Not happy with 79 windshield replacement
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Chanhassen Minnesota
Not happy with 79 windshield replacement
I just had my original windshield replaced by the insurance company due to a large rock chip. The original had a nice tight fit against the trim on both sides and top. The new one doesn't. The driver's side is tight at the bottom, and gets a gap as it goes toward the top. The top trim can be pushed down about 1/8" before it touches the glass. The passenger side is tight to the trim at the bottom, but going up it starts to have about a 1/4" gap to the glass. I had the glass installer back out and he just wanted to fill the gaps with more black glue. What should I do? Can it be that the non- GM replacement is not sized right, or it was pushed down too tight into the glue? It had some gasket tape on the ooriginal. I told him to stop and talk to his boss to see what could be done. He said he could take it out and try resetting it, but couldn't guarantee it would be any better. He doesn't think it was a tight fit on the old glass, but I know it was because I had a tough time masking under the trim to paint it. Any help would be appreciated. Tom
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
He used the wrong stuff to mount it. Our cars use a ribbon seal. I bet he just used polyurethane from a tube. The ribbon seal is much thicker and will set the glass at the proper height from the frame. He should use 3/8 ribbon seal:
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,278
Likes: 4,372
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Tom,
Besides the method used to install/seal the windshield, many replacement windshields are thinner glass than the originals were and thus can cause problems with the fit of the trim.
So your misfit could be caused by a combination of things.
Regards,
Alan
Besides the method used to install/seal the windshield, many replacement windshields are thinner glass than the originals were and thus can cause problems with the fit of the trim.
So your misfit could be caused by a combination of things.
Regards,
Alan
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
You really should have requested that the shop use OEM or equivalent glass and parts before they did the work. You've probably already signed-off on the repair. I doubt the insurance company will do anything about it, even though it is not right.
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 411
Likes: 1
From: New Hampshire
On my daily driver (not a vette) I had a similar problem. Told the glass & insurance company that the windshield leaked when it rained. Glass company replaced the windshield with a new one and did it right. Wouldn't hurt to try.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Chanhassen Minnesota
The owner of the glass company called and said he would do whatever I wanted. He would not charge the insurance company if I wanted to get it done somewhere else. He doesn't want to get bad publicity and lose future referals. I think I will take it to a guy that restores cars near by and see if he can take it out and do it right. The other option is the local Chevrolet dealer does their own glass work and might do it. Thanks for all the ideas, kind of worry about bending the trim. Is the 3/8 ribbon sealer the best route to take? I agree with setting the glass on rubber spacers to dry run the fit under the trim before using any adhesive. I'm still a little concerned.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
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
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
The original glass is around .270" in thickness, some of the cheaper replacements are much thinner.
Originally they were installed with the ribbon sealer as were almost all other cars of that era.
With newer bodies the windshield has become an integral part of the structure of the body and a little better adhesion was required. It also comes into play with the operation of an airbag and windshield blowout during a crash.
If they are willing, I would use the ribbon sealer, some companies won't use it for liability concerns.
If they insist on using it, in order to get the right height without making a total mess, is to lay a bead of urethane on , let it set up for a day and then urethane the glass in.
Originally they were installed with the ribbon sealer as were almost all other cars of that era.
With newer bodies the windshield has become an integral part of the structure of the body and a little better adhesion was required. It also comes into play with the operation of an airbag and windshield blowout during a crash.
If they are willing, I would use the ribbon sealer, some companies won't use it for liability concerns.
If they insist on using it, in order to get the right height without making a total mess, is to lay a bead of urethane on , let it set up for a day and then urethane the glass in.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
The company that installed it is willing to 'make it right'. Since you already have the "skids greased" with them, call back and ask if they can do the job correctly. If they don't feel competent in doing it, find another source. Do you know for sure that the glass they used is equivalent to original [of not]?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Chanhassen Minnesota
I can't be sure about the thickness of the glass, but I did see a label "Made in Mexico" on the windshield when it was installed. The name on the glass is Pilkington DS8193. These installers only come out in a truck, so I can't take it into a shop where more than one person can install and get it right with them.
Last edited by whaler97; Sep 2, 2010 at 12:41 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,278
Likes: 4,372
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi W,
Here's a picture of the windshield in my 71.
You can see how the glass is held away from the windshield frame by the damming strip which controls and hides the sealer. You can also see that this method allows the bead on the edge of the ss trim to be tight against the glass.
This windshild is from Auto City Classics. Not cheap, not easy, not quick.
Regards,
Alan
Here's a picture of the windshield in my 71.
You can see how the glass is held away from the windshield frame by the damming strip which controls and hides the sealer. You can also see that this method allows the bead on the edge of the ss trim to be tight against the glass.
This windshild is from Auto City Classics. Not cheap, not easy, not quick.
Regards,
Alan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
I can't be sure about the thickness of the glass, but I did see a label "Made in Mexico" on the windshield when it was installed. The name on the glass is Pilkington DS8193. These installers only come out in a truck, so I can't take it into a shop where more than one person can install and get it right with them.
Don't know if your problems come from the glass or poor installation.
The local shop I deal with sent me to another source for glass. Said they have had trouble with some windshields not fitting well, size issues. TBD how my replacement turns out. Hope to find out soon.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Chanhassen Minnesota
Local Corvette Restoration shop gave me the name of the glass intaller they use, so I will call him next week after the holiday weekend and see what he can do for me. I'll keep you all posted. Thanks for all the info.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 402
Likes: 1
From: Medford NJ
Just yesterday I had glass replaced in a company vehicle by Safelite. I asked the guy, who has many years of experience, about the thickness of replacement windshields. I'm interested in replacing the original one in my '72 with a correctly date coded one. He said that they get them from PPG in California and that they ARE thinner than the original windshields were.
I asked him about this gap under the upper moulding, which he said he sees quite often because of a lousy, inexperienced installer. He said that you have to insist on getting an installer who has done dozens of Corvettes before, and they use rubber spacer blocks under the glass to take up the gap. The bozo glass installer would just lay a ribbon of black caulk in that gap under the moulding! I kept this guys name for when I'm ready to get it done.
I asked him about this gap under the upper moulding, which he said he sees quite often because of a lousy, inexperienced installer. He said that you have to insist on getting an installer who has done dozens of Corvettes before, and they use rubber spacer blocks under the glass to take up the gap. The bozo glass installer would just lay a ribbon of black caulk in that gap under the moulding! I kept this guys name for when I'm ready to get it done.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: Summerville SC
-D
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 5
From: Schererville IN
Hi W,
Here's a picture of the windshield in my 71.
You can see how the glass is held away from the windshield frame by the damming strip which controls and hides the sealer. You can also see that this method allows the bead on the edge of the ss trim to be tight against the glass.
This windshild is from Auto City Classics. Not cheap, not easy, not quick.
Regards,
Alan
Here's a picture of the windshield in my 71.
You can see how the glass is held away from the windshield frame by the damming strip which controls and hides the sealer. You can also see that this method allows the bead on the edge of the ss trim to be tight against the glass.
This windshild is from Auto City Classics. Not cheap, not easy, not quick.
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Chanhassen Minnesota
Finally done right!!
I thought I would let you all know that I got the windshield in correctly this time. The original glass installer didn't want to attempt this again and credited the insurance company back all his charges. I went to a restoration guy I know at StraightLine Customs and he had the glass guy he uses (who has done many Vettes and fixed bothched jobs) take out the newly installed windshield and put in another with perfect fit results. It took them 4-5 hours to get everything fit and tweaked to look like original, but it was worth the wait. State Farm Insurance picked up the bill. They even sent an appraiser out to the shop to check out the reason for doing the job over. She was very understanding and knew that classic cars need different installs than modern cars. So if you need a new windshield, do your investigation first and don't let any drive up installer work on your Vette. Thanks for all the comments. Drive safe and have fun!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,278
Likes: 4,372
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi W,
I've been wondering, so it's good to read that things turned out well for you.
So often now people who repair most things just want to do it the way they're used to and is easiest for them. In many cases that's o.k., but not always.
Regards,
Alan
I've been wondering, so it's good to read that things turned out well for you.
So often now people who repair most things just want to do it the way they're used to and is easiest for them. In many cases that's o.k., but not always.
Regards,
Alan
