I need to replace my windshield (cracked) I took the car to a place that do that kind of work and when they took one look at the car they said they would not touch a corvette. Then I took the car to a corvette outfit were I was told "about $700 altogether" So my question is just how hard of a job is this to do? I can get a brand new windshield for $165.00 The car has T-tops would that make the job harder to do?? I was told that all of that chorme has to come off HELP

 

check this out
http://www.speakeasy.org/~pws/Corvette.htm

 

Hey sixfooter, thanks for that link. I think it's answered a question I have about the windscreen header trim:

It looks as though the stainless steel trim across the top of the windscreen is just clipped in. It's independent of the chrome panels onto which the T-Tops seal across the top of the windscreen.

Is this correct?

To remove the stainless windscreen trim strip from the top of the windscreen I should be able to (gently) lever it up and away from the birdcage frame, right?

(I have a '76 coupe.)

 

Thanks sixfooter. It's funny how easy things seem to be when you read about it huh?, I will have to try and find someone who has done this job before to be there with me. Cofidence is on the low side here.

 

Most glass places will shy away from ANY old car. Make it an antique,
and they run. Why ? windshield frame rust and rot mainly.
That - plus the moldings are big bucks if they mess them up.

When they did my 89 Buick and found some rust, the guy said
he would clean it up best he could, but NO Guarantee.

When I called a local shop about the vette, they said NO WAY would
they do it unless it was in their shop ... controlled environment.
They expected problems. Well, I talked to the shop manager and explained
that my "antique" vette was all brand new ... freshly painted windshield
frame ... plus I didn't even want them touching the moldings.
Well, they agreed to come out and do it - despite my constant
pestering to "Make sure the installed height is correct.".
If installed and pushed too far into the frame, the moldings are left
hanging in the air with a gap between the glass. They did good !!

So, call around and talk to the shop. Ask the vette shop why so high ?
Are they using "date coded" glass ? Tell them a piece of PPG is fine.

I paid my glass shop $225 installed.

I hope you don't have must rust up in there. Good luck

 

Ben, you should use the proper trim tool to open the clip up
while removing the molding. If not, you will probably bend the molding slightly. I did.
... and yes, the Ttop molding can stay in place. You may need to
loosen it and lift up, if new clips are needed along the top. Otherwise, leave it.

 

My local auto glass shop quoted me 275.00 for a replacement and 375.00 for a correct date coded replacement. Since I have the orignal I have the orginal date code. I have had mine removed to do some dash work. It cost 75.00, which they'll deduct from either price. I may try to polish the orginal as it has a scuff mark from the drivers wiper arm and reuse it 75.00 to reinstall. Unless you really want to learn how to do this the pros are very good at this and will do a better job than you will. I was very impressed when they removed mine. I will let them do the install no matter which way I go on the install.

 

Glass America / North Syracuse, NY

I took my 71 in for a new windshield and scheduled it the following week. I couldn't be happier. They called in an old timer that had been installing windshields for 40 years. When he showed up he told me that the oldest guy in the shop was about 25 years old, and they just have never had the experience to put one of these in. He is their accounts manager that just moved up the ladder from years back and used to own his own store. I told him I was staying there to oversee the procedure and he didn't mind one bit. He took care of everything as if it was his own. The best part was the total price of the shield and labor $180.00. Nothing like looking through fresh glass.

Good Luck.

 

Do ya think the old timer would come up to Rhode Island?

 

Thanks for that tip. I don't know what the correct tool looks like, so I'll try with a wide-bladed lever of some kind to see whether it's loose at all. I'd love to remove it since it stands clear of the windscreen across the middle and this area is now leaking spectacularly.

 

I had mine replaced by Safelite Auto Glass a couple months ago. $201.00; they came to my house and the guy took 2 1/2 hours to get it right. It wasn't date-coded OEM glass of course but I wasn't about to spend $400-some-odd bucks just for a little etch mark. Everything fits better than new (mine's a '70 so there's wiper door issues, etc to contend with). They're on the web and I believe they're nationwide-I found out about them from Zip Vette's website. FYI, I priced that trim piece across the top of the windshield at $350 (Dr. Rebuild I believe). The glass dude got it off unscathed. I do aircraft sheetmetal work for a living and have restored several cars and I'm not sure I could have successfully gotten that trim piece off myself....

 

i used safe lite also and it was like $200.....well worth the repair

 

Hey Ben, I have not done this myself yet, its on my list with all the other stuff. My windshield has a spidercrack from a roch chip it had when I got it. I have a glass vendor here that gave me a price under $200 installed. I'll be pulling the front clip and doind all the windshield frame clean up while I am at it.

Anyone know what the correct tool for removing the trim is?

 

Just ask for a windshield trim removal tool. They are not expensive. Basically, it is a handle with 2 hooks on one end, one curves to the left and the other to the right. This is so you can pry on either end of the clip. You just slide it under the trim, starting at one end, gently prying on the clip while pulling outward slightly on the molding. Very slightly. All you have to do is pull the trim out enough so it isn't locked down. Move to the next clip and pull the trim out a little more. When you get to the other end, the trim will basically come off in your hand. Take your time and work slowly. Sometimes they are tricky, but they will come off. Also, when you are prying on the clip, make sure that you are on the clip. If you are hooked on the side of the glass you can crack it. No big deal if you're replacing it. If you are just replacing the trim, be very careful or you will be replacing the glass, too.

 

I removed mine myself in the comfort of my shop, it didn't take long to remove the trim using a phillips screwdriver and a V-shaped clip tool. The most time consuming part was cutting the old caulk out (I used a special tool) and scraping out the old stuff with a razor blade. The old windshield came out more cracked than I started with.....but in one piece.

I ordered a replacement windshield from a local glass shop for $93. I'm totally happy with everything and the money I saved.

 

I had the same hesitation, but a friend talked me into it - so we installed it in a couple of hours.

I wrote up the article that SIXFOOTER pointed you to as I did the job and it was MUCH easier than your anxiety will have you believe! If you have any questions about the process or the article, give a shout and I'll be glad to help.

Key points - clean up everything real good and have a helper there when you need to handle the glass.

You CAN do it!!

Sorry, I have too many projects of my own to drive down to RI!!

 

PWS, thats a great article, I hope your on it somewhere since I didn't post that it was yours. Thanks for posting it

 

You (and everyone who can use it) are welcome!

I don't know if I am on it or not - it doesn't really matter to me except for when people have questions - always glad to help where needed.

Paul

 

Everyone has a price !