Bob Onit

Getting a new windshield installed in my 73 later today.
Original is so pitted and scratched I cant drive it at at night or late into the setting sun.
Is there anything I should be concerned about as far as the installation?
You can bet Ill be right over the installers shoulder the entire time

Thanks
Bob

Nacho_Libre

There was a recent post about "installed height". Not sure what it means, but if the "installed height" is wrong, you have to re-do or your trim won't fit properly. Do a search on "windshield" and you should find the post.

nacho

Bob Onit

Thanks Nacho... Ill do a search on this
I just hopr they dont open op a can of worms ...possible rust?

onaqwst

the upper trim has clips that hold the trim in... make sure u use all of them.... also check out the shims on the bottom corners that help shim up the glass....... check out your pillars for rust also...take some rustoleum with you to see if you can paint it up right quick b4 they reinstall the glass....give it an hour or so to dry

b

grybdn

is your old windshield out now? you should inspect your bird cage and do some repair while its out.

Bob Onit

No
The original glass is still in the car....
It looks like quite a job to get the chrome trim off and re installed...I'm a bit concerned

pws69

Here ya go.....

http://www.speakeasy.org/~pws/Corvette.htm

Bob Onit

Thank you VERY much PWS

Wow... 22 pages to print.
I was going to drive down to the glass installer but after seeing this I may remove the old glass and do the prep work before hand.
Very helpful
Thanks so much
Bob

JPhil

Yeah! Don't wait till it rains to check that the wipers clear the hood! I discovered mine wouldn't and had to readjust the hood closing pads up so my wipers could get out from under it. Wooops! Luckily, no damage to anything.....

Bob Onit

Well.......... After doing all this research and reading horror stories about rust, leaks ect: I decided against replacing the windshield.
I had a 2:00 appointment at the glass shop and when I asked the installer if he had ever done these era Corvettes before, he said "I may look young but Ive done hundreds of them"
Look young? he was no more than 20 years old.

I asked him what is the most common problem you run into.
He said "None, they all go smooth and they dont leak"
I asked him if he had ever run into rust problems, he started to laugh and said "Dude, this car is made out of fiberglass"... I said thank you very much for your time but I think Ill wait on replacing the windshield for now.
And I drove off into the sunset.
End of story

76custompaint

Time to find a corvette specialty shop I think!

birdsmith

I had mine replaced by Safelite Auto Glass a couple months ago- like yours it was frosty and pitted which I could live with but when it just spontaneously decided to crack down the middle I couldn't put it off any longer. I made an online appointment and they came to my house and did it in my garage while I watched. The guy that did the job was a fortysomething Mexican guy; he was there for 2 1/2 hours, was super-polite, took his time, didn't damage any of the trim pieces, and when he was done everything fit better than before. They charged me $201 for the whole job and I couldn't be happier with it. Of course it wasn't date-coded factory glass but it was a decent-looking piece (made by 'Pilkington'). It's not a bad idea getting your old glass out beforehand though; my birdcage did show some disturbing rust spots but where I live it doesn't rain much and I wouldn't be driving this car in the rain anyway- I wire wheeled and primed them before he put down the new glass.The most difficult pert of the job appeared to be getting the top trim piece off-he managed to do it without damaging it but it took him about 45 minutes of fiddling with little blades and wedges and at $350 I would have been pi**ed had it gotten damaged. I know I got lucky but you may want to give them a try......

68/BB

i have a glass shop nearby so i asked if they could make two trips. one to remove the old glass. then allow me several days to clean and prime with a good eastwood product. while i was at it i installed new clips for the trim. then they came back and installed the new one. looks like a million bucks. since i dont know too many glass places around i asked a local corvette restorer who he would recommend and he hooked me up with this guy who does all his glass work for him. he happend to be right down the road from me. just something to consider.

JPhil

I called around to some high-end car dealers and body shops and asked their recommendations for a good installer. Took it to the place the majority of them used ("Elite") and was not disappointed at all. Golly it's nice with new glass! $230.00 or thereabouts.

Bob Onit

Thanks Birdsmith
And thanks to all that have helped me on this topic

I really wish people would post their location ( at least their state in their profile ) so I know if its possible to get the same service in my area which happens to be the state of Connecticut

birdsmith

I'm in SoCal; funny I just gave a reply like the one I gave you for a guy in RI. I recently saw a TV ad for Safelite (and they are on the web) and it appeared to come from a nationwide feed so I think they service your area, again you would have to be discerning as you were with the kid at the glass shop- if they show up and the guy sounds like a BS'er you may want to send him on his way. GodSPEED.

bobs77vet

its not a big deal....you should get it fixed so you can see....

bondoboy

Just make sure that they use a good brand of glass. PPG, LOF, pilkington are all good. If they want to install generic stuff, tell them to forget it. There are some places around here that use aftermarket glass. It's not uncommon for it to be thinner or for it to have waves in it.

Bob Onit

Im just a little worried about opening up a can of rusty worms....If ya know what I mean

I'm Batman

Would you rather drive around in ignorant bliss until the car splits in half?