful not to dent the splice.
If you are having trouble pushing the lockstrip in use some lubricant to ease the install.
I have used mineral spirits as a lubricant, but I think dish washing soap is a lot easier and cleaner to work with. You will still need to clean up sealant if you have resealed the windshield with mineral spirits at the end, so have a lot of rags or paper towels handy.
Seal the gasket to the glass around the perimeter with a butyl windshield sealant or weatherseal sealant compatible with the gasket.
Thread the lockstrip into the gasket channel and push it in to lock in the gasket. I am using a nylon stick to prevent damage to the lockstrip.
See my EBAY listing to buy these.
On a Barracuda you will need to miter cut and butt the lower rear corners of the back glass together.
Make sure to cut long and "crowd" the lockstrip together. Do not try to stretch the lockstrip as it will shrink back and there will be a gap. I use clear urethane sealant to glue these corners together.
This same detail can be used on the front lockstrip joint which is usually located at the lower center of the windshield.
Seal the gasket to the pinchweld window frame. I am using a butyl rubber sealant made for sealing glass and rubber. It is the same type of product used by the factory during the 1940's thru 1970's.
See my EBAY listing to buy this.
CAUTION DO NOT USE SILICONE SEALANT FOR THIS APPLICATION. Typical silicone sealants will cause the interlayer in the windshield glass to fog and it will leach out the carbon black color from older original gaskets.
Move your way around the opening to lock the full perimeter of the gasket in place. You can see a small amount of sealant being pushed out at the top of the gasket. Clean this up when the lockstrip is all in with mineral spirits.
Roll the lockstrip around the corners without stretching it.
Tools Needed. You can cut the lockstrip with a pruning shear, use the kind where the blades do not bypass each other. A straight edge razor blade is better than a utility knife for cuts.
Windshield sealant 100% non curing butyl is still the best choice. It will skin over and will not get hard all the way thru.
Other uses for the nylon sticks I sell. I sell blue sticks now but the color does not matter. They are very strong nylon material. The white one in the picture I have been using for more than 30 years.
Use this Clear urethane sealant for splices and butt joints. Most auto part store carry this.
Here is a copy of the factory service instruction for glass replacement, gasket and lockstrip service.
note the lockstrip is called a "mylar strip" and the nylon stick tool is called "fibre wedge".
