Hi guys im workin on my 91z...somebody threw a brick through the windshield... i have a 90rs parts car with a good windshield. How do i get that thing out and installed into my z without breaking it? That stuff they glue it in with is tough...how do i cut that krap? Can i use regular rtv to re-install it or do i need the "special urethane"krap to put it in? thanks guys. I do laot of work but im a windshield novice to any tips/suggestions are appreciated. (rs parts car will be parted soon...crashed in frt,good5.0tbi,tranny,rear axle,doors,glass,etc)

 

My advice, let a pro do it for you. You should NEVER use regular old RTV to put a windshield back in. A pro will have the tools to do it right and not compromise the safty of the vehicle.

 

i dont have the $150 all the morons around here want to swap it. I can do it,i just need some pointers/tips/tricks. I already have a parts car ready to donate. Ive watched glass guys around here put em in...doesent look that difficult.
mike

 

you shouldnt have to pay over 100

No tips on how to do it however make sure you use the proper factory weatherstripping that has a tab that goes underneath the glass. Some idiots put the push in type around my windshield and on a really hot day it just expanded and started popping out

 

Skydiving looks pretty simple too but, I wouldn't attempt it on my own after asking for a few tips on a messageboard

Anytime you watch someone who knows what they are doing in action... it looks fairly easy from an onlookers standpoint....

2 handles and some wire (like a guitar string or piano wire) will cut the 'krap'.. still takes a little work though.

A good portion of the time you will end up not being able to salvage a prevoiusly installed windshield due to chipping an edge during the removal process. Laminate glass, once chipped on an edge, will crack when put under pressure/strain (as these cars tend to do) . From there it will form a 'run' untill it reaches another edge. There are ways to help prevent laminate from cracking but, they don't always work.

just my opinion though...

 

Changing a live outlet looks easy too .......
your best bet is call the pros,I wouldnt take any chances wiyh the speeds I go on the freeways

 

theres several specialised tools you need to do this, and unless the windshield has been replaced before, its most likely going to break comeing out of the parts car.

 

People like you crack me up. The morons ask what they do because it cost them alot to learn what they know. I make removing a door dent look easy, but I can guarantee you that you'd muck it up. It takes alot of practice to make things look easy. Pay the money and have it done right. It'll only cost you more in the end if you try it yourself first.

 

Well im gonna do it myself anyways. I know i need a good right angled urethane cutter.. WHy should i pay when i have the part right here? comeon guys if you had not alot of cash and another part staring you in the face what would you REALLY do? Im not comparing this to popping dents...you guys are good! this is a friggin windshield for christs sake. ill let everybody know how i do ans when its good and perfect ill let ya know!
mike

 

~*~*TaKiNg BeTs~*~*

3-1 says he busts the glass taking it out of the parts car

2-1 says if he gets it to install, it will leak like a mother.

1-1 says it will look like a Michael Jacksons face when its done

 

Not to add fuel to the fire...if your windshield in your 1990 is original or it has been replaced corectly at some point, the urethane bonding the glass to the pinchweld is over 700 psi. There are lots of possible ways to remove the windshield from the donor car, but ideally you will need the correct air tools to ensure removal without breakage. Even then its no guarantee. IF the glass is original there will be some delamination around the edges which means the glass is no good anyhow. There may be rust on the pinchweld craeating pressure at the edges of the glass which makes it difficult to save. Someone may have replaced the glass previously and that opens up a whole other can of worms with possible poor installation/incorrect installation material/contaminated pinchweld, ect. A wire can work for removal as mentioned, just make sure you never contact the edge of the glass with the wire. Also use water in a squirt bottle to keep the wire cool. This will aid in the cutting of the urethane as well it will keep the urethane from getting too hot and smoking. The smoke contains more than a few carcinogens. Do not breathe it in. If you get the glass out in one piece remember to strip the urethane entirely from the windshield. Also when cutting urethane from the pinchweld, remove all but 1/16" if there is no rust and IF the bond is secure to the pinchweld. If the urethane is seperating from the pinchweld, then you must remove it all down to metal. Once to metal you must use the correct rust inhibiting primer to promote a proper bond from the urethane to the pincweld. Make sure ALL rust is removed as well. Also ensure an adequate primer is used to re-activate the existing urethane on the glass. Use a full cut method on the pinchweld and use a urethane adhesive with a minimum 1200 psi lap shear and 700 psi tensile strength. This will properly retain the windshield to the body of the vehicle. The vehicle was designed with these specs in mind. If you fail to meet these criteria in the unfortunate event you are in a front impact, side impact, roll over, ect, your body structure will be comprimised possibly resulting in a serious injury/death to you or your passengers. I could write a book with the hypotheticals on your windshield, but without seeing what you have to work with its impossible to give correct advice. Once again, at least let someone in this field install the glass. I have no doubt you can put a windshield into an opening, but I also know you can not do it corectly. We can all operate a can of spray paint but we all don't paint our cars with a rattle can....

 

I've replaced windshields at work. And even with the training, access to the tools, adhesive primers and adhesive, I still wouldn't change my own windshield in my car. If I crack a windshield at work I just go grab another one. If I broke one for my car I would have to buy another one $$$. If I pay someone to replace it and they crack the new one, they have to pay for a new piece of glass.

 

If you still want to try this.Here is a "how to" from the factory service manual.

 

Page 2.Sorry for the pic.If you want i can email them to you.My scanner makes them TOO big for this post.

 

now there we go. thanks to the last 2 guys that had enough ***** so give me some real advise i can use. Thanks alot guys you answered all the questions i had. I have access to the urethane,etc through my works body shop,so im gonna go for it, either this weekend or sometime next week. The care im taking the windshield out of is going to the junkpile anyways,so worst case ill cut the metal off around the windshield and strip the remaining metal off the windshield carefully on the bench. If anybody else can actually think of anything else i need to know,BECIDES " DONT DO IT YOURSELF MONEY IS NO OBJECT,HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE THAT YOU DONT KNOW PUT IT IN" then hit me whit it yo. thanks guys(those who have actually helped me out with some tips)
mike

 

Good luck on doing this. I have done a few at work and I would rather call someone to. But if u use wire its going to take u hours. The air tools for cutting the glass out allways mess up the paint. They make a knife that has a 90 degree angle. on the handle theres a strap that u pull on. this cuts the urethane.Withoutmessing up the paint.Than get all loose urethane off prime with the primmer for glass.Than lay a triangular bead about 3/4 inch high. Set new window in tape good to go. Just take your time and don't get pissed off.

 

That 90 degree knife is great! The wire method can take 2 people to get to the middle section successfully.

When you get to the primer and urethane, use gloves and old clothes. If you get it on your clothes it won't come out, and it takes several days to get it off skin.

Like Jay said...If you get frustrated stop for a while and go back at it when you calm down. If the old urethane was put on unevenly you'll have a harder time cutting through the thinner areas, harder to get the knife or wire through.

Good luck!

edit: hmmm...you doing this outside? I don't know your situation but...It's a lot easier to cut the windshield out in warm weather or a heated shop/garage. At work we always let them sit inside overnight first, when it is cold out. Much easier to cut.

 

As ADVICE, let me restate how easy it is to ruin laminate glass even if you're being as careful as you can.
I've been working with flat panel laminate glass for a long time and I've f'd up a many pieces of flat panel glass just reglazing half glass kits in mandoors.

If you find a chipped edge on the glass.. you can smoothe it out with a stone (and I don't mean a rock) or some 220+grit sand paper, this will lessen the chance of causing a run in th glass but, won't completely prevent it.

I caused a chip/run to start on my bird just by putting the 'molding' back on after painting around the windshield.

 

hell no im not working outsaide in this weather...ive got a new 2+12 car heated garage lol. thanks for the advice guys. I got my knife and practiced cutting the urethane on my car(with the broken 'shield' ) and i see what everybody means. If the blade gets the least bit dull it will not cut. I dont have a problem taking my time here.ill keep at it till i get the opening clean and level cut,then this weekend ill tackle getting the other glass out and into my car. btw i wound up buying a straight tool that uses a regular angled razor blade from matco...(works pretty good!)I like it because unlike the right angled tool when you break this blade off its no biggie ...just grab another blade outta the handle put it in and its right back to work. Ill let ya guys know how i do.

 

i took it to the glass shop down the street- and they put a new one in for 150$ that day- well worth it, and you never realize how many imperfections your windshield has untill your car has new glass in it. not to discourage you but i would even take it to a shop, that is the only time ive ever paid somone to work on any of my cars. just my .02 cents

 

cool im glad that worked for ya. Here everbody wants to rape ya for one,and im one of those guys that doesent mind spending a few days on and off if it saves me $200,so thats what im gona do.Its a luxury of having a big garage i guess...kinda do it at your own pace if you want. Id just rather spend a few hours time and $30 for materials than spend $200+ for some ******** to come hack one in. Plus ill know its set in right and sealed good if i do it... half the time at work when they have somebody come put one it it always leaks or cracks ,so screw it im gonna try it myself.Theres something gratifying about doing stuff yourself. then you can look at it and tell yourself" i did that". I dont do trans work for other people : thats supposed to be up to the prostoo but i did it myself saved about $900 and it works fine. That was also thanks to a few people who decided to answer my questions back then and i thank them. Thanks again to all yall who have decided to help me out here with this windshield thing.
mike

 

"... some ******** to come hack one in."

Guess what you're doing.

 

Im gonna install one. You know what dude,if you dont have anything to say to answer my question then SHUT UP! I didnt ask for opinions on why i should get raped having a "pro" do it,i asked for pointers. When im all done with no cracks and no leaks+all done for about$30 ill let you know. Were not all made out of money here...mabye youve got $200 to blow but i dont.

 

I say go for it, if is only costing you $30. You can see it as a lerning exp. I did it once to a little Escort I had while in college, without nobodys help & it came out perfect. I would sugest you go to a place where they do this & look at them install one. Look at the amount of glue they use thats really important, if you put to mush it will come out & make a mess, & if you use to little it will probably leak inside. You want to get the new glass in the right position in the first trie because you get no second chance so get some one to help you for this part & go really slow, you might want to practice a couple of times without the glue. Afther the old glass is out make shure to get the most of the old glue out & clean the area real good before you applie the new glue use soap & alcohol same with the new glass. the hardest part is to get the glass out without damaging it so may the force be with you.

 

im really just curious if you can get the glass out of the donor car in one piece. You better let us know if this doesnt work out! not raggin on ya but i want an update for better or for worse

 

Hey! Watch the attitude. You asked for tips, hints, suggustions didnt you? Then dont act like an a$$ if someone doesnt agree with you. I'm about to have one put in as well (for $75 bucks AND they come to the house). Which is more important... your safety or your checking account??? If you do it yourself I wish you luck, but maybe you shouldnt be so opposed to the idea. If this isnt your daily driver, or its not cracked real bad, then maybe you could wait till you have the extra money. Or try it, break it then spend 2 or 3 times what you thought you would.

 

I gave you advice as others have. A windshield isn't something to be hack in. Also, you can take your own advice of shutting up since I did answer a question. You asked if you could use regular RTV sealant and I said no If I bother you so much, you could always put me on your ignore list.

 

SORRY TO ALL I PISSED OFF WITH THAT STATEMENT,BUT ITS VERY AGGRIVATING....ASK FOR HELP AND GET A BUNCH OF KRAP...Thanks again to all those who have decided to help me out here. Ill let yall know how i do monday. Well as to the question about whats more important my checking acct or my health...if i had $200 to blow dont you think i would have gone that route already??? all the glass places here know they have you by the short hairs,and rape you accordingly! When your strapped for cash and have a good used part staring you in the face the only logical solution is to do it myself. Any of you guys saying only a pro should do it.... ill let that happen....if its so important for a pro to do it then pay one and send them over!!!! cant do that? then get off that option please-its not a option for me otherwise because frankly,im poor lately. Keep the tips coming guys, (as of today ive got all the urethane cut out nice...used about 6 blades to get it all...like i said before its amazing..the blade gets one nick in it and it will not cut the damn urethane....thats good stuff!)
mike

 

You asked for tips or suggestions!! Go ahead and be a ******** hack and do this yourself. The majority gave the suggestion that installing a windshield is not something that just anybody should attempt. I do alot of work myself also, but the windshield is a major safety item and can prove dangerous if not done correctly. In the future, if you can't handle the suggestions given, don't ask for them. BTW, let us know if you were able to remove it without breaking it. Then let us know when it does break, leak or need replacing by a professional hack!!

 

mikeage, i support ya. I watched them install mine a couple years ago, it took a max of 2 minutes to do. And yes and looked easy enough that i would install my own if it cracked again. Afterall, the only way to become skilled at something is with practice. You cant learn how to do something if you always take it to a pro. With that be said, do it yourself but just be carefull.

My biggest advice would be to sand and remove any surface rust before you lay the glue on top of it. The pros glued right over the surface rust on mine and it started to leak a couple months later. This is another reason to do it yourself because you can never trust someone else doing work on your car.

Also, dont drive the car for a day after the install. Supposedly the wind against the windshield at high speed could press in the glue when not fully dried.

Good luck

 

Thanks! I know i totally agree with you. Lucky for me,my windshield posts are perfect-absolutley no rust at all...(whoohoo!) The way the window guys work around here i think im better off doing it myself. Also,like you said, how are you going to know or get good at doing something if you never do anything yourself and "trust it to the pros" --- most here at least are the same "pros" who hacked your windshield in and glued over rust. In my case, i have that fear,plus im poor. Thanks for the support man!

mike

 

I dont get why its so hard. The guys who put it in arent exactly rocket scientists. So isnt there something that you could just read on how to do it properly?

 

EXACTLY!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!
mike

 

how did it go?

 

He broke it and the car is at the glass shop

 

NO,actually the glass is out and i havent had a extra pair of hands over here yet to help me set it in my car. I got it out in one piece,anthough i have to admit it took me a long time...if i didnt care about breaking it i coulda had it out in no time, but i spent several hours cutting and cutting that urethane(one nick in the blade and it quits cutting that urethane) but i finally liberated it from its old home. I used a blade from matco that cuts from the inside...therefore greatly reducing the risk of chipping the glass like i could have if i used the old school right angle cutter from the outside. if i get time this weekend and a helper ill put it in if not itll be another week. Time isnt a issue for me. im going to wind up with this all done for really cheap so time doesent matter to me. Plus its still krappy here and i wouldnt be driving it in this weather anyways. thanks again to all thatve helped me out here,i appreciate it.
mike

 

just goes to show you gotta start somehwere. i hope you pull it off man.

 

I concur... I took a propane torch to my windshield just trying to get it off. I was unsuccessful. 15 minutes later some guy I hired came by iwth a metal string, and basically had it off in 5 minutes. I then realized, these people are paid to do this for a reason.

 

A lot of people have been saing "not to compromise the safty of the vehicle." & Im still traing to figure out what the hell you guys mean buy that, as long as he uses the right stuff to glue the glass back the only thing that can hapen is that it leaks, or that it will eventually crack again. & is not like his is not cracked allready. You people talk about this like if he was replacing the frames of the car. Because in case of an accident everybody knows that the windshield is the most important part for safety! Or maby is that if he goes more that 60mph and there is a air leak the glass will be sent flyng away & crash into the guy driving bejind him. Is not like he is planing on using scotch tape to install the windshild... Are you Mike?

 

I doubt highly that Mike can achieve 700 psi tensile strength on his urehtane bond. And for that reason alone its better to pay somebody who actually CARES. People repair their own vehicles all the time. How do we determine if the repair is successful??? I stay out of posts like this for the most part but some people need to give their head a shake. Do you know it takes the force of 9000psi to start to collapse the windshield pinchweld area when the windshield is installed properly?? Probably not, nor do most people care. Do you know it takes less than 100 psi to start to collapse and fatigue that same area when no glass is present??? I can tell you that the manufacturers of vehicles are painfully aware. So are the laywers that goto salvage yards to retreive serial numbers from total loss vehicles where the windshiled has been installed imporperly causing the vehicle to collaspe in ways it was not designed. Do all places do the same repair on an equal level??? Of corse not. Does this mean that everybody should start replacing their own windshield.....I don't think so. Check out some of the newer vehicles. Passenger airbags on certian models will not even get to the passenger to save a life if the glass isn't installed correctly. THe bag will deploy from the dash to the glass. The glass actually delfects the bag while it deploys to redirect it to the passenger compartment. Now if Mike had put a glass in this type of car do you think he would feel good putting his wife/gf/kid/significant other in that passenger seat each day knowing he might have saved 30 bucks??? Or ask the countless people that have totalled a third gen in a roll over or a hard front ipmact?? Do you think they might thank guys that install windshields correctly that the cabin portion of their vehicle withstood the impact so that they could WALK away after the accident??? The windshield does more than just keep bugs out of your teeth. Yes its not rocket science and sure anyone can tackle the job but don't kid yourself that they aren't ignorantly putting themselves or others potentially at risk..... FLAME AWAY

 

Razor I totaly agree with u. I have gone to tons of I-car class and other cless like that. What u are saying is right all the way. But i have never seem a glass guys testing the tensile strength.Everyone i have seen doing one they just lays down about a inch bead of urethane and set the glass in. And leave so really u don't know if they are doing it right.

 

The testing of a products tensile strength will be conducted in research and development of the product. Its only one of the important criteria that the product must posess. The critical part is ensuring the proper steps were taken on the installation process to ensure that this strength is obtained. If you are not educated properly on how to achieve this then ultimately all you are doing is installing it and walking away, just hoping you did it correctly. Thats why I wish there were certian industry standards and routine testing to ensure that more installers were qualified. Ah well a few more huge lawsuits and maybe the industry as a whole will smarten up.

 

guys its all done, i cleaned off everything good,laid a nice bead of good urethane(after cleaning+etc),had my dad help me set it in,theres no air or water leaks. boy once that thing stuck its stuck for good .so if anybody tries do to this i recomend doing what i did and practice settin it in a few times. Im about to roll the damn car over just to prove my point that a average joe can get it done just as good if not better than the glass guys around here,and itll be just as strong. I bought some urethane under the table right directly from the glass guys that do all our windows at work700psi++++ strength. its in good,no leaks, come try to get it out,i bet you wont. My *** its not like i cut the car in half and screwed and glued it back togther. My car is a t-top car,and if i roll it im probhbly going to get decapitated anyways . I feel safe, my kids,family are all gonna ride in it and im not going to lose any sleep because i know it was done right,because I DID IT. thannks one last time to all that've helped,and if you wanmna try one yourself give me a hollar.
mike

 

Wow, some big words there Razor, put the dictionary away.

But all jokes aside all o that you said there souns real smart but you really think the guy installing the windshields for $10.00 an hour gives a rats *** about tensile strength on your winshield? or de they eaven test for this? No!
Look we could argue this for a long time but the truth is that the "profesional" that will do the job learned the same way you will if you do it yourself. (he looked at someone do it, then he went ahead & tried it.) Hell & he dosnt care about your car. When you go anyware & pay people to work in your car you are taking a chance you might get a good experienced mechanic or you might get the crappy one, plus none of them give a crap about detail.

There is no mathematical formula where you add X +Y to get the exact PSI for the job.

 

Congratulatinons Mike!

 

Incase you couldn't tell thats exactly what I do for a living. And you had better bet your bottom dollar that the guys that collect a paycheck in my shop have enough education on this matter to actually understand why they care. I am honestly sorry if vocabulary intimidates you, my 10 dollar per hour education must be shining through again. As for your attempt at a "formula" I am not sure there X and Y were ever assigned a value in this topic but there are certian minimum criteria that must be met. Again I don't expect you to jump on ship just becasue I said so, I just made an honest attempt to educate based on fact. I can respect your thoughts and ideas, but you base nothing you have posted on fact just personal opinion. Opinion is great but its not helpful when its based so far from truth. You can stick to spin doctoring and I will stick to my glass shop....

 

razor, go ahead and do it your way. Im glad youre a pro. Im glad you guys do a good job. However, you have to be completly inept to think everyone in your industry does a job by the "iso 9000" or "i-car" standard . 99% of the glass hacks here are exactly that. I did it myself,and i trust my work,not somebody elses. Its just the way i am. I know its right, because i did it. Its not like an atack on you, like i said im sure you do good work. I have to agree with alex. Most of the guys gettng 10 bucks a hour to slam windshields in dont give a shiaaat about tensile strength ,proper bond, or seal. I have witnessed this personally....when we have windshields put in at work,half leak either air or water or both. Then i have to go back in and try to cram more sealer in there to make it quit leaking. This is why i decided to do it myself,and im glad i did. I know how to do basically everything on cars now becides paint. Thats next up on my list of stuff to do. I bet alot of people are going to tell me a "pro" should do that too. And,you know what,man the "pros "at maaco will totally "pimp my ride" using professional gallons of body filler and professional fiberglass mat. LOL

 

Painting a vehicle is just a little different than puting in a windshield. I did all the body work and paint on mine but also took a class on how to do it.

 

I am not loking for a pat on the head like you are. Am I inept to think that because Alexcoqui congratulated you on doing the same thing you fear from a "hack" that its all okay Well if it makes you feel better being naive then come on over and I will pat ya on the head. Congratulations I never once said everyone in this industry was knowledgeable in this regard, but rather the OPPOSITE. You really need to read a little closer and try to take some stuff in instead of being so negative and headstong. Relax I am not trying to push religion or politics down your throat, just trying to educate you a bit. I hope atleast you are a bit smarter for it. Stepping off soapbox now.......

 

superduper,okiedokie. im done with this post,this is my last. My advise after everythings all said and done, you CAN do it yourself guys. Take your time,cut the urethane evenly,make sure everyythings clean, lay a nice bead down,and set the glass in. dont drive the car for a day after or slam the door with the window up for a day. DONE. ITs easy just have patience and take your time. the urethane is a little tough to cut and work with. If you have $ and dont care having somebody else work on your car thats cool,its your car. BUt if your like me and dont trust other peoples work,and/or your poor like me,then you can do a great job yourself. im out!
mikey