Removing a windshield, maybe reuse it.

[Danglerb]

$350 for a new windshield, and I have a "decent" one in my parts car so I am thinking about trying to remove a cracked windshield from my 85 and replace it with the parts car windshield. I'm thinking about an all HF rig to do it, my existing cherry picker, some rope, suction cups, and this windshield removal tool.

Couple of those suction cup things, one on each side of the windshield, put a bit of tension on ropes up to the load leveler for the cherry picker, then work my way around the windshield.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96339

 

[wrenchr]

Take your time and you will be fine!!! You might want to get a buddy to help.

 

[cruiser808]

Wrencher is right, don't try to do this alone. Get some help from buddies. Even though we have the expertise to do this kind of work and do it if it's a vintage seal on an old car, modern cars get a call to the window crew experts and they do a great job for relatively cheap and fast.

 

[Tim G]

My local glass co charges 40 bucks to remove a stationary glass,well worth it.
If you have to do it yourself,try to cut the adheisive right along the glass,a cold knife is easyer,but the wire is less prone to breaking glass.
DO NOT USE THE CHERRY PICKER!!!!!!!
The only pressure you want to put on the glass is to see where you've cut!

 

[jimvannoy]

I sure as heck would not put pressure on it with your hoist. I always call the local glass people to remove/install glue in glass. I remove/install all the older rubber seal stuff myself.

 

[billymade]

X2 on pay to install, worth it!

 

[Danglerb]

Wow, consensus to not do it. ;(

I wasn't suggesting "pulling" it out with the cherry picker, just supporting the weight as I break the seal with the wire, and once its loose lifting and swinging it out of the way. Parts car has to go to scrap within the week, so if I can't pull the window cheap it goes to scrap with the car.

My guess is SoCal prices won't be $45 to pop the glass from my parts car, pop the cracked glass from my 85, and put the parts car glass into the 85. $350 gets me new Sigla glass, so more than say $100 to swap and not much point.

As long as I don't mess up the trim, I don't see the down side to trying it myself.

 

[eschoendorff]

X2 on pay to install, worth it!

The money spent is well worth not having to deal with the headache of doing it yourself.

 

[nissan_crawler]

Keep in mind that after you pop out the old window, you would also have to remove all old adhesive from it (assuming you don't break it in the process of removing it). There's a reason you don't see people taking windshields at junkyards, it's just not cost-effective.

 

[djjsr]

As long as I don't mess up the trim, I don't see the down side to trying it myself.

I agree. It's not that complicated. But I do recommend having the installation done by a pro.

 

[chappys4life]

pay someone. there is only 2 things I hate doing to a car windshields and exhaust. If you really must buy a new one from a windshield company and drop it in yourself. I have always had bad luck removing windshield to keep them.

 

[billymade]

My brother has a car lot and he gets jobber prices (wholesale) on glass/installation; it has gotten to the point that most cars are around $200-$300 for a new windshield installed! Thats why at this point he doesn't deal with the junk yard much anymore or use preowned glass. Back in the day, we would tackle all of this ourselves (remove old one, buy used at the junkyard and install ourselves) but now its just not cost effective; time, gas spent driving, and overall hassle (brain damage). Sometimes on the side glass and special non windshield pieces it get expensive and we have done some junk yard acquisition on glass but in general; he buys new and installation is included for a inexpensive solution with minimal hassle! Most windshields go in less then an hour and under two hours at the most. He does get his glass wholesale and we do live in the southwest (prices are probably cheaper, especially labor); I have lived in northern california, so I do know things are very expensive and our prices may not reflect your situation but that is where he has gotten to at this point. A little tip; allot of these windshield guys are independent contractors like mechanics and some will do side work; so if you can find someone who "knows someone" in the field they might do the install as a side job for a quick buck! They typically will come to where you are, work mobile and do the install.

 

[1320stang]

What kind of car?

 

[wrenchr]

The funnest part of removing the old windshield is kicking it out from inside the car!

 

[Danglerb]

Windshield is going into a 1985 European market Porsche 928. For two years, 85 and 86, Porsche put the antenna in the windshield, that glass is typically dealer only and about $1200 (only I have is the broken one in it). Generic glass due to a local group buy (like 100 cars) without the antenna, but premium branded Pilkington or Sigla is $350 installed.

Beware of the cheap Chinese glass that is around, its soft wavy junk.

I'll check with a couple of the local glass people, but part of it is that I hate to send the parts car to the scrapper with glass in it, but I also don't want to pay $100 to have it removed, store it and sell it later for $50. Maybe I will just live with the crack down the middle a bit. Maybe they will cut me a deal since I have the trim etc already removed?

 

[billymade]

A special German car like that is a totally different story; you should see the Saturn issues we have run into; believe it or not, DEALER ITEM ONLY! Even the independent glass places get them from Saturn! Like I said it all comes down to price; if you have a unique car like that find the most cost effective solution!

 

[Uncle Buck]

Wow, consensus to not do it. ;(

I wasn't suggesting "pulling" it out with the cherry picker, just supporting the weight as I break the seal with the wire, and once its loose lifting and swinging it out of the way. Parts car has to go to scrap within the week, so if I can't pull the window cheap it goes to scrap with the car.

My guess is SoCal prices won't be $45 to pop the glass from my parts car, pop the cracked glass from my 85, and put the parts car glass into the 85. $350 gets me new Sigla glass, so more than say $100 to swap and not much point.

As long as I don't mess up the trim, I don't see the down side to trying it myself.

I think you mis-understand, these guys are not telling you to not remove the glass, they (and I agree) are telling you to skip using the picker and get another person to help instead. Also they are saying go slow to which I also agree.

 

[StingRay]

Look into finding somebody that has one of these.

http://www.theinductor.com/

We have one on demo where I work and so far it is all it's cracked up to be.

 

[dcjredline]

Just took the broken WS out of my 89 Pontiac 6000 yesterday. ALONE with a wire like you posted a picture of. I have also done this on 2 other cars when I was younger (17 and 24) I am going to my friends JY Sunday to remove the WS out of a 90 Cutlass Ciera he has there and transport it home to reinstall into my 6K STE. I say GO FOR IT and just take your time and be CAREFUL that sounds like some RARE GLASS there.

 

[swgray]

I've removed some windshields years ago using a spray similar to 3M Release Agent #08879 (which is or going to be discontinued) Its being replaced with #08987 (aerosol) General Purpose Cleaner. I'm sure other manufacturers have similar products. Most of which might be unavailable in California.When I used it, I literally sprayed it on the butyl sealant, waited five minutes and pushed the windshield out with my hands. It was a slimy mess, but cleaned off easily. This was on some '65 Galaxies and I was alone.Check with your local glass shops, not necessarily automotive glass shops.

 

[5wndwcpe]

O/T The lumber company I used to work for had two 1965 International flatbeds. One was decent and would pass inspection but the other one was a total POS. Every year they would take the good truck though inspection, get a winshield sticker, bring it back to the yard, swap windshields with the lousy truck and take the good truck back to the inspection joint for another sticker. What an outfit.