I need to replace the windshield in my 88 coupe. Has anyone done this themselves as opposed to having it done at a glass shop? This is the original windshield and I'm hoping that the moldings will release easier. As with any repairs on this car I will do the work myself. Any, ideas, suggestions, etc...

Thanks

Jay

 

I owned and operated a glass shop for 20 years.

First of all you should know by now that nothing is easy on a Corvette.

It is one of the more difficult shields to change. It is quite involved to cover here but I will give you a few tips. It has been a few years since I did this so I will explain from memory the best I can. When I had my shop I was the only one that did glass the Corvette glass, all generations. I had good guys working for me but I would have to face the customer if they screwed something up so I did them.

You will reveal the edge of the urethane by MOVING not REMOVING the trim.

Remove your top.
From the back of the top windshield frame use a fiber stick to lift the weather strip to expose the screws. DO NOT remove this strip or try to expose the screws from the windshield side. Once you expose 2 screws measure between them and this will give you an idea where they are located as you go. Once you remove all the screws lift the entire trim channel and lay it back across the opening where your roof was removed. You do this so you don't break the seal between the channel and the weather stripping.

Now you do a similar action on the side pillar trim. Carefully separate the weather stripping from the pillar channel from the interior side of the channel. DO NOT remove the complete stripping. Just expose the screws and remove the screws. Be careful as you turn your screwdriver so the shaft of the screwdriver doesn't grab the weather strip tearing it. Take your time. If memory serves me right the pillar trim will consist of two metal pieces and the weather strip. Once you expose the sides of the glass let the trim hang.

All you want to do is expose the edge of the glass so you can cut the urethane on the top and sides with a cold knife.

Remove the wipers and any lower trim.

The bottom is the hard part. I have a tool that looks like a big wedge. I would use this tool from between the dash and the glass at the lower corners. I pound this wedge with a big hammer to separate the glass and urethane from the pinchweld. Once the lower corners are released I use a very long special utility knife to separate the rest of the lower part of the WS. You have to raise the top of the WS as you go. Be careful not to mar the dash. Lift the glass from the car.

Trim the remaining urethane from the pinchweld. Once the frame is all cleaned up use touch up paint to cover any bare metal.

Use urethane pinchweld primer on the WS frame. Use prep and primer on the frit on the edge of the glass. The frit is the black area on the edge of the glass. It is there to block ultraviolet light from the urethane. UV light breaks down urethane.

Are you getting all this?

Lay a 5/16-3/8 bed of urethane on the pinchweld. You and a friend set the glass and install the trim.

Do you still want to do this yourself?

When you decide to have a shop do it make sure the installer has done several C4s. If not walk away. If nothing else you know know what questions to ask.

PM me and I will tell you what Glass chains to avoid.

Good Luck

Al

 

Have a reputable shop do the install.

 

There have been a few threads about windshield replacement and
the parts required - post #3 in the thread below may be a helpful
starting point for your search:

Where do I buy a windshield locally?

Consider exploring the threads provided in the post, the last one in
particular is a cautionary tale.

.

 

Get a good local shop to do this work. They are professionals and will make short work of this effort. From a restoration standpoint, you shoud photograph the LOF data on the windshield. Try to find a correctly numbered and date coded windshield. This will not cost you anything extra, but if you ever go after an NCRS Top Flight Award, you will be glad that you did.

 

SOOO...I think I'll get a good local shop to do this work. They are professionals and will make short work of this effort. I called around and the local glass shop has a fella that has been doing all gens of Vettes and was quoted $240.00 plus tax if I loosen the moldings. This Friday is the day. Sometimes you have to put a price on your sanity!

Thanks to all replies!!

 

Loosening the trim is the hardest part.

If you want more information let me know.

Be careful