Well, it had to happen sometime!
Wife and I had tickets to attend a drive in movie yesterday. She suggested that it might be nice to put the hard top onto the 62 just for fun. No problem. It went on in less time than it takes to raise the folding top. She loved it. She says she just loves the look of the car with the hard top on it. Go a love her!
So, I need to run an errand in the afternoon and I take the vette. Bad move----on the way back home ---doing the speed limit and thinking how nice the car feels and sounds with the HT on----a landscaper truck blows by. Something flies off the truck it hits the windshield---sending cracks striaight down the driver's side just at the curve. Of course, he never knew and was gone before I could get a plate no.
I was very lucky to have the HD on because without it I would have gotten it right in the face.

I have read all of the stories of success, failure and frustration with this and it just might be prudent to leave this to a pro.

Does anyone know of someone in the Phoenix AZ area that can be trusted to make the installation.
Also, do any of you have a recommendation for replacement---tinted, normal, specific brand name etc.
I was thinking of doing this "out of pocket" and not involving the insurance co. What is the collective experience with making such a claim for this. Usually GLASS are not considered claims but on a C1 I am not so sure.

Fortunately the car is still drievable.

Thanks,
Eddie

 

That, my fellow C1 owner, sucks out loud! I can't help with service in your area, but I can tell you those C1 windshields are a major project to change out. Good luck and keep us posted. Oh yeah.......the wife better be super sweet to you for quite some time!!!!!

 

My C1 windshield is just wore out. From talking to the folks on this forum most say it is about the worst job you can tackle on a C1.

 

SOOOOOOO much more work you can get into (required or optional) when doing this job too!!!!

 

Do. NOT pay yourself. This is why you have insurance and it’s a safety item so there is no deductible. It’s a BIG job on a C1. My 61 windshield replacement 9 years ago
was estimated at $2,400

insist on new hardware, rubber molding and rubber spacers. If you need a dash pad do it now.
Take pics and write up the incident t and call the insurance company

 

Frank, I was just searching for your post on this topic and advise of the same thing. I couldn’t remember the dollar amount, but I knew you experienced it. You also replaced one yourself, correct?

 

Yes. I R&Red the windshield and frame but had a shop install the glass in the frame. It’s tricky. Also time to repair broken windshield post tabs if needed.

 

I just had my 58 windshield completely redone including date coded glass, stainless and chrome, new rubber etc at Glassworks / The Hardtop Shop.
Great job, Matthew was very good to deal with and it looks great.
No cheap but I am doing a complete restoration so it needed more than just Glass. (My thinking was---how many windshields will I break before I get it done right)
Contact him and send him some pics.
Good luck.

 

30 years ago and not knowing I couldn't do it, I replaced the windshield and windshield rubber on my '60. I also polished the stainless and had the two corner pieces rechromed. (A glutton for punishment, and a true believer in "while I'm at it....", I also replaced the dash pad.)

The only part of the job I remember as being tough was re-installing the top piece of stainless. Everything else was straightforward and obvious.

Of course I had help removing and re-installing the windshield assembly. It's too large and awkward for one person, in my opinion.

 

There are many articles and threads on replacing the windshield, the OP just needs to decide if he wants to tackle it or farm it out. I split the baby in half R&Ring the glass and frame (assembled by a well known shop)/ In retrospect I think I had the tougher task and they got off fairly easy.

 

I've done 2 C1 replacement windows and they are a pain in the rear. first one I did I broke the window putting it in the frame that was my learning curve. There's a lot to doing complete window definitely. Just make sure you find someone competent that has done them before that's all I can say good luck

 

I have full coverage collector's insurance on my '61, am very mechanically inclined, and would not even for a nano-second consider doing my own glass replacement on it if it got damaged on the road. Not even debatable. That is what insurance is for. Who cares if you have to pay a small deductible? Life is just tooooo short.

 

Attempted to replace the windshield on my 59. I removed the frame and followed all the on line posts and directions. Mine only needed a new weatherstrip around the glass. Everything came apart great BUT here it comes I could not get the glass and weatherstrip to seat in the lower channel. No matter how much I tried and lots of liquid soap I finally got it most of the way in and then the glass cracked. Long story I drove it to Matt at Glaqssworks and bought a new glass and had him polish the trim and install. Came out beautiful $ 1800 later. Insurance covered almost all of it

 

Well, you can "try" Classic Performance Restoration, they did mine in 2009, and it came out wonderfully, the one guy, Tom, works out of his house now is S Mesa, or maybe Gilbert. Dunno if he still does this stuff. They used to be off Main/Country cub, but that was 8-10 years ago. I think he spends most of his time maintaining collectors cars for a wealthy businessman, now.

I did the first one myself, in ~1987, and it came out OK, following the exact instruction in the ST-12, but i was sweating bullets on a cold day, trying not to break the new windshield while seating it in the frame.

Doug

 

I've told the story a few times, how I got my new glass already installed in the frame ready to mount on the car and called my neighbor and his brother over to help install it ... it took three attempts and we were all acovered in black butyl afterwards. we all washed off the gunk with lacquer thinner - as those guys went back into the house I could hear the wife yelling, "..What the hell is that smell ? And what's all over your arms ?"

I don't get invited over for barbeque anymore.

 

Important thing is to find someone who has experience in replacing glass on a C1 or it could be a mess.

 

Does your insurance company have any recommendations?

 

This may be a silly question but are there any kind of protective coatings like a clear bra you can put on the glass to protect it from rock chips? Thx

 

That was the first thing I tackled on my 62, back in 2000. Never had a corvette before and didn't have instruction. I bought the windshield, weather-strip and some hardware and went at it. Did the whole thing by guess and by golly. Wasn't and easy job (locating all the fasteners was a pita )but things went well and it's still in the car. I did polish the SS and install a new dash pad. After a lot of miles, I have a lot of sand pits and have bought a new windshield a couple years ago. I haven't attempted the job a second time yet. I think the first time may have been beginners luck.

 

I used that method also and it worked out well. It's nothing more than taking your time and being careful.