70 Challenger SE Vinyl Top Install

[headejm]

Need some help/ideas with replacing the vinyl top on my 70 SE. I would rather not remove the factory installed glass unless I have to. What should I do with all of the sealer in the channels and the molding clips? Can the top be replaced without removing the clips? Best way to remove the excess sealer? Recommendations would be much appreciated.

Windshield:



Back Window:

[roadman5312]

                  Remove the glass and sealer, clean channels. Only way to do a good job.   

[AARTA340]

                  Remove the glass and sealer, clean channels. Only way to do a good job.   

 

[anlauto]

I never heard of doing a top without removing the glass, but I'm sure anything can be done

[plumcrazzy]

You should remove the glass. This will benefit you two ways. 1. After removing the glass, clean the channel completely this will let you know what problems may lie under the sealer---hopefully none! 2. Not having to fit your new vinyl top to close tolerance around the old sealer is an advantage---it will give you more room to "trim to fit". Removing the existing glass is tedious but a section of thin strong wire wrapped around a wooden dowel on each end will easily cut through the old sealer and allow the glass to be removed. Clean up everything---install the new vinyl--reinstall the glass. Good luck.

[1 Wild R/T]

You should remove the glass. This will benefit you two ways. 1. After removing the glass, clean the channel completely this will let you know what problems may lie under the sealer---hopefully none!

I agree remove the glass... However because this is an SE the window channel should be perfect since the glass is mounted in a fiberglass plug & the plug is counted in the body which means the moisture should have stay quite a ways away from the metal.... No moisture = no rot....

[DAYLEY/CHALLENGER]

You have to remove the glass to get to the screws holding the clips.  The back window for me came out good.  The front windshield....not so good.  Broke it. So,ordered one thru Napa.  Was about $130 or so.  Tinted like orig.

[headejm]

Thanks for all the comments. I guess I get to learn how to remove and replace my glass. Ugh.

[1 Wild R/T]

Thanks for all the comments. I guess I get to learn how to remove and replace my glass. Ugh.

And heres why I'm gonna tell ya this is the wrong piece of glass to learn on... First off that piano wire trick works great, except on a SE with the fiberglass plug the wire can cut the plug...  Second the broken windshield mentioned earlier was $130... The SE rear window isn't available.... So your searching for one..$$$$$$.. My advise in this case... Pay a professional.... 

[AMXguy]

They don't make it anymore but you can get them off ebay all the time for a few hundred bucks.   I almost hoped I'd break mine so I cold replace it with a standard rear window I like it much better than the SE peep hole.  but some of us are slaves to originality.

As has been said there's no way to do it without the glass coming out.