Any advice at all,...practical or otherwise.,, would be greatly appreciated.
The dilemma: I'm working on a 1964 Pontiac Parisienne 4 door hard top. I'm trying to keep the cost down due to: A) VERY limited funds ,... and ,.. B) 4 door cars are not worth putting money into because the resale value is almost zip! Whatever money I put into it will be a loss.,. I know that.
But,. I'd still like to keep my project going so that I can drive the car and enjoy it. (and maybe get it to a reasonable state for my daughter one day)
The windshield is toast. I found a used windshield that a guy will pull out in an auto wrecking. So the $ question is,.... should I tackle installing it myself. ??
Here is my background. I've worked on many "old school" cars. I've yanked and rebuilt engines and replaced transmissions. And Ive done a host of work on '60s cars. (NO body work at all) I've never replaced a windshield.
So my question , Would anyone one out there advise me to replace the windshield myself? ?? And yes,.. Ive heard the advice ,....""you bust is then you ,. ......"""" Ya ,..... that much I know.
Im looking for realistic advice.
Please , anyone and everyone ,. post your advice ,Id really appreciate it.
Thanks
-- Edited by 64 Hard Top on Friday 17th of September 2010 05:37:05 PM
Randy, before you do anything, order a new weatherstrip for w/shield!!! Then ,have you priced out the labour from a local glass shop to do it?? May not be that much, I had my 64 Htp. done last yr. & was about $365 including new glass [I supplied the w/strip] It may be worth the extra cost as the mldgs. had to be removed & the old rubber was "shot' They can still get w/shield for these cars so maybe price out the whole job????
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Some times I wake up GRUMPY, but today I let her sleep in !!!!!!!!BLACKSTOCK Ont.
A lot of people on this site have said not to do it by yourself ... I suspect that they will chime in. How's the 409 install going?
... Darryl.
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Randy, before you do anything, order a new weatherstrip for w/shield!!! Then ,have you priced out the labour from a local glass shop to do it?? May not be that much, I had my 64 Htp. done last yr. & was about $365 including new glass [I supplied the w/strip] It may be worth the extra cost as the mldgs. had to be removed & the old rubber was "shot' They can still get w/shield for these cars so maybe price out the whole job????
It seems that there's a huge price range when it comes to glass installation companies. And it seems to be "charge whatever you can get" attitude in the Manitoba shops. I've priced out quite a few in Manitoba. Price ranges from $800.00-$1000.00. installed and around $600.00 glass only. They also have a take it or leave it attitude. I've heard of a few shops like the one which you took yours too. But when I've enquired at the same places,.... I was told that around $350.00 is a "friends price". So you must be a good friend to have got that price
I can have one shipped in from California brand new for $500.00 (glass only)
The Manitoba auto wrecker has one for $150.00 used and slightly pitted.
Thanks for the advice on the gasket. Where did you order your gasket?
-- Edited by 64 Hard Top on Friday 17th of September 2010 01:56:41 PM
Not that it's that difficult to do but after buying the seal/materials you need plus taking into account the used glass pitted thing also worst of all the risk of breaking the used glass while installing or transporting it, the 'friendly price' installed for a new one is the way to go!.
Even if the boneyard guy gets it out in one piece and your transporting/installation goes well, ending up w/ the used glass installed and realizing too late it's much more pitted than you'd originally thought will really suck!.
Doing it once w/ installation and risk by others also the result being brand new glass for only $350...no question!!!
~
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I like real cars best...especially the REAL real ones! ----------------------------------------------------------------
i'd get it done too, those wraparound style windshields are a real pig to do even if you know the tricks.. stay away from that one unless you really feel confident or have some experienced help
well,, IF you buy a new gasket, and the old wiindshield is cut out and almost free. what do you have to loose?? the car needs a windshield anyways. the new gasket will be used regardless.....see where I'm going....
that style of windshield has to be 'roped' in. I did that style years ago, the 64 hardtop is pretty flat in comparison to some.
I would not try to do a 62 by myself, because they wrap around the corners. local old time shop installed my used windshield for $45 ,,,a deal !!
ask around your local glass shops, the ol timers will know how to do them, and won't charge through the nose...
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later...rog
AADD supporting member !!
I'm a collector...not a builder!!Located in sunny central Saskatchewan at the lakehead!
I was thinking of doing the windshield in my 64 myself, but the guy at the local glass shop said there's a couple of tricks to it, and you could wreck the rubber strip if you're not careful.
I'm pretty sure it's very similar to how they do it in this video:
...we had to put a new one in ours and Speedy sourced the w/s and put it in. It was $700 but we got a really nice new tinted one (interesting 'cause it didn't have a tinted one when we got it and when I ordered the GM Hist. docs it orig. had the Tinted Windshield option...) If you can get a used one cheap it might be worth the trouble to do it yourself but GhostPost makes a good point about getting it in and finding that it's a disappointment.
