Hints on removing windshield without breaking it
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,252
Likes: 767
From: Waterford WI
Hints on removing windshield without breaking it
On a 71 LT-1 convertible, there's minor (we hope) rust in the upper bird cage. The original windshield is still in nice shape and very reusable. Any tips/tools/sensitivities I should have in preparation for removing the glass?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
I've never removed a 'vette windshield, but I have on other cars. About all I can tell you is, make sure you have the 'shield adhesive all the way off before you try to remove it. If you try to pry it off, it'll break before you even realize you are putting any force on it. Be gentle! Don't force it!
Keep it between the ditches!
Scott
Keep it between the ditches!
Scott
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 5
From: Fayetteville Arkansas
Call around to your local glass shops. This is not something I'd mess with yourself. I removed my own in my 72 but that was just bc it was chipped and cracked already and I knew I wasn't going to reuse it. Explain that you need the original removed and then you plan to clean, prep, and repair if need be the windshield support portion of the birdcage. Then the glass guys would need to come back to reinstall the glass. Hopefully mine will be back in next weekend or so.
Sully
Sully
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14,062
Likes: 602
From: Henderson Nv-Rohnert Park/Sonoma C o. ca/born in NY Rockaway Beach.
I Just had mine done a few months ago....
My local glass shop is one of the best shops in the bay
and they said when taking mine out that they can try to get it out with out breaking
but....Well it broke.... And this was a new one...
Well after breaking 2 more windshields trying to get it in place correct the 3rd one was a charm..Cost......310.00 with new glass....And man they did a great job.
I say go to a pro.
My local glass shop is one of the best shops in the bay
and they said when taking mine out that they can try to get it out with out breaking
but....Well it broke.... And this was a new one...
Well after breaking 2 more windshields trying to get it in place correct the 3rd one was a charm..Cost......310.00 with new glass....And man they did a great job.
I say go to a pro.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 590
Likes: 2
From: Fairfield CT
This is the result of my attempt at w/s removal. This should be a pic of shattered glass in a trash can, but I was too pxxxed to take one!!! Go to a pro. I am for the install.
Last edited by mffi115; Feb 23, 2012 at 09:07 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,221
Likes: 4,311
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi 62v,
I believe the trouble starts if you 'nick' the glass's edge even a TINY bit with a metal tool.
Then I think what happens is what Scotty said... you think the glass is loose and you you begin to lift.... but it's not completely loose...crack. I think it takes at least 2 people to support the glass as you lift it out.
All this is caused by the glass being extremely brittle because of it's age.
I think the chances of the glass company's installer ever having done an early Corvette's glass is slim at best. They may have put a new one in, but not taken one out and SAVED it.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
I believe the trouble starts if you 'nick' the glass's edge even a TINY bit with a metal tool.
Then I think what happens is what Scotty said... you think the glass is loose and you you begin to lift.... but it's not completely loose...crack. I think it takes at least 2 people to support the glass as you lift it out.
All this is caused by the glass being extremely brittle because of it's age.
I think the chances of the glass company's installer ever having done an early Corvette's glass is slim at best. They may have put a new one in, but not taken one out and SAVED it.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,252
Likes: 767
From: Waterford WI
Alan--
I appreciate your thoughts. They are experienced at taking out broken ones, not intact ones---and their only goal is to get whatever is there out so that the new one can quickly go back in. That's my hesitation with pros. My hesitation with myself is that I have even less experience than they do.
Mike
I appreciate your thoughts. They are experienced at taking out broken ones, not intact ones---and their only goal is to get whatever is there out so that the new one can quickly go back in. That's my hesitation with pros. My hesitation with myself is that I have even less experience than they do.
Mike
Hi 62v,
I believe the trouble starts if you 'nick' the glass's edge even a TINY bit with a metal tool.
Then I think what happens is what Scotty said... you think the glass is loose and you you begin to lift.... but it's not completely loose...crack. I think it takes at least 2 people to support the glass as you lift it out.
All this is caused by the glass being extremely brittle because of it's age.
I think the chances of the glass company's installer ever having done an early Corvette's glass is slim at best. They may have put a new one in, but not taken one out and SAVED it.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
I believe the trouble starts if you 'nick' the glass's edge even a TINY bit with a metal tool.
Then I think what happens is what Scotty said... you think the glass is loose and you you begin to lift.... but it's not completely loose...crack. I think it takes at least 2 people to support the glass as you lift it out.
All this is caused by the glass being extremely brittle because of it's age.
I think the chances of the glass company's installer ever having done an early Corvette's glass is slim at best. They may have put a new one in, but not taken one out and SAVED it.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,609
Likes: 12
From: Massapequa Park NY
I was able to get mine out without breaking it by using the cutting wire that the glass guys use. Got a roll at my local body supply shop & used two pieces of closet rod as handles. Shove the wire through the seal, and through a small hole in the rod, wrap the wire around a few times and cut slowly around the perimeter using a sawing motion.
Slow progress & keep the wire from pulling on the glass & it will come out. Of course the nose & wiper door assembly were off when I did mine
Good luck if you give it a shot. Can't do any worse than breaking it
Jim
Slow progress & keep the wire from pulling on the glass & it will come out. Of course the nose & wiper door assembly were off when I did mine
Good luck if you give it a shot. Can't do any worse than breaking it
Jim
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 668
Likes: 3
From: Platteville WI
A guitar string or similar wire, inserted at any point, then saw back and forth while moving along glass edge until all the way around. You'll need two people. Or call a pro as others have rightly suggested.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 987
Likes: 7
From: Surrey British Columbia
Noonie has a good point. Softening the seal with a heat gun helps ALOT! I was able to take out my rear glass in the '80 with no problems. The windshield....? Well... what the heck - I probably needed a new windshield anyways. The boyfriend of my step-niece is a auto glass guy. He admits they are difficult to do. Says he was relieved that I didn't ask him to help with my glass removal. Patience is the ticket brother. Best of luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 780
Likes: 1
From: Shelby NC
What some call piano wire comes in a spool will cut it. Also, the wire with a ruff texture is good but it can catch an edge and then if you don't realize it in time you will break it. Can be done you just need to take your time and don't get in a hurry!! It is much safer and easier with two people--ends wraped around wood or use vise grip plyers work well. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 802
Likes: 1
I got my 73 original out in one piece last summer.
I used a braided brass wire specially for this. It had a handle on each end. Then used a sawing motion very carefully and slowly making sure that the wire never came close to the glass. I did this by myself although the bottom was harder to do because of the distance. A helper would have made it easier.
Once I went around once, I carefully and slowly pryed up the glass a small amount and put a piece of wood under the glass to keep it up a bit.(1/4 or 1/2 inch). I had to do this because some of the adhesive tended to reseal a bit. So I had to go around a another time with the brass wire.
I kept doing this slowly until I freed up the entire WS with small wide wood supports all around. This way I moved the glass only a small amount at a time keeping the glass coming off the frame perpendicular to the frame so there is no stress points or bending loads on the glass.
Then I got a helper to lift it off and put into a wood cradle that I had pre made so that the glass is stored vertically- not horizontally.
Whole thing took over an hour.
Next is repair of the WS frame and replacing the glass which will be another whole story.
I used a braided brass wire specially for this. It had a handle on each end. Then used a sawing motion very carefully and slowly making sure that the wire never came close to the glass. I did this by myself although the bottom was harder to do because of the distance. A helper would have made it easier.
Once I went around once, I carefully and slowly pryed up the glass a small amount and put a piece of wood under the glass to keep it up a bit.(1/4 or 1/2 inch). I had to do this because some of the adhesive tended to reseal a bit. So I had to go around a another time with the brass wire.
I kept doing this slowly until I freed up the entire WS with small wide wood supports all around. This way I moved the glass only a small amount at a time keeping the glass coming off the frame perpendicular to the frame so there is no stress points or bending loads on the glass.
Then I got a helper to lift it off and put into a wood cradle that I had pre made so that the glass is stored vertically- not horizontally.
Whole thing took over an hour.
Next is repair of the WS frame and replacing the glass which will be another whole story.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 43
From: Eastern US XX
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
I Just had mine done a few months ago....
My local glass shop is one of the best shops in the bay
and they said when taking mine out that they can try to get it out with out breaking
but....Well it broke.... And this was a new one...
Well after breaking 2 more windshields trying to get it in place correct the 3rd one was a charm..Cost......310.00 with new glass....And man they did a great job.
I say go to a pro.
My local glass shop is one of the best shops in the bay
and they said when taking mine out that they can try to get it out with out breaking
but....Well it broke.... And this was a new one...
Well after breaking 2 more windshields trying to get it in place correct the 3rd one was a charm..Cost......310.00 with new glass....And man they did a great job.
I say go to a pro.
Keep it between the ditches!
Scott
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
When removing or installing a windshield, or any piece of glass, for that matter, the most important thing to keep in mind is this:
IT'S MADE OUT OF GLASS!!!!!!!!!
Keep it between the ditches!
Scott
IT'S MADE OUT OF GLASS!!!!!!!!!
Keep it between the ditches!
Scott
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 2
From: Nixa Missouri
Thanks for the link.
It will help me when I work on my car one of these days. 
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14,062
Likes: 602
From: Henderson Nv-Rohnert Park/Sonoma C o. ca/born in NY Rockaway Beach.
The problem was that when the first people did the job they tweeked the molding and when the second palce went to try and fix there fups it cracked.. and this place is that good it stands behind their work so they wouldnt stop till it was right... So after they cracked 2 they got the tweeks out of the molding and its in perfect now. I Couldnt ask for a better job at a cost of 310.00.. well it didnt cost me thing it was an insurance job.