Martin, I have to say I misunderstood your post and I put lubricant on the window channel as well as the body channel. That was a mistake. I should have put the lubricant only to the window channel. I also used vegetable oil as found on the internet because I did not find tire slime.

I would not recommend using  vegetable.

Yesterday, my GF and I removed the new cracked windshield and installed another brand new windshield. The temp was 50 degrees. Poured boiled hot water onto the rubber into a large wash tub. The rubber got cold really quick. I also burned out an industrial electric heat gun. Getting the bright idea of heating the wash tub. I was holding the gun above the bottom and thought that all the hot air was escaping. So, I put the gun under the overturned tub, within minutes, the trapped air got so hot it burned out the heat gun. 

Putting the oil into body channel caused the rubber to slip and slide, making things harder. We were successful in getting the rubber surround installed without cracking the windshield. Yeah. There is a self inflicted pressure when taking out the windshield and installing another on your only car.

Today. I will install the fillet. It should warm up to 52 degrees. 

It has been a while since installing windshields. But on the brighter side, this is giving me more practice to putting the windshield and the back window onto my mini beach car build.

Hi 6464s, I re-installed the original windscreen glass and the back glass in the cab of my mini pickup this summer. I warmed the rubber seal and the fillet strips up in hot water but what really helped was the fact that I used tire slime that they use in tire shops when mounting tires. I goobered it on all over and both pieces of glass went in fine. I made my own tool to spread the rubber while I inserted the fillet strips, I did use new rubber and fillet strips on both pieces of glass.

Good luck, Martin.

Howard, how are you? It's been a while since talking. Haven't thought about the fillet. I am referring to the black rubber surround that actually holds the windshield. 

''Im always questioning myself. The 30 year old OEM rubber is still very pliable and no cracks or splits. I removed it and am using a new rubber. I was doing a one man install, the rubber was relative stiff working in 55 degree weather. I did not warm the rubber at all. I was using stiff metal spreaders to get the rubber to move. I was anxious to get started reassembling the mini. With 20/20 hindsight, I should have waited one day. During the week, the weather warmed up another 5 degrees. Working outside, the weather can turn against you quickly. This is leading me to think about warming the rubber. Bring the water to boiling, l think it would cool quickly but should remain softer to work with.

Jim ... if you're referring to the "fillet" when you say "surround", then my answer to your question is sort of yes. Although I have not actually using boiling water to soften them, on my last two installations I submerged the fillets into a few inches of very hot tap water in a slop sink. That made them more pliable and eased the installation.

Like I said, "I'm going to take the plunge". Most of us know that MiniMania is in deep financial trouble. I asked if MM was shipping. The reply was yes, but slowly. I would like to support them with a small conservative order. 

If you have been following my "rolling restoration" on another thread, I cracked the new windshield that I bought from our host. Expensive accident. Don't chip the edge. Lesson learned. I'm thinking next time I will boil the rubber surround to make the rubber softer. Has anyone done this? I will first do a test trial run with the old surround that I just took out. See what that does.