windshield removal
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,868
Likes: 13
From: Mascoutah IL
Sure there is a fancy tool nowadays, but remember using a piece of electric fence wire to cut the bead all the way around... It helps to have a helper for the lower middle windshield, but the rest can be done be one person...
Let me know how you do it, as I will be taking mine out in a few weeks...
Rogman
Let me know how you do it, as I will be taking mine out in a few weeks...
Rogman
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 6
From: Tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '12
In the past I've used Guitar string, the big metal one that strums the low notes (the extent of my guitar knowledge). Wrap one end around a dowel or similar and poke the other end through a part of the windshield that has the most clearence to the body. Grab that end and wrap around another dowel.
Now you have a saw of sorts. Carefully saw back and forth as you work your way around the glass.
An even easier way is to have Safelight come out. They will replace the whole thing with a warrenteed unit for under $300 You might be able to work a deal for them to just come out and remove only.
Now you have a saw of sorts. Carefully saw back and forth as you work your way around the glass.
An even easier way is to have Safelight come out. They will replace the whole thing with a warrenteed unit for under $300 You might be able to work a deal for them to just come out and remove only.
Last edited by RobbSalzmann; Oct 31, 2011 at 06:27 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,214
Likes: 4,302
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi 42,
If it's the original glass you need to be VERY careful! The old glass has gotten very brittle.
On my 71 I'd cut it loose and it cracked lifting it out!
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
If it's the original glass you need to be VERY careful! The old glass has gotten very brittle.
On my 71 I'd cut it loose and it cracked lifting it out!
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 267
From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
very difficult to remove without breaking.
( had mine about 80% out, then you hear the dreaded, (Crack!)
try removing yourself, ....you will need time to do cleanup/repair work.
Glass installer won't want to wait for you.
do your clean/repair, then have a pro Install replacement. or old if your lucky.
( had mine about 80% out, then you hear the dreaded, (Crack!)
try removing yourself, ....you will need time to do cleanup/repair work.
Glass installer won't want to wait for you.
do your clean/repair, then have a pro Install replacement. or old if your lucky.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 954
Likes: 2
From: San Jose CA
If replacing, an easy one man job. Cut around the bead an pull out. If reinstalling, then be very careful or the glass will crack.
Took me about 30 minutes. As other posters stated, you will need to clean up and likely repaint. That took hours. Then have the glass guy install.
Took me about 30 minutes. As other posters stated, you will need to clean up and likely repaint. That took hours. Then have the glass guy install.
Last edited by Clubby99; Oct 31, 2011 at 06:56 PM.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,214
Likes: 4,302
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi,
What are the chances of getting the professional installer to 'dry-fit the glass?
Unless he does that, the chances of the ss pillar and header trim fitting nice and flush are slim at best.
Regards,
Alan
What are the chances of getting the professional installer to 'dry-fit the glass?
Unless he does that, the chances of the ss pillar and header trim fitting nice and flush are slim at best.
Regards,
Alan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,582
Likes: 150
From: York PA
Chick
Thread Starter
TheCorvetteBen
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,987
Likes: 144
From: Van Alstyne, TX
In the past I've used Guitar string, the big metal one that strums the low notes (the extent of my guitar knowledge). Wrap one end around a dowel or similar and poke the other end through a part of the windshield that has the most clearence to the body. Grab that end and wrap around another dowel.
Now you have a saw of sorts. Carefully saw back and forth as you work your way around the glass.
An even easier way is to have Safelight come out. They will replace the whole thing with a warrenteed unit for under $300 You might be able to work a deal for them to just come out and remove only.
Now you have a saw of sorts. Carefully saw back and forth as you work your way around the glass.
An even easier way is to have Safelight come out. They will replace the whole thing with a warrenteed unit for under $300 You might be able to work a deal for them to just come out and remove only.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 4
From: Arlington texas
I bought the tool at the parts store but it was still too difficult to use and I wasn't reusing the glass anyway so I got out a big hammer and shattered it then pulled it out. No need to go to trouble if it is trash anyway. Just put a tarp down in interior. Good chance of it shattering anyway when you try to remove it with the tool if it is old and brittle.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 10
From: Hickory NC
THANKS RAYZZZ MY CORVETTE LIKES MY MONEY
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
I used a guitar string (and it did break a few times) and two blocks of wood on the ends as stated. Then after cutting all the way around I sat in the passenger side and put my feet on the windshield evenly spaced. Pressing forward it came out rather easily. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 33
From: Lokeren, Belgium
When Carglass took out mine they used a special tool.
First they made a hole with a sharp object to pass a piano string sort a like wire through from the inside.
They then positioned that string all around the contour of the glass and fed the end back through the same hole towards the inside (so a lasso all around the glass).
Those two strings where then fixed on a pulley system, one end fixed the other end on the pulley. By whinching the lasso is pulled towards the center of the glass cutting through the bead. They protect the inside of the car with teflon boards so the cord doesn't scratch the trim.
It took 5 minutes and the glass didn't break.
Nick
First they made a hole with a sharp object to pass a piano string sort a like wire through from the inside.
They then positioned that string all around the contour of the glass and fed the end back through the same hole towards the inside (so a lasso all around the glass).
Those two strings where then fixed on a pulley system, one end fixed the other end on the pulley. By whinching the lasso is pulled towards the center of the glass cutting through the bead. They protect the inside of the car with teflon boards so the cord doesn't scratch the trim.
It took 5 minutes and the glass didn't break.
Nick
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 954
Likes: 2
From: San Jose CA
I tried using deep sea fishing nylon line attached to wood blocks. It worked OK but kept binding. Thin (flexible) long knife worked better. Pull up on the windshield as you cut the bead. Fast and easy. No damage if careful.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,214
Likes: 4,302
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Chick,
I bought my windshield from 'Classic City Auto' in Minnesota. I ordered it by phone and picked it up at Carlisle. I bought it in 2005. I was pleased with the glass, the etched logo and date, and the ASI stamp. The shading line is a little too distinct, but I wasn't hit for it at the Chapter level.
I'm not sure who the glass manufacturer was at that time.
I didn't have any problems installing it, or the ss trim. I did however use a foam rubber 'damming strip' like the factory did to support the glass the proper distance from the windshield frame; and test fit everything very carefully.
Here's a picture showing the glass installed on the a-pillar. The notes are for someone else whom I sent the picture to a while ago.
Regards,
Alan
I bought my windshield from 'Classic City Auto' in Minnesota. I ordered it by phone and picked it up at Carlisle. I bought it in 2005. I was pleased with the glass, the etched logo and date, and the ASI stamp. The shading line is a little too distinct, but I wasn't hit for it at the Chapter level.
I'm not sure who the glass manufacturer was at that time.
I didn't have any problems installing it, or the ss trim. I did however use a foam rubber 'damming strip' like the factory did to support the glass the proper distance from the windshield frame; and test fit everything very carefully.
Here's a picture showing the glass installed on the a-pillar. The notes are for someone else whom I sent the picture to a while ago.
Regards,
Alan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,582
Likes: 150
From: York PA
Hi Chick,
I bought my windshield from 'Classic City Auto' in Minnesota. I ordered it by phone and picked it up at Carlisle. I bought it in 2005. I was pleased with the glass, the etched logo and date, and the ASI stamp. The shading line is a little too distinct, but I wasn't hit for it at the Chapter level.
I'm not sure who the glass manufacturer was at that time.
I didn't have any problems installing it, or the ss trim. I did however use a foam rubber 'damming strip' like the factory did to support the glass the proper distance from the windshield frame; and test fit everything very carefully.
Here's a picture showing the glass installed on the a-pillar. The notes are for someone else whom I sent the picture to a while ago.
Regards,
Alan
I bought my windshield from 'Classic City Auto' in Minnesota. I ordered it by phone and picked it up at Carlisle. I bought it in 2005. I was pleased with the glass, the etched logo and date, and the ASI stamp. The shading line is a little too distinct, but I wasn't hit for it at the Chapter level.
I'm not sure who the glass manufacturer was at that time.
I didn't have any problems installing it, or the ss trim. I did however use a foam rubber 'damming strip' like the factory did to support the glass the proper distance from the windshield frame; and test fit everything very carefully.
Here's a picture showing the glass installed on the a-pillar. The notes are for someone else whom I sent the picture to a while ago.
Regards,
Alan
