Windshield Shop? Clear windshield?

bsolak · 02-08-2012, 05:19 PM

I've got two questions for a 67' convertible.

First, does anyone have a good recommendation for a windshield shop, preferably (but not necessarily) in the western burbs.

Second, now that OEM Glass is history, does anyone know of a source for a clear 1967 windshield. As I understand it, the banded windshield in 67 only came on a car with factory AC, and mine doesn't have that.

zim64half · 02-09-2012, 07:58 AM

Believe it or not, all of the same places you would call to fix the windshield on your new car will also have a windshields for your 67 Mustang. (Safelite auto glass, etc...)

They also come to you, and fix it in your driveway if you want.

As for which windshields they actually have, I am not certain. I would just call and ask about it.

FYI I have had Safelite replace the windshield in my 64.5 Mustang and a 63 Ranchero, both with excellent results.

-Zim

bsolak · 02-09-2012, 11:23 AM

I'm a vintage mustang newbie. But as I understand it, the 67 has the gasketed, not glued in windshield. And so I'm looking for someone that has some experience with that type of install (maybe that's common place, I don't know).

But I'm also interested in finding the clear windshield, which is apparently pretty hard to source. The one shop I did talk to couldn't track it down.

While my car is far from Concours, if I go in that direction sometime down the road I don't want to have to replace the windshield. And the research I've done seems to indicate that my 67 should have a windshield with no band and no greenish tint to it.

zim64half · 02-10-2012, 07:01 PM

The windshield in my Mustang has a huge gasket around it that holds it into the windshield frame.

Can't hurt to give Safelite a call... Good luck.

NEFaurora · 02-10-2012, 08:04 PM

For clear glass, There are only a few "custom" glass vendors that sell the original clear glass, and they all have it custom made for their own shops.

ECS Automotive Concepts - Home

O.E.M. Glass Incorporated - Suppliers of Glass Products for the Classic and Collector Car Industry - WELCOME!!

Glass places like safelite, and little glass shops only carry the newer Carlite brand glass that has a Green tinted band and non-original Black Block letter type Carlite logos. If the glass is not Carlite, Any other glass place will sell you a winshield with a Non-Ford Blue Tinted band. That's all you are going to get from regular shops. Clear windshield glass has not been manufactured or sold commercially for at least the past 15 years. "Custom" glass shops like the ones above actually have the clear winshields made up for them, then they add the original logos and date stamps later on. An original type "looking" windshield should run you about $450-$500 depending on which custom shop you get it from.

PS: Be sure and Let us know back here how it turns out...

kk1969boss9 · 03-09-2012, 10:18 AM

I just ordered a new windshield for my 1970 Mustang from PS glass in Janesville Wi. I order it in clear and they are going to date it as I requested. They were very helpful here's their number 1 866 565 9557

Roddster · 03-13-2012, 09:27 AM

I had not heard that OEM glass went out of business. It was a back room in part of an International Tractor repair business. The fellow doing to glass marking was on the "near retirement" side of things.
But there are others. Find a Hemmings Motor News and look in the services section. Call around to get what you want.....the first time.

As far as puting the glass in, well, one false move and you'll need another window. So, if in doubt, have a pro put it in. Otherwise, you put the gasket onto the windshield (or rear back lite) and, the grove in the gasket where it will hug the metal, you put a rope in it, all the way around. Set the glass on the car, and, a little at a time, pull the rope back along the opening so the rope opens the rubber and it sets the rubber on both sides of the opening. The hard part is correctly putting the sealer on and the chrome trim.

bsolak · 03-13-2012, 10:00 AM

Just as an update, I was able to find a couple of places on line that have clear, undated (read: cheaper) glass. But they were in CA and TX and freight shipping was going to make things pricey. I personally don't care about the date code, but for some reason I really wanted the all clear glass.

I was able to find a used windshield locally on Craigslist and I've purchased it (no nicks or egregious scratches). I need to buy a gasket and then I'll provide both to a pro to do the install. That pro is currently Commercial Glass in Downers unless someone says I should go somewhere else. He was recommended to me by another antique car guy.

I did have a gasket question. I see gaskets at various online parts stores at two levels. Some carry a gasket around $20, and some carry a gasket around $50. Can't really tell a difference from the websites since none have a close up detailed enough to tell what the cross section looks like. Does anyone have a recommendation?

Roddster · 03-14-2012, 09:39 AM

I'd ask where they were made. Seems the "offshore" ones can dry and crack early on where the North American made ones last.

BigKid66 · 03-24-2012, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsolak

I need to buy a gasket and then I'll provide both to a pro to do the install. That pro is currently Commercial Glass in Downers unless someone says I should go somewhere else. He was recommended to me by another antique car guy.
?

Can you please give a ballpark on what price he quoted you (or PM me). I recently got my 65 fastback on the road only to realize the front windshield leaks like crazy. I had the shop that put my headliner in put my glass in also. I'm going to follow-up with them but I have no confidence that they know what they're doing when it comes to installing mustang glass. I went to a local mustang shop and was quoted 3-4 hours of labor ($99/hr) with no guarantee it would not leak. The other mustang shop I contacted said they don't do that work. Looking for other options. Thanks.

If anyone has had a good experience with a rubber molding windshield install I'd love to hear about it. Thanks.

NEFaurora · 03-24-2012, 08:42 PM

I say do it yourself.. I've done quite a few of them, and you can easily do it yourself, You just need a buddy on the outside pushing on the glass and following you around the entire perimeter of the windshield while he's on the outside, and you're on the inside pulling the inner seal lip inside the car. Threaded cord used for lawnmowers from Ace Hardware works the best. You just wrap it around the winshield in the outside cavity in the seal, then pull the whole thing through slowly. It's best to start in the middle at the top near where the rearview mirror bracket is, and work your way around the winshield until you get to the middle around the bottom near the defroster duct grille/radio grille middle area. Before you put the gasket in, put a thin layer of 3M Bedding and glazing compound into the windshield channel (where the winshield goed in) and firmly put the gasket around the entire perimeter of the windshield once the bedding compound is in the channel. Once the gasket and entire windshield is installed in the car, Inside the car, you can go around the lip of the gasket again from the inside of the car with the bedding and glazing compund again just to seal things up from the inside. From the outside, I like (my personal choice, but you can do what you want here) - is to go around the entire outside outer lip with a thin bead of 3M Black Urethane. This will really guard against outside leaks, but it is up to you.

NPD and other vendors stock USA made Daniel Carpenter Windshield gaskets. That's the one you want. They fit and seal perfectly just like original NOS gaskets. I've used them.

You have a great project ahead of you. Good luck!

You can do it....Probably even better than the so-called "Professionals"..lol

Tony K.

bsolak · 03-26-2012, 11:16 AM

They said $125, if I provide the gasket and windshield. And that assumes, of course, they don't find any problems with the metal under the old windshield. To me, that's worth it, not to have to do the removal, cleanup, and reinstall. Plus I don't want to break the damn thing, after it took a while to find a clear one that wasn't an arm and a leg!

BigKid66 · 03-26-2012, 09:20 PM

That seems like a good price. I was leaning towards trying to do it myself...but that may be a better option. When are you planning to get it done? I'd love to hear how it goes (yes, I'm totally using you as a guinea pig). I already ordered a Steele Rubber Products gasket.

bsolak · 03-27-2012, 10:27 AM

Hoping to get it in the shop tomorrow. I went with the "concours" gasket from CJ. American made.

bsolak · 03-31-2012, 11:47 AM

Windshield is in and it looks great. Final bill was $150. I did indeed have a little bit of rust underneath the glass, in the bottom corner drivers side. They said they cleaned out the rust and put some primer on to put a stop to it. Not bad for another $25. I do have some other rubber seals to replace. They sort of disintegrated during removal. But he showed me the part in CJ's and showed me where they go and how to put them back into place.

So, all around very pleased. This is Commercial Glass on Lacey, just north of Ogden in Downers Grove.