The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Question about windshields

On the split-window 48-54 AD/ND trucks, does the left and right windows 'mirror' themselves? I ask this because I have a 53 with a bad driver's side window(crack along the centre and a hole in the corner). I also have a 50 with a bad driver's side windshield, but the passenger side is great. Can I flip a passenger windshield over to the driver's side?

I believe the vendors list them as the same (not a left and a right). You should be good to go.

They are identical.

Yes 1947-1953 windshields mirror each other.

Tim

Are the ID marking in same location, or, are the markings different: both readable from outside or from inside?

Back in the 1930's they made one window that fit both sides, so the markings are out on one side and in on the other. This was true for all windows Front and Side. I would assume it's the same in the 1950"s...why tool up for something that really doesn't matter in the big picture...saves money.

Mike B

Is it tinted? I'm not sure they tinted back then but tinting could break the symmetry in possibly an insignificant way. The fit would be the same, though.

When I got my '48, all the flat glass was cracked. I put in new fully tinted glass for the windshield (no tinted band on top) and clear glass in the doors and rear at a glass shop. It didn't cost that much but it was 25 years ago. The corner windows had the only good glass, thank goodness.

L-O-F (Libby-Owens-Ford) E-Z-Eye (tinted/shaded) glass was available as an option on 1954 trucks.

It was available on earlier GM cars

I do not know about earlier years on GM trucks.

If anyone has original split-windshield 47-53 glass, would you check to see where the codes (“bugs”) were placed on each/both of the front panes (on the inside or the outside of the panes).

Also, please post the codes that you find, if you can read them?

Thanks

Tim,

My windshield glass on the '49 3804 is original. Note: The following is corrected text. Apparently, they stamped all the glass (the two windshield halves) the same -- so if the piece is used on the D side, the stamp is on the outside and readable from the outside. If used on the P side, it is on the inside and readable on the inside. Either way, it is in the lower outboard corner.

My code appears to be AS WS (LOF Logo) 7.49

I assume the "7-49" is the manufacture date. Which would correspond to my truck's VIN which IDs it as an August, '49 truck at Norwood, OH. Very interesting.

Hope this helps.

John

So, there is a left and a right front window glass (if you want the codes "bugs" to be original looking?

Tim -- As I was. *** CORRECTION *** I just went back out to the truck to confirm.... No, they are all the same, not right and left handed, asit might have seemed. On my truck, the driver's side glass has the readable stamp on the outside and is readable from the outside. The Passenger side glass stamp is on the inside and readable from the inside. Which makes more sense. They stamped all the glass the same ( as D side, they are all readable from the outside. But flip them over to install on the P side, then they become readable from the inside ...). Make sense???

Sorry for the confusion and thank you, Tim, for making me double check that.

Billy Marlow's AD 1-ton truck, or Mike Roache's, would probably corroborate ( or any of the other Stovebolters who retain original glass in their cabs)

Thanks, John

Your old glass markings settle that one.

By they way, if both markings are readable, would you please post them?

Here's a better image of the Driverside code (now that it is dark here), Shows the full text. Both my glass pieces are stamped exactly alike.

And to be thorough/complete, here's my passenger side code (lower right corner, readable from the inside).

Again, my truck is an August, '49 Norwood, Ohio truck. Might GM have sourced glass from different vendors for the geographically dispersed plants? It might be interesting to see if someone with original glass from a different year and/or different plant has different stamps on their glass ...

Interesting little rabbit hole you have here ...

Do those two year codes match-up?

I cannot find any online LOF year codes for earlier than 1953 (that magical year of the Corvette introduction).

I found the code somewhat readable inside on the passenger side on my ‘52 Chevy. The registration sticker is on the drivers side and just happens to be white so I can’t see anything. The date is not readable and my truck was made in Atlanta.

When I was researching this subject 25+ years ago for the 1935 Chevrolet cars, I made a note that I filed away that says, "all of the LOF glass etchings don't face the same way.on the same side of the car", which I found strange...

Mike B

Tim -- Mine do -- The windshield glass halfs are identical to each other (hence one being readable from outside, the other from inside. Dates codes are both 7-49. It appears that the stamp is on the inside of one of the glass layers

Thanks, everyone! Didn't expect this to be such a popular topic!