(To go to the point, read the bottom 5 or so lines. To hear the sob story, start here.)

I had spent all spring refurbishing my car, new seats, carpet, door panels, all interior trim including halo panles and dash. I installed a complete weather strip package and repainted all the exterior trim (saton blask). I also did body repairs, touched up the exterior paint or repainted a few panels on the outside, and rebuilt the engine.

Saturday, thinking I was finally finished, I put the wheels back on it, for the first time since about last November, and shoved it onto a trailer to move it to another location in order to finish it out and start-up (for tuning and chip burning, etc.) the engine for the first time. On the way, the truck towing the trailer kicked up a rock, which smacked the windshield about 3 inches above the bottom edge, right about the center of the drivers view, and a spider crack ran up and across the windshild.

On my first look, contimplating repairs, I noticed that the windshield trim must be removed, some of which is under all the new weather striping I had just installed. At very least, the black trim will be scratched and cipped and the weather striping torn.

To the point.... Has anyone on here ever done their own windshild replacement?? I've looked at the service manual and it doesn't look diffacult.

Also, Has anyone used an original windshield from a salvage ward (rather than a brand new one)? Pros and cons???

 

I have not read anyone doing it themselves and yes there is a lot of things to replace and do it right.Glassman does it mabey he will chime in here. Cost is $450 and up. It is one thing I would not try to do myself even having replaced other windsheilds. Done wrong it leaks like a seive.

 

One thing to keep in mind is that the windshield is an integral part of the airbag system. If the windshield isn't intalled properly a deploying airbag will just blow it out onto the hood and you will most likely follow it.

 

'87's dont have air bags...

 

I've had several put in...A skilled tech can reuse the seals(they can cost more than the glass)...Call 1-877--332-7010 and ask for Melissa.. I think the last one was like 125 shipped for a new one...

 

i wouldn't try it... i'd probably break it putting it in.

 

Covered by insurance if you have Comprehensive (and they can't jack up your rates for this type of loss). Some carriers waive or don't charge the Deductible with the theory being that a broken or chipped windshield makes the vehicle unsafe and with it fixed, the probability of a more expensive occurrence drops. Unfortunately, the industry had gotten "big" on repair rather than replace, so they may insist on this alternative (and I've seen them try to repair some pretty gnarly looking windshields).

 

I had a small chip and they looked at it, winked, and said we're gonna need to replace it. All new stuff. Whoo hoo. : )

Too bad it was on my crappy pickup. ; )

 

I had mine replaced because of a chip about 2 years ago at a Corvette shop was $300 total windshield and labor made in U.S.A. . Could have saved almost $50 I think if i would have accepted one made in mexico my mechanic advised against it never had a leak or problem since...