Having your windshield replaced? Please read this EVERYONE READ THIS POST
Race Director
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 16,302
Likes: 105
From: Sun city CA
Great info !
Just to add a bit more... A friend of mine installs all kinds of glass and has done it for years. I believe he is pretty good at it. A while back he came over to install a windshield in a 91 coupe I had for sale. It was a very difficult removal partly because he doesn't break the glass with his boots. He doesn't want to create the possibilty of glass chards drifting through the interior after the new glass has been installed. The problem was that the last person who installed the last windshield in this car used way to much sealant along the bottom section. This made cutting through sealant very difficult to say the least. The force required to muscle the knife through sealant made it painful just to watch.
The top weather strip was not cheap either at $450. He didn't charge me for anything, but I found it hard to believe when Ecklers sells it for about $150.
The top weather strip was not cheap either at $450. He didn't charge me for anything, but I found it hard to believe when Ecklers sells it for about $150.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16,838
Likes: 341
From: Database Error Indiana
Just want to say that PPG still makes auto glass right here in middle America. They have a large manufacturing plant 9 miles north of Evansville Indiana. BUY AMERICAN when you can. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 7,033
Likes: 12
I dunno. I had my windshield replaced a few years back after I smashed it (89 vette.) I picked the car up 3 hours later and all was good. I paid all of 300 beans to get er done, and that was a new windshield too.
Are that many people having issues getting new windshields installed????
Are that many people having issues getting new windshields installed????
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Originally Posted by Caboboy
This is a thoughtful and informative post. Thanks for taking all that time so the rest of us can benefit 
THANKS!!!
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
From: Oreland Keystone State
Thanks for the great info. One more to look out for when buying a used Vette. My 93 has all the same pit marks associated with a car that age and when the time comes I fortunately have a very good glass guy who uses quality products and take the time to do it right.
DS
DS
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 33
Originally Posted by hippy
I dunno. I had my windshield replaced a few years back after I smashed it (89 vette.) I picked the car up 3 hours later and all was good. I paid all of 300 beans to get er done, and that was a new windshield too.
Are that many people having issues getting new windshields installed????
Are that many people having issues getting new windshields installed????
, AL.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Originally Posted by robs87vette
I have a glass question, My windshield is pretty rock pitted, I mean these are not huge craters, in fact barely visible until it rains and you turn on the wipers. Is this reparable or would I be better off replacing it.
I purchased a glass polishing kit several years ago to polish out a scratch I had put in my VW's new windshield while installing a new steering wheel.
After about two hours working on the 2-inch long scratch, I had a very overheated Foredom tool and about 1/2" of the scratch removed.
Unfortunately, where the section of scratch had been removed, there remained a portion of the glass that had a shallow dip polished into it that gave such a distorted view through it, that it was worse than the scratch!!
My advice, delete glass polishing from your options of correcting windshield damages.
Larry
code5coupe
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 10,864
Likes: 198
From: Southern CA
Originally Posted by rocco16
You cannot polish out a sand-pitted windshield. One, it would take hundreds of hours to remove enough glass to get below the deepest pits, and two, the resulting "house-of-mirrors" effect would leave the windshield useless.
I purchased a glass polishing kit several years ago to polish out a scratch I had put in my VW's new windshield while installing a new steering wheel.
After about two hours working on the 2-inch long scratch, I had a very overheated Foredom tool and about 1/2" of the scratch removed.
Unfortunately, where the section of scratch had been removed, there remained a portion of the glass that had a shallow dip polished into it that gave such a distorted view through it, that it was worse than the scratch!!
My advice, delete glass polishing from your options of correcting windshield damages.
Larry
code5coupe
I purchased a glass polishing kit several years ago to polish out a scratch I had put in my VW's new windshield while installing a new steering wheel.
After about two hours working on the 2-inch long scratch, I had a very overheated Foredom tool and about 1/2" of the scratch removed.
Unfortunately, where the section of scratch had been removed, there remained a portion of the glass that had a shallow dip polished into it that gave such a distorted view through it, that it was worse than the scratch!!
My advice, delete glass polishing from your options of correcting windshield damages.
Larry
code5coupe
Front windshield = wear item.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Originally Posted by TxPaladin
VtVette,
That was an excellent post. Thank you for the information. I will be looking around for a Corvette around next summer and that is something to keep in mind.
Regards,
Paladin
That was an excellent post. Thank you for the information. I will be looking around for a Corvette around next summer and that is something to keep in mind.
Regards,
Paladin
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 6,252
Likes: 2
From: Silicon Valley Kalifornia
Guess in leu of finding someone who's gonna do it right...one could have the shop remove the windshield; you then take the car home and prep the area...seal it....then return to have the install complete. Just my .02.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: hamden ct
Help needed
I have a 1985 stock corvette with auto tranny. I have two problems. The first is I am replacing my windshield and already have the OEM rubber seal. I need to know what other parts I need to have when I drop off the car to have the windshield replaced. And my other problem is I cant seem to get the car started, I put dry gas in the tank during the winter in the northeast. The car is stored in the garage. I was thinking it might have water in the gas or the plugs might be fouled? Also how do you get the plugs changed on a 85. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks Printz.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
That's what I was thinking too. I know my way around installing the weatherstrip and know what I want as far as quality and prep for the structure. When I replace mine I want to do all the prep work here have the installer come to the house. And afterwards I'll re-install the weatherstrip, etc.
Thanks for sharing and an enlightening post.
Thanks for sharing and an enlightening post.