Cracked windshield

shadango

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Dangit....

Got home and the small chip on our 80 Volare windshield has trned into a foot long crack due to the warm weather getting frigid over night (I assume)....about a foot long crack now, 6 inches on either side of the chip.

(insert pulling my hair out thread here)

So.....PLEASE tell me that windshields are not ridiculously hard to find/expensive......

One positive here.....it already had a small 1/8" crack in one corner, probably a sloppy install job on the aftermarket glass in there now....at least I think its aftermarket so we knew this was a possibility...plus, we have been chasing a water leak in the front floor pans and at least getting a new shield will rule that out as a source.

Any advice on a new one or things we should/could do while its out? Cant think of anything but maybe there is something?

Was gonna call the safelite people as a start and see what they can do, if at all.
 

BudW

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F and M body windshields are much easier to find than J-bodies are.
Some windshield cracks can be repaired as good as new.

Sorry to hear about that – that’s a bummer.

If not repairable, you might be able to replace the windshield yourself – but I don’t recommend it. That is one job I leave to the specialists.
BudW
 

Master M

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I had my windshield replaced in my 1988 5th Ave. for $163.00 complete. If the installer is not in a hurry it is a good time to clean out all of the crevices. I chose to remove my own trim just in case. You can always request their best installer to put in your windshield.
 

Justwondering

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Sorry about the crack running.
Got a rock chip in the Suburban, left it overnight last year and it cracked about 10 inches in each direction...
Now its going to be replaced with this month's car budget.

The fifth avenue got a rock chip in January.
I covered it with blankets until the weather warmed up. Worked like a charm. The crack did not run. Course it doesn't get as cold for as long here in North East Texas as it does north of the Red River.

Bought the $4.99 window repair kit at O'reillys.
Followed the directions on it and have not had the glass run.

Decided that I'm adding one of those kits to my ditty bag for the cars.
 

MBDale

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I don't know about hard to find, but here in Canada I paid about $400 new for mine. Plus shipping. There's also a difference between 2 door and 4 door windshields.
 

shadango

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I spoke to one place and its $233 --- not too bad at all I guess. Gonna see what the other places quote and when they can do it......

I was considering removing my trim, just in case.....

I think I know the answer but not positive --- the trim is ONLY decorative right? The glass doesn't rely on the trim for any bolstering of being attached to the car right??? Safe to drive the car without the trim on it?

Id leave it on, but I am thinking these days there arent many cars that still use trim like this and the tech doing it may not have a lot of experience with trim like this.....

Always SOMETHING to worry about....LOL
 

volare 77

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Is yours tinted or clear? Tinted should be pretty easy to find. Clear is very hard to find and I`m not sure they even make it anymore. I have found most old stock clear windshields have issues. The trim is decorative and is not that hard to remove if you have a good tool. Sometimes they can be tough to remove if the the clips are rusted. The good thing is you won`t have to worry about damaging the windshield since it will be replaced anyways. I found a good clear one online and had it shipped to me and it didn`t make it in one piece.
 

BudW

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If car has been left outside for a significant part of its lifetime, I would recommend getting new clips and replacing them while glass is out.

If I was taking car to a body shop, I would remove trim myself.
A glass shop – I wouldn’t have any objections to them removing and reinstalling it – for they generally do a good job with that.

Body shops – it’s a dice toss.

Also, sense body repairs take some time to do, losing trim with them is another issue.
Glass replacements only take an hour or so, so very seldom will trim get misplaced.

Note: if you have any rust under the trim (missing paint, etc.) - that is the time to get it fixed!
BudW
 

shadango

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Well, I have an appt for them to come to my home this coming week......figured it would be best to have the car already here IF there were any issues with rust, clips etc.

From looking at the car, I think it will be fine under the trim, in the channel etc.....but no way to know til its out.

I wont have extra clips on hand by the time they come I dont think so gonna cross my fingers there.....but by chance do you know a part number for the right ones?

I think this will be a green tinted shield with the blue top......I figured tinted would be better anyways than clear....

The shop quoted $277 installed....a little more than the other place but they will do it in my garage versus theirs......so a better way to go IMHO.
 
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BudW

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The two lower glass spacers are 3767820 (or 4022706 – one page says one number and another page gave the other number). The plastic spacers should be reusable.

Retainer (windshield molding clip) 6003409.
BudW
 

shadango

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The two lower glass spacers are 3767820 (or 4022706 – one page says one number and another page gave the other number). The plastic spacers should be reusable.

Retainer (windshield molding clip) 6003409.
BudW
Do these look like the right ones?

$_58.jpg
 

MBDale

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I think they look right, if your changing a windshield, change the clips. They'll just be rusty anyway. A glass shop can order them.
 

lowbudget

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Go by your local auto paint jobber. Mine has racks of stuff. Almost everything that you will ever need....except for Fifth Avenue lower molding clips.
 

shadango

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Well, we lucked out. All of the clips and blocks were reusable just fine, good shape.

The paint and metal around the shield was perfect......so all went very well and easy...for a change.

The car has been sitting inside a heated garage since tuesday...to allow the windshield and our attempt at sealing the oil leak on the oil pan up to set in warmth rather than outside in the frigid temps.

The windshield is a tinted model with the blue band...looks great on the car......the one that was in the car was clear and very old, per the installer....the blue band had turned brown......he said he sees it a lot.......anyways, the old shield had NO marking on it which I thought was odd. The new one is a "plinkington", never heard of them but then again why would I...LOL

The tint should help in the summertime since the A/C isnt working.
 
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