Well, picked up a rock and now the windshield is cracked, so I get to go through the process of getting new glass for my C4. I haven’t even looked at options yet; I’m familiar with Safelite and another local to me vendor, both of whom have done my non-Vette vehicles. I kinda vaguely recall reading that C4s are a bit challenging to get windshields for…that an accurate statement? Thx in advance for any feedback.

 

Windshields on Corvettes is a No Joy, Glass availability Questionable no worse than any other 30 plus, Safelite I don't think they even touch it they like new fresh cars l called them to do my Tahoe and he said we don't do cars beyond 5 or so. I figured he was picky No I call another Safelite No.
So do your research find a good private installer, Next how old and what condition are your weather strips in because the black trim around the glass needs to be pulled so if there in bad shape hopefully they can be removed without much damage. So plan on replacing them as well possible the tracks

 

Oh man that sucks. Am very sorry to hear about this. If there's a saving grace it's that it isn't a ZR-1 windshield.

You may have to go the boneyard route. I know there is a Corvette only salvage yard in Florida. The name escapes me but I saw something about it on YouTube.

 

This might be it, but cutting out a windshield that large isn't going to happen to easy

 

I just lost my ZR-1 windshield. Luckily there is a guy in Colorado who had me taken care of in a few days. I did have to go with a regular C4 windshield, but oh well... Under $400. installed. My weather strip was in pretty good condition so everything went well.

 

Yes, the windshield on a C4 is "involved."

The windshield in my '95 ZR-1 was nearly opaque. After waiting over three years for a new batch of reproduction windshields (which still haven't come to fruition, and they were announced four years ago), I went with a standard windshield and tint to recreate the look, and the cutout.

I went with a local glass installer known for working on classic cars. They had done C4s before. Like I said, the C4 windshield is complicated... you will want to replace the windshield gasket. Don't mess around with cheap ones. Get it from Corvette Rubber - https://corvette-rubber.com/collecti...roof-front-w-s

It is generally possible to save the metal trim around the windshield. There is often a set on eBay. Would be a good idea to grab a spare just in case, but like I said, normally doable. My first replacement cracked (faulty glass, cracked while parked inside for a week... nothing was pressing on it...), my installers salvaged my trim twice, and the second time, used the same replacement gasket, although I was prepared just in case.

… edit… thinking though my response, I didn’t address your actual question. Both of my replacements took some time to get. First one was about three weeks. Second one took over two months, but, unbelievably it was the third one that went in my car. The actual second one was broken in transit!!!

I have not checked Safelite lately. It’s been maybe two or three years, but at that time, they said they would do C4s… I’m in Kansas City. My installers are former Safelite guys who started their own company years ago. The tint was done by a former coworker of theirs who started a tinting company.

For anyone close by… LC Glass Guys and Tinting KC!

Good luck!

Mike

 

I'm getting the windshield replaced in my '86 tomorrow. It was actually a huge hassle getting someone around here who wanted to touch the car, plus these cars usually require replacement of the weatherstripping around the windshield at the same time. I ended up actually going through the local Chevy dealership as their price was fairly reasonable.

 

Thanks for all the replies and info. I am assuming my trim and weatherstripping are in good condition as it’s a very low mileage car and one that’s been inside its entire existence. That said, I think I’ll plan to have each on hand just in case.

I don’t think satellite will touch it. I think I’ll start with a local company that did one of my other vehicles, they did a great job and will do the strip of tint at the top too, saving me having to take it to my tint guy (I tint all of my vehicles).

Maybe I’ll get lucky….

 

Keep us updated. I had a branch break off a tree and hit the corner of my windshield, and now it's cracked. I did find replacements through Corvette Central, though with shipping they are painfully expensive.

 

I've been contemplating just arbitrarily replacing my windshield. It needs replacing just because of the age and wear. Looks like it's been sand pitted over the course of its entire lifetime being spent on the Florids coastline.

I'd do that project myself, though, with help from my son. I've watched some very thorough tutorial videos on replacing them on these cars and I think I pretty much have a good grasp on it.

I always worry about shipping damage/destruction with something like that, though.

What would happen in that situation anyway? I assume that the order would be insured and replaced by the vendor if something like that occured?

What I don't want to deal with, and it's why I've always put replacing it on the back burner, is that if it were destroyed in shipping, would I have to prove it was damaged in shipping? Because I'm not going through that kind of Mickey Mousery.

 

You live in Florida if you can prove damage to your windshield, I believe sand pitted or Delamination may qualify (say Modern projector headlights obscure the road) you probably have the comprehensive and road hazard give a call and ask.

 

No, I don't live in Florida. The car spent pretty much its entire life in Florida before I bought it and had it shipped up the coast to Delaware.

 

Got an appointment at a local glass shop that's been doing this since 1951, and the technician scheduled to do my C4 has experience with older vehicles so I'm feeling pretty good thus far. Appointment is next Wednesday, so I'll report back after that.

 

Well, good and bad. The good, the place I found was recommended and they did a good job overall. And the tech said he has done older vehicles and had done a C4 as well. There’s a new windshield in the LT4, but the bad news is there’s also a lot more wind noise. Like significant wind noise compared to almost zero, basically zero as I don’t even remember hearing any wind noise with the old windshield. In looking at it more closely, can tell the trim is not quite flush so it’s catching air rather than deflecting it over itself.

Can hear wind noise in both driver and passenger side top corners of the windshield, significantly louder on the passenger side.

Arrrrgh. Frustrating…..now I either figure it out and make the adjustments myself (which is probably what I ought to do; you know, if you want something done right, you do it yourself), or take it back and have them redo the trim. Or have them get new trim pieces and do the trim part again.

I ended up not getting new trim pieces beforehand and my weatherstripping was still in great shape so I did not spend the money for new rubber from corvette rubber.