Is there a home for retired windshields...

[Rick Coleman]

Ok... I know the answer, but I've just got to ask because it grieves me anytime I have an old part that can't be reused or reconditioned and gets thrown away.

I just replaced the windshield on my 60. The old one has scratches... some from the wipers and a couple of others. All don't pass the "fingernail" test.

Guess I just break it up and toss it?

sob... sob...

Rick

[Joe C.]

Re: Is there a home for retired windshields...

It'll make a nice greenhouse--you can put it on top of your tomatoes!

Joe

[Rick Coleman]

hmmm... "For Sale: Classic Grown Tomatos" *NM*

[Mark Malone]

Re: Is there a home for retired windshields...

Rick,

If you feel bad about that just give a thought for me.

I have a brand new windshield which took me four months, a pile of cash and three rejected windshields to get and I broke it in the installation. It is perfect apart from the crack across the corner but it took so much greif to get that I just haven't been able to toss it.

Mark.

[Christopher R.]

Re: Is there a home for retired windshields...

Same thing with me. Lots of money and work in a restoration was to be capped off with the windshield installation by me. Car all came together after paint. Tomorrow was big day - I forget why now. Worked late into the night, but finished. Went to bed happy and tired. Woke up next morning. Was greated by a crack running from base to 3/4s of the way up way over by the dogleg. Broke my heart. Still stickerable because it's outside the sweep of the wipers. Maybe this Winter.

[Rick Coleman]

Re: Is there a home for retired windshields...

Mark, were you ever able to get an acceptable quality windshield and get it assembled? It wasn't clear from your last post if you had the assembly complete. I think I got lucky with my assembly after reading all of the horror stories in the postings about breakage during assembly. Rick

[Mark Malone]

Re: Is there a home for retired windshields...

No Rick,

After waiting yet another 4 weeks the 5th windshield arrived at the workshop and was also delaminating at the corners so now I have a restored 59 (finaly on the road last week) with an unrestored and quite scratched windshield.

Maybe I'll try another windshield again in a few months.

Mark.

[Andy Higbee]

Re: Is there a home for retired windshields...

All these posts concerning newly installed windshields cracking has me worried. Are there any instructions anywhere concerning the installation of a windshield in C3's, materials, techniques, etc. Have the GM service manual but am looking to hear from someone who's done it successfully!

Thanks in advance,
AndyH

[Rick Coleman]

Some input on assembly...

Andy, I'm certainly not an expert on the assembly process but I was able to complete it without breakage. I think I got lucky. I have several emails/copies of NCRS posts that may be of value. I can forward them to you and you can determine their value. You'll note that there is more than one thod used.

Also, for what it's worth... I first practiced on my original windshield utilizing the old gasket two or three times. I then assembled the original windshield with the new gasket two times. (Stretching the new gasket and getting it centered is a task to itself). I then progressed to the new gasket and the new windshield. Working veryyyyyy slowly. And I took Mark Malone's advise: "Don't force anything!"

After "successfully" completing the final assembly, I had to undo it because I didn't have the gasket centered. It's back on the car now... so far, no surprises.

You'll also note that most people recommend NOT using sealant between the gasket and glass. I agree. It must be an impossible mess, and I can't imagine it leaking even without sealant.

Another point to consider is checking the shape of the new glass to the old glass. This can be accomplished by tracing the profile of the old glass on kraft paper and then setting the new glass on the outline. You can also dimensionally check the outter "width" on each piece. I know that some have speculated that their breakage was due the the glass having a slightly different profile.

Also... I had to have my Windshield Post Tabs repaired since they were broken. The repaired units make it easier to install the posts since you can first install the tabs to the channel, then the tabs/channel to the post.

There are plenty of posts in the archives.

Hope that is of some value.

Rick

[Mark Malone]

Re: Is there a home for retired windshields...

Andy,

No need to panic. The C-1 windshield is a rare animal and like many unusual items on the C-1, were designed by GM engineers as a study on how to make something that will cause as much grief to the mechanic/owner as posible.

And they certainly succeeded in their endevour.

Add to that a significant curviture and you get quite a chalenge in fitting one.

The C-3 is a much more straight forward job and shouldn't (I did say shouldn't) give you too much trouble.

Good luck, Mark.

[Andy Higbee]

Re: Is there a home for retired windshields...

Thanks Rick and Mark,

I may be incorrect but my understanding was that C3's did not use a gasket but used butyl tape with adhesives. Apparently installers currently use urethane adhesives with the correct pinch weld primers, glass cleaners and urethanes. This method apparently produces a bond of sufficient strength to make the windshield a structual member of the car.

Again any directions of a C3 installation would be appreciated.

Andy H

[John H.]

Re: Is there a home for retired windshields...

Andy -

GM never used butyl tape for any windshield installations; in the late 60's they used "Thiokol" adhesive, then 2-part "Improved Thiokol" in the early 70's, and later that was replaced by urethane adhesives, which are still used today. The adhesives require first cleaning the glass, then applying a clear primer (for the subsequent black primer), then a black primer (which allows the urethane to bond and provides UV protection for the adhesive), then the adhesive; the primed (not topcoated) pinchweld also requires a black primer for the adhesive. This entire primer/adhesive system makes the windshield a structural member for body torsional stiffness, and retains it in the opening during a 30-mph frontal barrier hit (MVSS 208 certification requirement). Any shop that uses butyl tape for windshield replacements these days should be avoided, as a windshield installed with butyl tape will neither contribute to the structure nor will it stay in the opening in a frontal collision.