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My '62 windshield has always been tough to see through in the afternoons due to pitting. I've heard some of the replacement windshields are thinner than the originals so the weatherstripping bunches up around the turns at the bottom corners. I'd like to avoid all that.
Anyone have any recommendations for a source for date coded windshield in So Cal area, good weatherstripping and a decent installer? I contacted a guy that Super Chevy used in a feature on a 1961 a while back and he said he will come to my shop and install it for $250 if I supply the windshield and rubber. Seems too cheap to me considering you have to climb under the dash and remove and disassemble the windshield frame, but what do I know?
No help up here, but $250 seems like a give-away price. If the guy has good references, I'd jump on it. I would expect to pay at least twice that in labor, if not more.
No help up here, but $250 seems like a give-away price. If the guy has good references, I'd jump on it. I would expect to pay at least twice that in labor, if not more.
That is way too cheap. A C1 windshield install is one of the worst jobs on these cars. He can't know what it entails. Prob thinks it's like a Camaro and all you need is rope and soapy water.
My '62 windshield has always been tough to see through in the afternoons due to pitting. I've heard some of the replacement windshields are thinner than the originals so the weatherstripping bunches up around the turns at the bottom corners. I'd like to avoid all that.
Anyone have any recommendations for a source for date coded windshield in So Cal area, good weatherstripping and a decent installer? I contacted a guy that Super Chevy used in a feature on a 1961 a while back and he said he will come to my shop and install it for $250 if I supply the windshield and rubber. Seems too cheap to me considering you have to climb under the dash and remove and disassemble the windshield frame, but what do I know?
Thanks in advance.
.
odds are that if the price is too good, then possibly the installer is taking the shortcut of breaking the end iron tabs... be sure to ask if he removes the entire windshield assembly from the car when he replaces the glass.
I don't have any helpful input for you.. but my 61 got hit with a rock and cracked the windshield. This was about 1980. My dad took it to a local shop, and I still remember the guy's sob story about how he had to take the "book" price from the insurance company for the repair. He ended up loosing money on the job.
$250 sounds like someone who has never done one before.
Also, if your dash pad has any issues, this is obviously the time to deal with it.
My ex car buying partner called a "auto glass" company to replace a 61 or 62 windshield. I came over when he started the job.
Step 1 break out the windshield.
Step 2, please leave before you get shot...
The Pro was sure it could be installed on the car.
In my opinion, the price is so low that the installer doesn't have a clue what is involved in the process. I recently completed this myself (with help from my lovely bride) AND using a great deal of information and experience provided by the forum folks. I can tell you that it is a very difficult and tedious task to do correctly. The rubber has to be stretch to cover the post properly. The stainless has to fit in the rubber almost perfectly to align with corner posts, etc. I would make sure the installer knows how the unit goes together. I would consider the price to be reasonable just to take the window and frame off the car!
There is only 1(one) thing that scares me about my 61.....Changing Glass!!!! That has to be an incorrect bid. If not I'm not sure I would let him attempt the replacement.
I purchased a windshield for a 62 from auto glass and it was very thin. Under 1/4" thick. Maybe someone has them thicker but at the time, several years ago, I could not find one. The $250.00 price sounds like to me the assembly is already out of the car and what the guy does is take apart and install the glass. It's still a time consuming job if done right.
I've done it myself, by myself before with the only help for lifting off, and putting back on the complete frame to the body.
of course i didn't know any better when i started the job. i sweated bullets afraid I was going o break the new glass.
I would really want to do it myself, or at least be around if someone else did it, as I think i could get the new glass to fit better using a couple tricks I thought up during my install.
I've heard the reason that the weatherstripping bunches up around the lower windshield turns is because of the thin windshields. Anyone know of a source for correct thickness windshields?
Just finished the job yesterday. It's doable but takes 2 sets of hands. We bought the gasket kit from Zips. It fit perfect. The most important thing is to find dead center of your windshield and get the gasket on perfectly even.
Done this a couple of times. I would recommend making sure your tabs are not broken if they are get them redone before replacing the windshield. Replace the windshield rubber gasket, and I would recommend replacing the t-bolts that go through the bottom of the windshield frame into the body. I also ordered new screws and such for the top bar. Primarily I did not want to get in the middle of doing this and find out some of the hardware had been messed up, missing, or is the wrong size. You need a proper size area or work bench to work and give you room to move things around. Takes time and patience but not hugely difficult. Lot of folks here will be a lot of help in advice and input to help you make your windshield change a success. $250 is very cheap for the time it takes to do this right. You will need someone familiar with the process and a copy of the AIM. Thanks