Cowl Seal

What is involved in replacing the rubber strip between the windshield and cowl (cowl Seal) on a '73 CJ 5? What tools are needed and how much time should it take?

I don't think the current one is leaking, but it is 35 years old and shows some signs of deterioration.

Thanks in advance for your help.

jm

 

Phillips head, how many?

I'm taking the Jeep to an upholstery shop to have the top repaired in a few places. Try ing to add life to my precious Whitco. While I'm there and the top is removed I'm going to try to replace the seal. I'd rather not lug a bunch of tools if I don't have to. What's the estimated time of replacement, an hour or so?

 

deleted

 

phillips head, about 10 screws. Takes about 5 minutes if they come out ok

 

Thank you.

 

Gotta disconnect the wiper motor wire from the dash switch, too.

 

If it was my project, the first 3 screws would be fine, the rest would be rusted on to the point twisting the screw head caused the screw to break. Then I'd be at the upholstry shop, broken screws sticking out the bottom of the windshield, not the right tools to fix. Then I'd try to get home, the claps would snap off holding the windhsield up. Local LEO would pull me over.

I'd just wait until I got home and spend 3 days and a case of beer on a 5 minute job.

 

X2:iagree:

 

One more question.

When I removed the old one, I noticed what seems to be some black cauld looking substance on the lip that the seel fits over. Should I try to replace the caulk with silicone, or just put the new cowl seal on there without it. Russell at Vintage Jeeps says no caulk or silicone sealer is needed.

Please advise.

Thanks.

jm

 

No caulk. Just the seal.

 

BTW anyone who does this anytime soon, I would recommend sealing it. When I did just the seal it leaked like a civ. Shorted out my radio, and got my boots all wet from all the leaks.

 

Did you seal both top and bottom or jus the bottom. Seems if you have to silicone it all together, it kinda defetes the point of being able to fold the windshield down.

 

I'm sealing the top where it wraps around from the bottom. There is a gap because for some reason it's not a perfect fit and I think this is where the water is mainly coming in from. Also replacing the latches so maybe its a combo. I wouldn't want to silicone the bottom because it would defeat the purpose but perhaps a rope seal wouldnt be too bad.

 

If you don't seal it the bottom of the frame will rot away. What I did was squirt glazing compound deep into the groove in the cowl seal. Then I smeared some on the leading edge of the frame that seats into that groove. I also smeared some on the rubber and metal where they contact each other. Then I assembled it.

The glazing compound is a black tarry substance in a caulk tube. It doesn't cure like RTV so it stays flexible. It's the same stuff I used on the glass seal, using the glazing compound to glue the seal to the frame. Then I installed the glass into the seal without glazing compound, using small screwdrivers to work it in.

 

So trying to get a better seal I was looking at replacing the interior latches for a 74 CJ5 that hold the windshield in the up position. Problem is I cant find any. The problem with mine is they are so worn that when I hit a bump the completely come off. The only thing that keeps the windshield up anymore is the top. Any help would be appreciated.

 

The half of the latch that bolts to the dash has serrated teeth where it mates to the dash. Loosening the screws allows you to move the piece up or down as needed to make it tight. Maybe you already tried that?

And a fresh seal will tighten it up because it's likely thicker than the old dried out one.

 

I replaced the seal and moved the latch already. The upper latch is getting really weak and I think here soon will break. It takes alot of force right now to latch it and when it latches it immediately unlatches from a simple bump in the road. I can tell the upper latch has been rebent several times to try to make the latch hold better and I need to replace both, but the only parts I can find for this are for a 76 and newer off of Morris4x4.com

 

Get this and forget you ever had latch issues..

http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?partID=10118

 

that thing come with instructions?