Where is the best place to get a replacement windshield for 89 Firebird? Mine is quite pitted from life and I cracked it by accident trying to get the review mirror to stick (long story, but lesson learned scratching the glass to get the glue to hold better isn't a good idea)

Best to cut one from the junkyard (assuming you could get it out without cracking it) or buy from glass company, if from glass company is one better than the other or are they all made by the same factory?

 

Just have a glass company put it in. I got a quote Monday for a windshield installed, tinted, Pilkington for $225. And if you need a new seal that goes around it, Camaro Central has the correct one. Otherwise the glass company may put in a overly wide one, which doesn't look right.

 

Don't buy used unless you absolutely have to have a correct date coded windshield. It's going to be in about the same if not worse condition than the one you're replacing. Also, chances of getting a used one out of a car without breaking it are slim. You'll basically be at the mercy of whatever brand whatever company is using for replacements, but it won't be LOF like your factory one. I've had good luck with Safelite in the past, they price match anyone, and come out to you to do it, which is nice.

https://www.safelite.com/

 

^^^^^^ Yep. My quote was from Safelite here in H'ville

 

Last one I had done, I picked up the phone book and called a few places. Like a lot of things, many of the windshield places figure they're being paid by insurance, so their prices can be a bit inflated. If insurance isn't paying any part of the bill, explain that and ask around for the best deal. There was about $200 difference between the high and low quotes I got in a few phone calls. I went with a guy somewhere in the middle that seemed the least sketchy, he came out, cleaned out the old windshield and put in a new one, good as new.

 

Thanks, I'll probably get it done when I do a new paint, friend that owns a body shop just told me he can do it. My car is well beyond worring over stock date codes... The ls1/t56 threw out any chance of it being a numbers matching collectors car

My dumb mistake... Oh well 214k miles on the windshield it shows it's age.

 

I forget what governing body is over windshields but as long as it is whatever certified then any of them will be safe for road use. My experience has been that the OEM windshields are the best. I had one replacement windshield crack on me just before installation and another replacement that my wedding ring put a scratch in about 1" long while I was cleaning it. So the replacements must be of a different material. The OEM ones at 25 years old, I would still prefer it over a new one. Just put a tint strip over the top so you don't see that faded purple factory tint strip.