Windshield dam dimensions

[HawkX66]

The dam height is not the finished height, the dam actually rolls over on installation.
If completely vertical it would be 7/16" NOT 9/16" and as fitted the installed height is only 1/4-3/8".

I will post photos later.

Thanks James. I'd like to see those photos. I'm not going with an original style dam, so what I have should be the correct finished height it sounds like.

[firstgenaddict]

7/32 base width
10/32 installed height
16/32 overall uncrushed height.

[HawkX66]

7/32 base width
10/32 installed height
16/32 overall uncrushed height.

Great pics and measurements. Thank you!

[Mike S]

 To bring up this thread again I'm at the point with the restoration to put in the windshield. I have the adhesive but was not sure what size dam tape people are using. Being the one James posted is not available, what size dam are people using when installing the glass? I'm figuring 1/4" base but the height I'm not sure of. Looking at the dimension James posted, would a 1/2" height crush down to what's needed to get the windshield at the proper depth before the trim is installed? I've not used the dam material so I don't know how much crush it has.

Thank You,
Mike

[69Z28-RS]

I talked to the fella who does windshields on my driver cars, tried to tell him the Camaro originally had some sort of 'dam' to set the windshield, and he told me 'the urethane we use now is much better'...  If I can find the 'original type material, then I'd prefer to do that, even if I had to do it myself...  What do you fella say??  Is the material available?  or should I allow him to set the windshield in the urethane he normally uses??

OR.. should I just leave in the original windshield (scratch and all) and leave the repro windshield in the box it came in??

[Mike S]

 As far as I know the original style that folded over is not available but the square dam is though. The urethane's may be better but I thought the sole purpose of the dam was to prevent the urethane from being seen from inside the car so it was more for aesthetics, I assume. So far my research is leading me to get the .375 x .25" dam and that should have enough material compressed to fill in any irregularities around the perimeter of the glass & pinchweld area. I measured the convertible pinchweld depth and that is approximately 3/4". The windshield is approximately 1/4", I figure use a 1/4" spacer block to prevent the windshield from sinking too far in the uretnane adhesive when it's applied, then the trim molding is about 3/16" so that would have the molding almost flush with the outside trim. I'm curious if anyone here used .375" height dam material.

Mike

[1968 Z28]

As far as I know the original style that folded over is not available but the square dam is though. The urethane's may be better but I thought the sole purpose of the dam was to prevent the urethane from being seen from inside the car so it was more for aesthetics, I assume.

Mike

Straight from the man that knows.....http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=5347.msg37162#msg37162

[Mike S]

 I've seen that article before. Too bad the original fold down dam isn't available anymore and it would be a good thing to reproduce, IMO. I guess my reply to Dave was more in regards to using urethane alone without a dam, which was the impression I got based on what the windshield installer said.
 I went to a car show today and had seen a Camaro with the dam under the glass though covered mostly with the trim and he told me it was the square type though he didn't remember the size. He thinks it was 1/4" thereabouts and it sure looked like it did a great job keeping the urethane out of the passenger compartment. It looks so much better than some windshields I've seen with just the butyl tape. And one car had just the urethane adhesive and no dam and it didn't look good being the adhesive was seen from the inside and it wasn't smooth looking and poked out from the bottom molding. At this point I may just go with the .375x.25" dam with urethane. That's probably the closest we'll get to having it look original.

Mike

[Sauron327]

As far as I know the original style that folded over is not available but the square dam is though. The urethane's may be better but I thought the sole purpose of the dam was to prevent the urethane from being seen from inside the car so it was more for aesthetics, I assume. So far my research is leading me to get the .375 x .25" dam and that should have enough material compressed to fill in any irregularities around the perimeter of the glass & pinchweld area. I measured the convertible pinchweld depth and that is approximately 3/4". The windshield is approximately 1/4", I figure use a 1/4" spacer block to prevent the windshield from sinking too far in the uretnane adhesive when it's applied, then the trim molding is about 3/16" so that would have the molding almost flush with the outside trim. I'm curious if anyone here used .375" height dam material.

Mike

A qualified glass tech does not need a spacer block. They apply the bead of urethane correctly, and press the gently glass down to the desired height. My new glass tech lays and neat, even bead that does not show beyond the moldings. Guaranteed or he'll yank it out and do it again which has not happened. He will use a dam but his bead is nice and it is not required unless you really desire to have it.

[Mike S]

 Hi Scott,

     I'll be doing the work myself so being I installed maybe 4 windshields in my life, the spacer will make up for my lack of "qualifications" 
Actually, I liked the way the dam gave a nice neat original look inside the car so I'll be using one.

Mike

[jeff68]

When the windshield got put in my car, we 'dry' fit it along with the moldings to get the foam dam thickness & position correct.  I can't remember right now which foam dam I ended up going with, but it was one of these high density foam tapes from Marcy Adhesives:
ME6492  1/8" x 3/16"
ME6493  3/16" x 3/16"
ME6494  1/4" x 1/4"
ME6495  5/16" x 1/4"
ME6496  3/8" x 1/4"