It's been a super busy month, but I've been trying to get some time in on the GMC when I can. I finished putting primer where it was needed. Despite it being a primer/sealer, I decided to topcoat it with something else (even if the paint job is only temporary). The primer was impossible to keep clean. Just bumping it with the windshield gasket would leave a black mark that was hard to remove.

I decided to remove the visor for now. That was a real pain. I'm pretty sure it was put on with 3M 5200. I had to use one of those windshield removal wires with the two T-handles. I just about destroyed my lats and traps in the process, it was a real workout! I didn't want the windshield installation to be any harder than it had to be, so out it came. There are some things that I can improve upon when I replace it.

I did end up putting new rivet nuts in the aluminum beam below the windshield. The front nose was then screwed down with some stainless socket cap screws. I left the dash unscrewed for now. It's not in great shape; it seems a bit warped, and has a lot of cracks and broken portions on its mounting flange. It'll have to come out at some point for some serious repair or replacement. I scrubbed, sanded, cleaned, and painted the gasket lip/flange as well, so sealing should be possible.

Here she sat waiting on windshields. I took a side profile pic so I could play around with painting schemes on my phone. I ended up going with a low-buck, low-effort solution to seal off all this primer. It'll get us by for now, without requiring my wife to hang her head in shame too terribly much as we travel. I rolled on some topside boat paint. No masking, no overspray, and as much orange peel as a guy could ever hope for. But, she's good from25 50 feet if your eyes aren't young.

I lured a friend over with the use of my wood jointer. We installed the used windshields I had from various sources. They're nice and clear, with no cracks. The passenger side has some light scratches, but I can't imagine it bothering the driver. I may try buffing it with some cerium oxide. Both are aftermarket. One is Guardian brand, the other NordLamex. The Guardian brand is on the driver's side, and didn't fit great, but one could conceivably blame that on the accident. I'm not entirely convinced, but it's possible. The NordLamex fits even worse, but I can't blame that on the accident, since it didn't fit great in the parts coach it came from either. There will be copious amounts of 3M bedding compound applied where needed before the lock strips go in. And they will be insured well. If they ever get broken, perhaps a new set from Coach Glass will provide more satisfactory results.

I decided to remove the visor for now. That was a real pain. I'm pretty sure it was put on with 3M 5200. I had to use one of those windshield removal wires with the two T-handles. I just about destroyed my lats and traps in the process, it was a real workout! I didn't want the windshield installation to be any harder than it had to be, so out it came. There are some things that I can improve upon when I replace it.

I did end up putting new rivet nuts in the aluminum beam below the windshield. The front nose was then screwed down with some stainless socket cap screws. I left the dash unscrewed for now. It's not in great shape; it seems a bit warped, and has a lot of cracks and broken portions on its mounting flange. It'll have to come out at some point for some serious repair or replacement. I scrubbed, sanded, cleaned, and painted the gasket lip/flange as well, so sealing should be possible.

Here she sat waiting on windshields. I took a side profile pic so I could play around with painting schemes on my phone. I ended up going with a low-buck, low-effort solution to seal off all this primer. It'll get us by for now, without requiring my wife to hang her head in shame too terribly much as we travel. I rolled on some topside boat paint. No masking, no overspray, and as much orange peel as a guy could ever hope for. But, she's good from

I lured a friend over with the use of my wood jointer. We installed the used windshields I had from various sources. They're nice and clear, with no cracks. The passenger side has some light scratches, but I can't imagine it bothering the driver. I may try buffing it with some cerium oxide. Both are aftermarket. One is Guardian brand, the other NordLamex. The Guardian brand is on the driver's side, and didn't fit great, but one could conceivably blame that on the accident. I'm not entirely convinced, but it's possible. The NordLamex fits even worse, but I can't blame that on the accident, since it didn't fit great in the parts coach it came from either. There will be copious amounts of 3M bedding compound applied where needed before the lock strips go in. And they will be insured well. If they ever get broken, perhaps a new set from Coach Glass will provide more satisfactory results.
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