Replacement windshield glass is not clear � 1964 convertible.

[Keith H.]

My 1964 Corvette convertible had a new replacement windshield installed this last year. I see a clarity problem now, after the installation.

The new replacement windshield that I have procured looks defective in that it appears foggy in certain conditions. When looking through the glass it is opaque. When the sun is low, and light is indirect, the glass looks cloudy. I find this unacceptable.

Is this normal or typical? I have a notion that a new windshield should be very clear with no fogginess or obstructions. In observing other cars, including non-Corvettes, I have never seen cloudiness like this.

An experienced windshield installer recommended a polishing compound and I have tried this. This compound did not help. And yes, I have wiped it with other glass cleaners like mild soap and Windex. I think that the windshield has a defect in its internal layers and that it is not repairable.

Please comment on

• What should I expect in terms of the quality of a new windshield?
• Is the fogginess normal?
• Am I being too picky?
• Where can I get a clear windshield?

The backstory:

1. ^rd replacement.)

I am working on attaching photos here.

Thanks,
Keith

[Mark F.]

...Is this normal or typical? NO I have a notion that a new windshield should be very clear with no fogginess or obstructions CORRECT. ...I think that the windshield has a defect in its internal layers and that it is not repairable. I AGREE
Please comment on

• What should I expect in terms of the quality of a new windshield? CRYSTAL CLEAR - NO BUBBLES (OCCASIONALLY FOUND AT THE OUTER EDGES)
• Is the fogginess normal? NO
• Am I being too picky? NO
• Where can I get a clear windshield? OTHERS HAVE POSTED ON THIS - LAST TIME I DID A WINDSHIELD WAS 20+ YEARS AGO...

...the vendor said, “They are all like that. Even new cars.” I disagree. Caveat emptor. ☹ I AGREE WITH YOU - RIDICULOUS COMMENT BY VENDOR

I have asked the installer to source and install a second windshield. Just before beginning installation yesterday, he called and said that the second windshield has the same fogginess. He has ordered another windshield for quick delivery (this will be the 3^rd replacement.) RUN FORREST, RUN !

Keith

Keith,

Sorry for your difficulties...FYI for a little of my backstory - I worked at Ford and PPG and was in numerous plants where they made windshields.

They are the most difficult piece of automotive glass to manufacture - requiring precise mating of three pieces:
1. outer glass (larger curvature radius than inner)
2. polyvinylbutyral (PVB) interlayer (this is what holds the glass together when it's cracked, or shattered)
3. inner glass (smaller curvature radius than outer)

PVB is opaque (or some might say it's barely translucent) when it's delivered to the glass plant. Regradless, it is NOT clear or transparent. (and BTW, it has a rather obnoxious smell kinda like rancid butter)

Once the sandwich of these 3 pieces is placed together, they are placed on racks into an autoclave (some were oil; some were hot air/steam). The time/temperature gradient for this autoclave procedure is critical to merge the 3 pieces together; w/o bubbles at the edges...etc. If there were bubbles w/in 1" of the glass edges, those windshields could be repaired with torches and small pieces of PVB. Any deeper than 1", the piece was junk.

At the temperatures and pressures in the autoclave, PVB becomes transparent - perfectly clear; not foggy; not grainy; not anything other than a quality OEM piece of glass.

My guess is a potential problem with the autoclaving process is what's causing your defects.
Unfortunately, if that is what it was, my guess is it was that way when you received the glass.
But of course, that's all speculation on my part and I was not a Glass Engineer.

PS - another possibility is there was dirt on the PVB; inner side of the outer glass; and/or outer side of the inner glass.
PPS - and yet another possibility is the outer and inner pieces of glass did not bend to the proper shapes and radii on the glass bending lehrs

Good luck - after all the work putting in a windshield, I'm sure it's aggravating to have to deal with this...

[David H.]

[Keith H.]

[Keith H.]

[David H.]

Hi Dave -----

The car is at the shop now and I do not have access to view the DOT number. If I am correctly reading between the lines, we could determine if the manufacturer has a poor reputation. With the level of anonymity of eBay, poor customer service, and low quality product, I suspect that I've been naive in my purchase.

Keith

Keith

New glass is going to have a DOT number code. Glass manufactured after around 1968/69 is going to have this code.

Link below is to DOT numbers assigned by manufacturer. Data base information also includes location - generally city & state or city & country.


Dave

https://www.carwindshields.info/dot_db

[Mark F.]

Hello Mark -----Thank you for the detailed response; I really appreciate your thoroughness, promptness, and sympathy. NCRS members are the best! As you might imagine, this has been an unpleasant experience. I was especially heartened to see your embedded answers saying that a new windshield should be completely clear and excellent in quality. I think you are spot on with your assessment that this unit was manufactured poorly. Perhaps it was a Reject and ended up in the stock of an eBay vendor to sell to an unsuspecting customer. That person turned out to be me. At this point I think that my best option is to lay eyes on any new windshield that I consider buying or having someone else purchase & install. Keith

You are most welcome, Keith...always glad to pass on things I know from my work experience.
OEM processes (at least in my day) were tweaked and fine-tuned to the nth degree.
That's because they were running 1,000s if not 10,000s of parts and knew their setups ad-infinitum to consistently run quality parts day-after-day; week-after-week.

No slam on aftermarket folks, but they can't possibly afford to run those kinds of numbers and tweaking may not be possible (speculation on my part) to the level of OEM setups.

I can't say what these guys are doing now, but I bought my clear '67 Coupe windshield from Auto City Classics 20+ years ago.
They date coded mine and after I replaced the incorrect one when I bought the car it judged with 0 deductions thru 1 Regional and 1 National. It's still crystal clear to this day.

Hang in there - you'll get what you want and need for your car !

https://www.autocityclassic.com/2-door-hardtop-coupe/1963-1967-chevrolet-corvette-2-door-hardtop-coupe-and-convertible-sting-ray-windshield-w636/