Well, thanks to all the encouragement, advice, and the substantial fee the autoglass shop wants to charge me for the removal and installation alone ($375--and that without any new glass, they'll charge me half that just for the removal), I think I'm going to give the installation a try. The glass shop did the removal, and it went smoothly--so much so that I wished I'd done it myself. Ron, you were right, there were girlie men at the other glass shop! Hopefully the installation will prove to be yet another job on my Volvo that I was skeptical of doing that proved to be really doable. These cars give so much satisfaction.
So "chakra," I think I'll take you up on your offer of the 3M sealant. Why that and not the silicone? And another of these details: where do I pick up 3/16" polypropylene cord--at my local hardware store or Home Depot? Am not quite picturing how the cord pulls the seal over the body flange, but maybe this will be evident once I actually do it.
Also, the front windshield has an arched scratch from one of the windshield wipers. I thought I could live with it, but d'you think it's really worth my while to just go get a new one, since I'm getting all the other stuff done, especially if they're only $150? I thought they were more like 3 something...better call the Volvo dealership today and look into that.
Thanks very much, hfav