Windshield gasket bead or no bead?

[fairlaniac]

My 1978 has a windshield gasket with the cord in it. This is not a show truck and I’m not too concerned about originality. Any issue switching to a plane seal without the cord? Thank you.

[jzjames]

Whats the cord in it? Do you mean to say ‘chrome’?
I just ordered my windshield gasket from RockAuto. Precision brand, without the groove for the chrome.

[cep62]

Yep the glass is the same from '67 - '79 they had different rubbers but they'll all fit.

[FORDification]

There is no mandatory reason to use the 78-79 seal with the bead, you can use the standard seal or the earlier seal with the groove for the stainless molding.

[Fraser]

The gasket changed mid year '77, mine had the earlier type with no groove. My understanding is that they became common for parts simplicity, either would use the same gasket and procedure on the line, only the colour of the bead was different. In 1980, they started using a butyl seal, but anything from '67-'79 used a common glass and flange design.
As a personal choice, I prefer the early type, with the later type, the paint always comes off the corner pieces, so you end up with a black gasket with 4 shiny corners.