"...We used the old, 2-man welding wire method to saw
through the rubber seal and then lift out the window..."
No matter what some good intentioned 'magic tool' bearing experts/friends/helpers may say, this old two man wire method is always the best way to extract original glass in one piece!.
Your pic of the wire wrapped around the screwdrivers looks so familiar and reminds me of all the good times working at the boneyard where in the days before cheap aftermarket glass was available I pulled tons of used w'shlds sucessfully using this method.. Just make sure you or your helper doesn't get rammy and push the glass away from the seal too quickly after cutting it as constant steady pressure will allow it to slowly move away from cut, sticky seals, even in a hot day's sunlight.. It's like removing an old decal as pulling it too quickly and it'll break but constant pressure and it'll slowly come off..
The car is looking great!!!.
~ Pete
