Windshield

**Posts:** 4

Windshield

**Posts:** 7418

First, I see you are new. Welcome to our great site!

Are you set on finding a used one or is new ok? I am pretty sure it will be easy to get a new one from any of the larger glass shops.

**Posts:** 4

Thanks Carl.

I never thought just to call them. I will try that.

Vic

**Posts:** 168

I got a new from local glass shop this summer for 64 Catalina "tinted" paid cash instead of going through ins. co worked to about $380 installed & I supplied new w/strip, don't try it without putting new rubber in, Pete

**Posts:** 7418

I picked up new one for my Acadian for under $200 about a year ago.

The only reason I think of this is when I needed one many years ago for an old car, I mentioned to a friend of mine who teaches auto body. He said "call the glass shop'. I told him they'd never have it available any more. He stood there laughing while I called, knowing full well they go very far back for windshields. Of course, they had it in stock!

Couple of years ago I ordered in a new pair of windshield pieces for about a 50 Pontiac. Only took a few days to get them too.

**Posts:** 4

Thanks Pete.
Ya the seal if fubard badly, will probably just turn to dust when the glass gets pulled out.

Vic

**Posts:** 1832

i reused the seal in my 55 gmc. still very pliable.

**Posts:** 34

Does anyone know the "ins and outs" of replacing a windshield yourself? I imagine that you need a special tool to remove the chrome moulding. Do the clips needs replacing? I'm considering tackling replacing mine on a 64 Parisienne.

**Posts:** 13

64 Hard Top wrote:

Does anyone know the "ins and outs" of replacing a windshield yourself? I imagine that you need a special tool to remove the chrome moulding. Do the clips needs replacing? I'm considering tackling replacing mine on a 64 Parisienne.

You can save the clips if your careful but they can be brittle with age so it's not a bad idea to order some, they should be cheap. Does it need clips or does the chrome just push into the rubber?

If you don't care about saving the old rubber then just pry on it from the inside with a screwdriver and put the boots to it, just make sure someone is on the outside to stop it from bouncing off the hood.

Rather than use a screwdriver though, I'd get a hook tool or cotter pin removal tool and grind the tip off so it's blunt and smooth. You can use that to pull on the rubber carefully if you want to save it and it will come in handy when you're installing the new one and get to some tricky spots with the rope.

If you've got nice new rubber it'll probably be pretty tight so you'll need some finger strength to stretch it over the windshield. Starting at the bottom centre, feed a thin rope around the groove of the rubber and overlap it a little where it joins. Tape the ends to the inside of the windshield and get a buddy to put it in place while you hop in the car.

Slowly pull one of the rope ends straight up against the windshield while your buddy puts MILD pressure on the windshield with the flat of his hand. Once you've cleared the other rope your helper can follow you, putting firmer pressure on the windshield BEHIND where you are pulling the rope. DO NOT let him put any pressure on the rope, this will crack the windshield. Make sure he only puts pressure on the part you've already pulled the rope from. You might have to use you fingers to tug the rubber a little from the inside to make sure it's fully going over the lip. If it doesn't seem to be coming your helper can slap the windshield in those spots hard with the flat of his palm. Remember though, never slap anywhere that still has rope under it!

Work your way with the rope to the first corner and then start again at the middle with the other end of rope and work the whole bottom in before you tackle the corners. Corners can be a pain so you might have to use your dulled down hook tool to help things along. As you come around the corners you'll be changing the direction your pulling. Always pull flat across the windshield. You might have to work the corners a little by sort of pulling in a circular motion. Be careful that you don't start sawing into the rubber with the rope though, especially if you'r re-using your old rubber. Work your way up the side and then do the other side and across the top. That's pretty much it for the old rubber jobs, not including trim. Some go in easy and some can be nasty.

**Posts:** 13

Of course, now that I've typed all that I can't remember if a '64 is still a rubber job or not. If not it'll be butyl, which is nasty. My '61 pontiac is rubber but my '67 olds is butyl and it varies when GM started switching. I think some late 50's cars are actually butyl while some trucks are rubber right through the 60's. The butyl installed windshield in my cutlass is leaking so I'm going to yank it and re-install it with modern primers and urethane. This process is a lot more involved than a basic rubber job but you can buy all the stuff necessary from lordco or wherever.

**Posts:** 34

Very informative. Yes,. the '64 is the same, It has the rubber gasket instead of butyl. So your instructions apply to my car as well.

Thanks very much for the reply.