Where to get a windshield?

themam2000k

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Hi all,

I have not posted in a long time. I purchased a 69 Newport Custom Hardtop estate car in 2017 that was saved from the scrapyard by a non car guy neighbor who I bought it from. I’ve stored the car since then and am now starting to get it fired up again. It’s has a HP factory motor and needs a few seals and some freeze plugs. The windshield has cracked somehow over the years and I need a new one. Does anyone have an inexpensive source for a windshield?
 
Pull one out of a parts car. I have been watching for years in my area. No luck yet. I saved one that is less cracked out of a parts car I had. The coupe hard tops are hard to find. I have found a bunch of sedan windshields.
 
Pull one out of a parts car. I have been watching for years in my area. No luck yet. I saved one that is less cracked out of a parts car I had. The coupe hard tops are hard to find. I have found a bunch of sedan windshields.

Sorry it’s a 4 door hardtop, is that the same as a coupe? I did not not know there was difference.
 
These windshields are not hard to get. Go to a smaller auto glass shop, not one of the major chains. Tell them what you need. They'll order it, and install it when it comes in. Or you can install it. Inexpensive? That depends on your definition. Should be under the 500.00$ Mark.
 
Pull one out of a parts car. I have been watching for years in my area. No luck yet. I saved one that is less cracked out of a parts car I had. The coupe hard tops are hard to find. I have found a bunch of sedan windshields.

I really don't think that's worth the effort. The time it takes to visit the yards, finally finding one, carefully removing and transporting it, then installing it, only to find it's pitted. If there wasn't a source of new glass, this would be the only recourse, luckily new glass is available.

There's even a Scandinavian company making excellent reproductions for like 1500 bucks or something. The one's you'll find for a reasonable price in the States are what's known as "China glass," not quite as good as the originals, but not terrible either.
 
I really don't think that's worth the effort. The time it takes to visit the yards, finally finding one, carefully removing and transporting it, then installing it, only to find it's pitted. If there wasn't a source of new glass, this would be the only recourse, luckily new glass is available.

There's even a Scandinavian company making excellent reproductions for like 1500 bucks or something. The one's you'll find for a reasonable price in the States are what's known as "China glass," not quite as good as the originals, but not terrible either.
They are not readily available, hence all the conversation on the site about sourcing new glass. Yes there was a European place that could make them and a thread on the site discussing a potential bulk buy to get some to North America.

If you have a source please share it.

69 B body easy easy C body not so much.
 

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They are not readily available, hence all the conversation on the site about sourcing new glass. Yes there was a European place that could make them and a thread on the site discussing a potential bulk buy to get some to North America.

If you have a source please share it.

69 B body easy easy C body not so much.

Have you tried ordering one? I don't really have a "source." I just walked into a smaller family run auto glass shop and asked for a new windshield for my '71 Newport. Three days later it was in.
 
Have you tried ordering one? I don't really have a "source." I just walked into a smaller family run auto glass shop and asked for a new windshield for my '71 Newport. Three days later it was in.
I have tried ordering from Metro several times and they have never had one available for a hard top 69-73
 
I have tried ordering from Metro several times and they have never had one available for a hard top 69-73

A lot of places have non existent parts in "inventory." There are other sources. Call some of your local shops. I just googled 1971 Dodge Polara windshield and 1970 Chrysler windshield and found these guys on ebay. I have no experience with them, worth looking into if you really need one. I hope you find one!

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I have read past posts that state the repop HT glass is from Indonesia and isnt exactly correct, you will have to ¨adjust¨ it during install to make it work?!?
 
I have read past posts that state the repop HT glass is from Indonesia and isnt exactly correct, you will have to ¨adjust¨ it during install to make it work?!?

Yes, that is correct. The corner's of the Indo glass don't follow the exact curvature of the originals. However we're only talking about an eighth of an inch at the bottom corner's, the top corner's are pretty close. This requires diligence on the installers part. The gentleman that installed mine started with butyl tape applied to the windshield but with the paper still on the other side. Test fit, no way those corners are gonna seal, take out, fill corners with urethane, remove paper from butyl, put windshield in, check gaps, maybe squeeze a bit more urethane in where needed. Put trim on. Done. Most importantly, once installed correctly no one can tell that the corner's stand slightly proud. All trim goes back on with no problems.

Most shop's doing windshields will use only urethane, and that's perfectly fine. However, standard practice is to place an even bead of 5/16" - 3/8" urethane on the steel channel with some spacers so it doesn't fully compress. Then carefully put the windshield into place. If they aren't being careful or are rushing, they might not notice how little contact the corner's have made, and that could be a potential leak in the future.
 
That there is some important info!! Thanks for sharing!!
 
A lot of places have non existent parts in "inventory." There are other sources. Call some of your local shops. I just googled 1971 Dodge Polara windshield and 1970 Chrysler windshield and found these guys on ebay. I have no experience with them, worth looking into if you really need one. I hope you find one!

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That's news to me. Thank you! I have bought windshields from these guys before. Did have one that was badly smashed in a way that you could tell it was before it went in the box. The corner was completely folded. I think workers dropped it when wrapping it up. I sent them photos and they replaced it no big deal.
 
Another point of interest with some of these and for sure the last one I bought from auto city is that it was thin. I don't care. My car was a glue in but for a gasketed wndow it might be loose in the rubber. I would also guess that they may Crack from rock chips easier.
 
Update on China glass, this one is from the ebay seller listed above for a 70 Elcamino. Ultimately it is really thin and the fit was horrible. The lower driver corner up to 2/3 pillar had full 1/4" gap passer side was 3/16"
Not enough wrap around in the curve.

I would be hesitant to buy a fuselage glass considering how much curve there is to those. I had contacted the seller to see if he had any green glass fuselage without the tinted strip. He did not. I was planning on buying two.

I may buy one yet not sure. The chevy window was about .050" under thickness and noticeably lighter strangely felt like half the weight. It will do for now on my Elcamino. Took a ridiculous amount of urethane to fill the gap. Im sure the first minor rock chip will crack it...

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