69 Windshield installation advise

[Wayne B.]

Re: 69 Windshield installation advise

Lynn, that instant gratification thing is much more than we tend to look at on the surface. It's ill effects have been less in ourselves than it has in what businesses have become. This kid that came out was enthusiastic, honest, following in his fathers footsteps and had pride in his new craft but the companies out there are only teaching these kids the "quick buck" route and they are just unaware there is more to learn. When he came back he said he was just in a glass seminar where he brought up my car and the only advice the instructor gave was that the age of my car made it possible to "grandfather" in using butyl then stepped to the next subject. No using it to open the students eyes to things they would encounter and an opportunity to expand their skills. Nope, let's get back to that down and dirty, quick install of modern cars. The lack of skilled workers is engineered, not an accident.

[Lynn H.]

Re: 69 Windshield installation advise

Wayne,
I could not have said it better myself. I am not that old, but I can remember when people in this country took serious pride in everything they did while living in the best place on earth to live. This is a subject that has no place on this board, but one of which I have some serious opinions about. I tried to teach my kids to do your best, learn everything you can, take pride in what you do , and try to make good decisions. They are getting older, but I do see the fruits of my labor paying off, and that is something I myself take serous pride in.
GOOD LUCK WITH THAT WINDSHIELD AND I HOPE TO MEET YOU IN NOVI IN 2011,
Lynn Houk

[John A.]

Re: 69 Windshield installation advise

Guys...

Thanks for all the great comments and discussion. To summarize:

1. There is no sutable replacement for the dam - or one thats available off the shelf....

2. Rubber spacers - gotta have them - figure out how to make them because they are not avaiable off the shelf either...

3. Application must be done with urathane - do lots of reading and adapt a procedure that others are using for modern cars - Basicly, good luck!

[John H.]

Re: 69 Windshield installation advise

When he came back he said he was just in a glass seminar where he brought up my car and the only advice the instructor gave was that the age of my car made it possible to "grandfather" in using butyl then stepped to the next subject.

The instructor is a bit lacking in knowledge as well; GM never used butyl for any windshield installation. Actually, using butyl tape (which is a common short-cut in some less-than-ethical glass shops) violates Federal Safety Standards (MVSS 208), as it won't retain the windshield in a frontal impact. Thiokol (and urethane since the late 70's) was used for two reasons - MVSS compliance, and it bonded the windshield so securely that the glass became a body structural member, contributing to the structure's torsional stiffness. Butyl tape has very little shear strength, and a butyl-installed windshield contributes nothing to torsional rigidity.

[Chuck S.]

Re: 69 Windshield installation advise

...Application must be done with ur(e)thane - do lots of reading and adapt a procedure that others are using for modern cars - Basicly, good luck!

Aw, com'n Johnny, it's basically the same except you're going to have to improvise something clever on the damming strip; I'm thinking the spacers are available.

If you're going to stay in this old Corvette thing, you're going to have to learn to be flexible and improvise.


The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it
-- Omar Khayyam