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( i searched but did not see any for a C1)
is there a site to go to or a link where I can get the rundown on how to replace the windshield in my 61 Corvette. I think I understand what needs to be done but confirmation of the process would be great since I’d like to do this in one day not have it linger with problems or issues.
I have not purchased the glass yet either so if there is a consensus on a good supplier for the glass, let me know that as well thank you guys
( i searched but did not see any for a C1)
is there a site to go to or a link where I can get the rundown on how to replace the windshield in my 61 Corvette. I think I understand what needs to be done but confirmation of the process would be great since I’d like to do this in one day not have it linger with problems or issues.
I have not purchased the glass yet either so if there is a consensus on a good supplier for the glass, let me know that as well thank you guys
This subject has been addressed in numerous posts on this site.
When I completed my install on the 62 I posted a somewhat complete recap of what I did and how it worked.
I will have to dig that up, hopefully I can find it on my computer. I will also do a search here and post the link when I find it.
You might simply do a google search on "C1 Corvette Windshield replacement" and see if it takes you there. That seems to work better than the sites dedicated search feature.
There is an abundance of GOOD info on this subject right here, all ya gotta do is find it.
Will post more when I can. Busy day for me but I will try.
Eddie
( i searched but did not see any for a C1)
is there a site to go to or a link where I can get the rundown on how to replace the windshield in my 61 Corvette. I think I understand what needs to be done but confirmation of the process would be great since I’d like to do this in one day not have it linger with problems or issues.
I have not purchased the glass yet either so if there is a consensus on a good supplier for the glass, let me know that as well thank you guys
OK,
Who was it that said "Be careful what you ask for?"
Here ya go-----it's a start.
I posted this back in in BC---Before Covid. It's an old thread so I will post it again to keep it current. It is a recap of my experience with this--My first vette---my first attempt at such a massive repair.
The windshield is done! I did it myself. I talked to six “glass Pros” and teach one said that they understood and had done several C1 Corvettes but when they told me how they planned to do it -without removing the frame, I knew right away that they had no clue.
When I asked them how they planned to deal with the car while we were waiting to get the side posts repaired. They had no idea what that meant. They said — -—“we just work from the top and dont remove those parts. besdies, they never break.”
By the time I explained what actually had to be done six different times I decided that I had actually rehearsed the project six times and might as well just do it.
It was not at all difficult nor as time consuming as I had been led to believe.
So, for the record——Here is the break down—
Glass came from Auto City Classics— $329.00 Incl Shipping—Green with dark sun shade at the top
Weather Strip Kit —Corvette Rubber Co $47.25
Rebuild Side Posts Corvette Central $200.00
Screws T Bolts Corvette Central $ 30.00
Total Cost $606.25
1. Removed of both seats, kick panels and package try——1 hour
2. Removal of windshield frame from car—20 minutes
3. Wait for repair of side posts——1 1/2 weeks—I dont count that as time on the project.
4. Preparing the frame for reassembly, media blasting, painting, metal poishing 2 hours——done while waiting for the side posts.
5. Cleaning the body of pld glazing compound 1/2 hour
6. Preparing the pieces for reassembly——1 hour——measuring to find exact center of all parts—CRITICAL!
7. Assembly of glass and frame———3 hours—it SHOULD have taken only one hour—see below-
8. Reassembly to car——ALL 12 BOLTS and NUTS—1 hour!
9 Install kIck pannels and seats——1 1/2 hours—I was cleaning as I went.
10. Installation of Package Tray——TWO F%$#^NG HOURS!!!!!!
Total time 13 hours. I should only have been about 10 hours.
The job was actually fun and best, we did not break the glass and had no parts left over.
Observations:
I got lucky——when a previous owner had replaced the windshield he made two pocket cuts on each side that allowed access to the “Bolts of Death”——the side posts and the first “T” Bolt on each side. The cuts were quite neat and well covered by the kick panels.
Of the other 6 “T” bolts, four of them had no nuts so I only had to remove 2 nuts and they were quite easy with the seats removed.
Sadly, as expected, the side posts were indeed broken and while I have access to a fine machine shop and could have made the repair in about two hours I chose to send them to Corvette Central.
Their price was fair and the advertsied two week turn around was actually far less—I sent them on a Monday afternoon, On Thursday I reveived a call from Central to inform me that they had arrived safely and would go out at the beginning of next week. I had them before the end of that week.
Good on ya CC. First class.!
In retrospect, I am very happy to have sent them out. Not knowing just how they did this, I would have done something quite different and not as good———The piece that they used for the repair is NOT a simple flat piece—a round channel is machined on the “up” side to accept the rounded shape of the bottem rail. This is critical to a good fit. I would have missed that.
This is the most important part of the job——You absolutely MUST find the EXACT CENTER of each piece of the frame as well as the EXACT CENTER of the glass AND the weather strip. If you neglect this step you WILL disassemble and re-assemble many times to get a decent fit. We got it right the first time.
To install the weather strip—I began at the BOTTOM , aligning the center of the strip with the center of the glass and worked outward and around. I had one other person to help and our four hands were quite sufficient. Once installed we pulled, rubbed, stretched and finnessed the strip until there were abolutely no wrinkles and everything looked right to the eye.
There is a “cut away” at the bottom of the strip just before the glass curvs. You must take care to have the same distance from the cut away to the curve on both sides of the glass.
Reassaembly of the frame——
Start with the bottom channel——BEWARE!!!!
The bottom rail MUST be fitted PROPERLY—to the SS Trim piece that runs along the body and installed as a single unit——the channel MUST snap and LOCK into the trim piece with a gentle CLICK and REMAIN LOCKED TOGETHER.—If you miss this—as we did at first—the pieces will not fit correctly. If, when you assemble the bottom, the two pieces come apart—you got it wrong. Do not proceed until yo get the two pieces locked together properly. Oncer certain you have them assembled crrectly——
Lube the weather strip and the channel well with sopay water——
Align the center of the bottom assembly with the center of the glass and press it on— Some tapping with a rubber lallet is in order so be very careful—do it with FEAR in your heart.
If thigs appear to be separating—take a screw driver and fit between the inner ridge of the trim pieceand channel and , twist gently until the rail and trim snapped solidly and lock together. I did the all along the bottom rail and then the entire bottom assembly easily slid into the proper place.
The side rails slid easliy into place and the top rail went easily as well. I had to pull the top of pne side rail away slightly to get the top trim piece to snap home and then slid the side post back into place. A bit of tapping with the RUBBER mallet pushed everything nicely together.
All that remained was to the installation of FOUR #10/32 screws to secure the top rail to the side posts.
This is where the trouble began——
The two scres on the driver’s side went in without a problem. The inner one on the passenger side went in as well but the outside screw just would not catch the threads in the thread plate. We could see the threads inside the hole—it was a perfect alignment—but the screw would not catch. We pulled the inner screw and then installed the outer one easily BUT now the inner one would not catch. And so it went—no matter which cmbination of those for screws we tried—for two hours -the best we could do was three out of the four. It was maddenting. Everything was VISUALLY in perfect alignment but no joy. Why is there always ONE screw that holds up the project?
I went to the local True Value and bouht two new screws and as my wife says—“BOOM DONE!” The old scrws looked fine but they just were not happy with the neighborhood. Next to the installation of the package tray this was the absolute WORST part of the entire job and most frustrating and time consuming—WASTING!
Having the seats removed made the installation of the assembly dead easy—I simply stood in the cockpit and lowered the whole thing into place from above—easy, peasy! No mess at all!
The dreaded bolts were not nearly as difficult to access as I had been led to believe HOWEVER—
You all have to understand that I built an ocean going sailboat in my back yard and have managed to sail and maintain it for over thirty years and compared to that——there is NOTHING on these cars that is at all difficlut. On a boat, the simplest job has one contorted beyond belief in a truly inaccessible place—skin is flayed, blood flows , frustration is beyond belief and tempers fly. So, I have a somewhat different point of view.
The install of the package tray was a nightmare! A previous owner did some sort of modification to the install and it proved maddening—I wont even try to explain it but it had me talking to myself. But, now its done!!!
The most important things for me are:
There are two PDF files available elsewhere on this site that are invaluable. I wanted to re-post them here to make it easy for everyone but for some reason they would not upload and attach. If someone else would like to re-post them on this thread I would appreciate it.
Download and STUDY both PDF’s on this job. I mean STUDY THEM, dont just skim. Thanks so much to the guys that put them together.
Remove BOTH seats. Makes the job much easier.
Take the time to measure and MARK as accurately as possible every single piece of the assembly—frame, channel, trim and GLASS!
Take care when re-assembling the bottom channel and trim piece--make certain that they are indeed locked together as a single unit.
IF you are simply replacing the weather strip and re-using the glass——study the section of the PDF that shows how to measure from the corner of the glass to the edge of the “cut away” on the lower part of the Weather strip—BEFORE you remove the assembly from the car.
The choice of With or without Dark sun shade at the top is a personal choice—and may not be for everyone. the windshield is quite narrow and depending upon how tall you are, you might find it distracting. I chose it because we live in sunny Arizona. We will see how it turns out. My wife loves it!
I would absolutely NOT hesitate to tackle this job again—but now—on to the next project—— I have to install a new Gps in my boat which means some pulling of new wire and rewiring things——not looking forward to this. ——I’ll take a C1 windshield any time!
Again—thanks to all of you for your encouragement and advice.
Now, my gal and I goin for a RIIIIIDE!!!!!
Stay safe! Stay well!
Eddie
Also here are just a few random URL's right from this forum. Copy each of these and paste them into your web browser. It will at least get you started:
As you read through all of this keep a lookout for LINKS to some outstanding PDF's on this very subject. I have the Pdfs but hesitate to post somwone else's work. There are several in depth primers specifically to C1's
[QUOTE=cheapstreetduster;1607577649]( i searched but did not see any for a C1) is there a site to go to or a link where I can get the rundown on how to replace the windshield in my 61 Corvette.
Here is an addendum to the links and info I posted yesterday.
The first one below is a Direct link to a PDF that is outrageously complete. It says "Part1" but there is actually a Part 2 included here as well. It is EVERYTHING you need to know about this. Great JOB! before you begine STUDY this throughly.
How too replace windshield 61 corvette
