After taking all the trim off the windshield area my wife announced I might as well just replace the windshield while I'm at it since mine has a few bulls-eyes and other small chips. Actually she said it looked like crap... love that woman. I haven't called any of my local glass shops yet but saw in Classic's catalog the windshield is ~225.00 + $$ shipping

Who offers the best glass for best price ?
Any I should stay away from ?
Is it worth putting tinted glass in if I cannot afford to do the side windows at same time ?

Thanks

I used Auto City glass, they had a booth at a local show. I ordered the glass over the phone later and picked it up at the next show to save on shipping and inspect it. Worked out fine. A little thinner than orig, but they all are. If you have original clear glass on the side in good shape, just get the shading on the top. It is very hard to find good vert qtr glass tinted and people say that the repro side glass has curvature issues.

Give Jim at Capitol Glass Works a call... 408 265-9522

Their shop is on Pearl near where 87 and 85 come together. Tell him I recomended him and mention my white '69 convertible...

Thanks Dennis, will do. I think what I'm going to try and do is remove the glass myself, replace all the window clips and standoffs, clean everything up, and then have the glass installed. I've removed glued in windows on vehicles before using 200lb test deep sea fishing line attached to T-handles. Poke a hole thru the glue and then do the see-saw back and forth with teh fishing line to cut the glue off the glass.

So much for driving this weekend.

I just replaced the glass in my convertible this fall. SafeLite glass was the company's name. They came to my shop, removed the old glass and replaced with PPG correct tinted convertible glass all for $197.70. They did a great job! Of course I was on top of them the whole time, but in 1 hour gone. Even hauled away the old cracked one. Maybe they have a office in CA. :yes:

Go with well known glass company and have them do it, I'm sure someone at car shows or get togathers can refer you. I had 2 glass companys try to do mine before I towed it to 3rd and had it done right. never again will I do it any other way. j

Also, nowadays they are required to install it with urethane. Make sure they are careful with the installation and do a neat job. I was not particularly happy with mine, because you can see the wavy line of the urethane along the bottom of the windshield where it is above the part of the glass that is covered by the trim.

Go with well known glass company and have them do it, I'm sure someone at car shows or get togathers can refer you. I had 2 glass companys try to do mine before I towed it to 3rd and had it done right. never again will I do it any other way. j

Also, nowadays they are required to install it with urethane. Make sure they are careful with the installation and do a neat job. I was not particularly happy with mine, because you can see the wavy line of the urethane along the bottom of the windshield where it is above the part of the glass that is covered by the trim.

The place I recomended does great work. Jim is a master at dealing with the stainless trim and when he installed my windshield he used this urethane tape (almost like weather strip) around the glass as a stop for the urethane sealer so there is no wavy line...

Great advice and tips - thank you all very much !

I called Jim at Capital Glass and sure enough I could tell over the phone he knew what he was doing. Only problem is he will only do the replacement at his shop and for liability reasons he wanted to keep the car for 12-24 hours. I'd go with him if I didn't have 1/2 the windshield area already ripped apart.

Funny that Safelite was mentioned. I had them replace the windshield 3x in my Found On Road Dead truck (yes it has actually been found on road dead twice) and they did a good job each time. Called and they can do it for $258.95 with PPG green tinted glass with the blue sunband at the top just like OE plus they give a 12 month full satisfaction guarantee. Safelite comes to the house which is pretty cool and allows me to keep my eye on everything they do.

I just about have the old glass out now. It's loosened on 3 sides, just need to get the wipers off, remove the cowl, and then the bottom trim. I plan to take my time and do some cleaning with the glass out, replace all the glass and trim clips, etc. Probably keep the car down for 1-2 more weeks which will mean the first weekend it's ready to go, it will rain.

we use a local glass shop for winshields. Luckily we have a good installer that is familar with older cars an always does a good job for us. I also let him install trim so we know it fits tight and proper to the glass

I called Binwanger in Charlotte and requested an LOF windshield and they got me one for $104 and they also had the original 3M style butel for $9. I explained in was a non insurance job and I would install it myself, really not a big deal. You need a helper to get it centered and such. I find if you talk to the managers of these businesses and explain that you are restoring a Camaro, they will give you a great price. I got 2 yards of Madrid vinyl, as original for $12 a yard at the upolstery distributer while PUI want 3 times more! I did my trunk with panal board, foam and the Vinyl all from Kee Auto top in Charlotte. They make the convertible tops that you get in the after market too. You can look them up on line. Shop and save!

I called Binwanger in Charlotte and requested an LOF windshield and they got me one for $104 and they also had the original 3M style butel for $9.

Uh-oh, here comes the butyl vs. urethane fight again... :yes:

Uh-oh, here comes the butyl vs. urethane fight again... :yes:

I cant believe people are still using butyl tape. l:)

When you install it yourself it is easier and no tools necessary. It has the right thickness so the trim fits properly. Works the same! I still can't believe we are playing with 40 year old cars!!!!
__________________________
4 69 SS Camaros
69 Chevelle SS
69 C-10 BB
99 Z-28 Vert
05 Vette
09 STS

I wish there was a NJ guy that knew how to install a 1st gen windsheild. I called around to find someone and was assured he knew what he was doing. And I watched/ helped him do it and even metioned the amount of urathane he was putting on the lower seam and sure enough, when it was installed, got the big black ooze past the molding issue. I was bummed! :(

Everyone is an expert,except the people who do it for a living everyday.Its simply amazing!

Everyone is an expert,except the people who do it for a living everyday.Its simply amazing!

Don't take the comments personal they are not directed at you! I paid 2 experts to install glass for me and their work both in installing the glass and working with the trim was sub-standard...

I then found someone that cares and sees these old cars as more than just transportation and he did an awesome job...

As a glass guy you have to know that there are a lot of glass pros that don't work with classic's every day and will still take on the job. The biggest problem is modern glass has a big black strip all the way around that hides the bonding material and no stainless trim. Use the same process on an old glassic and the wavy bonding material is visible and very ugly!

well I'm going to delayed further on getting the new windshield in as the windshield header trim from Classic Headquarters doesn't come close to fitting. There is a different post (http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=190679) on this for anyone that is curious about the fit problem.

Don't take the comments personal they are not directed at you! I paid 2 experts to install glass for me and their work both in installing the glass and working with the trim was sub-standard...

I then found someone that cares and sees these old cars as more than just transportation and he did an awesome job...

As a glass guy you have to know that there are a lot of glass pros that don't work with classic's every day and will still take on the job. The biggest problem is modern glass has a big black strip all the way around that hides the bonding material and no stainless trim. Use the same process on an old glassic and the wavy bonding material is visible and very ugly!
I try not to take comments personally,however you are correct with finding a shop or person that cares more about our classics.At my shop most of these jobs are in shop only and we call you when its done.You cant expect to stand over a guy and get a quality job.The only thing I will say about modern glass is the frit band a.k.a black strip is not to hide the urethane,but to protect it from the suns uv rays breaking it down.A guy who really cares can do a great job with either product.You are correct ,there are some idiots out there that have no clue how to work on older cars.

It is a crap shoot to find experience with someone that can install auto glass on classics.
I called around, found someone from other recommendations, and the guy came to my house to install.
And yes I stood over him (and helped him) do a good, quality job.

I wound up with a 'Pilkington' brand glass.

Should have used the butyl!!!

I'm not sure if it helps anyone, but there is a place called First Class Auto Glass in Scranton, PA that knows how to correctly install Camaro glass using urethane and a correct type dam. The guy's name is Jeff Gretz. I actually bought just the dam from him so my restoration shop could use it when they installed the glass (even if they use butyl for the installation). The idea is that you will only see the dam when the trim is installed. He really seems to know what he's doing - I may even see if he wants to take a trip up to CT to install my windshield.