The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 62 Windshield Install

A local glass shop told me $45.00 to install a new, used windshield that I bought from a guy who had some trucks in his yard. I finally cleaned it up in preparation for the installation. I took the windshield molding that I bought from Chevy Duty.

It was taking forever for them to get that shield in. I helped but eventually they broke for lunch and suggested that I drive it around to see if that would help set the glass in place so that they could finish the installation. I ran some errands and came back, leaving the truck in the sun to warm that new molding. The guy went back to work on it. I came out just as he hit it at the base with the palm of his hand and CRACK. It now has a huge crack up the left side. [censored] me right off.

The glass company is going to call some junk yards to see if they can get another windshield. Nothing can be done until Monday.

I don't know if this was the fault of the installers, or if the molding was not fitting properly. Either way the glass "professionals" should have stopped working and tried a different molding, but it was very close to being fully installed so I guess that the guy decided to force it.

Any suggestions?

Everyone I have talked too has problems getting these "wrap around" windshields installed. The one in my '61 still isnt right.
The first group that came out got it half way in, and walked away saying they were afraid they would break it if they kept working on it. In the ensuing eight months since, I have talked to no less than fifteen different installers from Naples to Tampa and finally found one "Ol timer" who said he'd do the job for $200.00, BUT only if I provided a new windshield(cost $345.00) and a gasket from Steele rubber products(cost was around $55.00). His shop couldnt get the windshield, so I had to order it from Pilkington, which means that if they break it, I still eat it. The new gasket I got from LMC was a made in Thailand re pop that is hard as a rock compared to one from Steele, so I believe the re pop rubber caused much of the problem. The rest of the problem is no one knows what they're doing when it comes to installing one of these.
My initial thoughts are that at $45.00 they found themselves in way over their heads real fast. Try talking to some body shops in your area that deal with older restorations to see if they can recommend an installer that knows what they're doing. My guy is supposed to be out mid October to install mine, BTW mine is being installed with the stainless trim which I'm told also makes the install even more difficult.

Holy cow..... Do you know if the Steel Rubber molding makes the installation easier?

There has to be a trick. Otherwise Chevy would never have gotten these things off of the assembly line.

A couple other things I've been told, is that the windshield has to be installed TOP first, and the rope pulled down to the bottom. And the gasket has to be centered perfectly on the glass before install is attempted. My guy says the Steele gasket is softer and more pliable than the re pop gasket, and that is plainly evident in comparing the two side by side as I have done, and that is why he requires it. The Steele gasket is made in the USA. www.steelerubber.com Also the new replacement windshields are made in Mexico and because they use a more modern, higher strength formula in the glass manufacturing process thay are a bit thinner than the fourty plus year old originals, again making them a bit easier to work with.(lighter and less prone to breakage during install)
Chevy got 'em off the line because they trained their people, and their people did one after the next for years in a row. Todays installers werent even born when these trucks came off the line, and most will admit to you they have never installed a piece of glass with that pronounced of a curve in it before. It is a mostly lost art.
Todays installers are used to installing tiny pieces of glass that are glued into the front of Honda civics, and the like, not much else.
You might try posting this in the Body and paint forum also. Someone there may be able to give a few more tips....

Thanks for the help. I will post this in the body forums too.

Where is the cheapest place to buy a new "Mexican" windshield. That and the new Steelrubber should do it.

Ironically, the windshield was just about completely installed when the guy hit it really hard with his palm at the base. I couldn't believe it because the slight space at the corner could have been filled with silicone and over time the shield may have worked into place.

The standardized windshield part number you're looking for is DW00587. I believe they are also available from other sources like LOF, and maybe even PPG. But they are all made in Mexico, and I suspect, probably the same plant in Mexico. Call around local, you may find it cheaper, and avoid shipping costs.
I did alot of shopping and research earlier this year, and when I could find a w'shield they were all right around the $400-$425 range. I finally stumbled across this guy on E Bay with a buy it now price of $345 and of course shipping added to that. Although he is in Oregon, I decided to call him anyway, and he was very helpful. I paid the price, and he arranged to have the glass shipped to the nearest Pilkington warehouse, (in my case Tampa) so I could pick it up myself and save the shipping charges. Nice guy to deal with. Bob at Bob's classic auto glass, Blachley, Oregon 1-800-624-2130, seven days a week.
He almost always has one listed on E Bay, you might want to do a search under 1960 Chevy truck to check his feedback, etc. HTH

edit: the curret ebay item number on his listing is 8002192611

Thanks!