Surely I'm not the first to attempt this, but I can't find anything here on the search.
I just noticed the plastic on one side of my spoiler mounted third brake light is busted off. Instead of replacing it, I would like to just eliminate it for a nice clean look, and install a factory inside hatch mounted third brake light.
Wiring is easy of course, but it looks like I would have to drill a couple mounting holes in the hatch glass. I know there are special bits for drilling glass, that's no problem, but I've never drilled in auto glass. I know oil tempered glass will damn near explode when struck with the right condition, lol! Assuming the rear hatch is oil tempered.

Has anybody tried this? any recommendations. I don't want to buy a rear hatch with factory holes, unless I could come by one pretty cheap

 

No you can't. I've worked with a lot of tempered glass installing storefronts and curtain wall. We would destroy pieces that were cut wrong sometimes. The stuff is to say the least, temperamental (forgive the pun). We could hit it with a hammer and take huge chips out of them without them shattering, then sometimes you could just bump it wrong and it would explode. My advice, fix what you have or get the right hatch glass for what you want to do.

 

look on Craigslist, hatches are cheap. Took me a year to give mine away for free.

 

The 90-92 internal high mount stop light is attached to the inside of the glass with adhesive. There is NO NEED to drill thru the glass to install it. I've got all the parts needed so If your serious about converting your 3rd Brake light just send me a PM for more info.

** The 86 EXTERNAL 3rd brake light DOES require 2 holes thru the glass,... That hatch glass design was only used in 86.

 

.............

 

joe tag, thanks for reply. I kinda was figuring as much, lol! My rear glass is in really shape, it'd be a bummer to bust it.

two by the sea, I see what you mean with craigslist. Theres one here local that's been on there forever.

John in RI, thank you for the info! I knew that about the 86's, but had no idea the inside mounted ones where not drilled through.
I am definetly interested in converting if I don't need to change out my glass. I was already looking on ebay and found some with the light fixture and trim piece that looks to mount to the headliner piece?
I'll send you a pm. Thank you!

 

 

maybe they are cheap but Im pretty sure I havent seen anyone making new glass for these cars.Outside US if you break any window on these cars you are f***** with or without insurance.

p.s.next time when you give away third gen stuffs send them too me...they are a fortune here and impossible to find lol

 

I'm never amazed by the cheapness of members on this board

 

my chair has more humor than you.Also if my chair could read would probably get that was a joke.

btw I paid for a broken left window 670euros ...thats more than 700$...so yea ,that sure is cheapness.

 

I'm surprised theres not a aftermarket back glass out there for our cars? I guess they don't get replaced as much as one might think. louvers on a lot of cars probably help protect from hail I suppose

 

There is just not a demand for new glass. Yet. The glass needs no protecting from hail. It's tough. For a year or so, the kids used an old hatch I had laying around as a ramp for their ATV's, with a few 2x4's up around where the hinge holes are. Never broke. The glass is tough. I've heard stories or people breaking glass with speaker volume and such, but never seen it first hand.

 

What will GM dealers do if someone goes with the car and asks for a rear glass or windshield?I dont think they can go look in the scrapyard ,there must be a official way to get those parts.

 

After 10 years they are no longer obligated to manufacture replacement parts. They will tell you to find one in junkyard.

 

oh i had no idea it works that way.Ive seen they still replace other parts if needed.

Here's a guy with a Volvo from the 60s who had over 3 millions miles on the car and had everything fixed overtime at the Volvo dealer.

 

holy moly! breaking it with speaker volume?
Somebody do it and put it on youtube, lol!

hey in the meantime, I pm'd john in ri for pics and price, but in case I end up not going for the switch...
I attached a pic of the broken part. I searched ebay with "firebird third brake light" for one to see what they may be going for, but can't find one.

What would one of these go for? I assume I could probably find one in the "wtb" section.

 

As was said, the rear glass is very tough. It has to be, it's basically the entire hatch. One of my cars was blasted with baseball-sized hail, and a lot of it. All the glass held up just fine including the t-tops too which are thinner. My previously mint condition hood louvers though did not fair so well.

 

GM Partsdirect is listing the Hatch Glass as available,http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/

Search Results of Available Items
*Prices are Per Unit

Set results per page:
Page 1: 1-1 of 1 items

20608721 - WINDOW

GM PART # 20608721
CATEGORY: All
PACK QTY: 1
CORE CHARGE: $0.00



List Price: $2,297.19
Price: $1,461.01
You Save: $836.18 (36%)
DESCRIPTION: WINDOW
This is for the one that has the rear defrost.

 

If that's all you need check this thread out, if interested shoot me a PM......

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/exte...o-spoiler.html


I wanted to add one on my glass, what I found is there's a black plastic mounting bracket that's bonded to the glass. A trip to my local dealer yielded part # 16512301 for that bracket, they plugged it into their system and found no dealer in the US had one left in stock......

 

hmm... bonded to the glass.
well, I still haven't heard back from John in RI yet, so I'll take the white plastic piece. I'll pm you in a bit. I'm at work

 

Yes, it would be my guess they used the same bonding agent they use on the rear view mirrors......

 

$1450. wowsa!

 

It cost $1482.00 when this disk was printed(I think it was printed in 1992)

 

I have a complete unit that a saved from a car with a shattered rear glass, IIRC, it was just held on with a heavy duty double-sided tape. I suppose that could be called "bonded".

 

I have one coming from john in ri, but I do appreciate the offer.

also went ahead and bought a replacement piece from restrorob in case the inside brake light ends up not working out for some reason. So if it does work out, I guess I'll turn around and put the spoiler brake light up for sale, lol
and I guess if it does work out, I can just body work the area on the wing where the light was, to make it flush. My spoiler needs to repainted anyway. The paint is flaking off the edge of the very rear side.

I just finished converting to the gta tail lights, so I now its just a gta hood and wheels and I am done with exterior mods

 

that would be enough to make one debate converting to a notch back, or one of them camper shell looking things if the glass became scarce.
or not, lol! I couldn't believe there was such a thing for these cars when I saw them

 

so you say a new one made by GM or whoever makes them costs more (adding up the inflation and everything) ? Damn...

The rear window is really weak point in these cars ,though its not the first car with that weaknees...there are lots of new cars with that problem.One hit from the back with a taller car and the first that that goes away is the glass..I don't like the notchback because it makes the inside too dark and small but I'd change to something that doesnt shatter when is hit.I read once that you can buy a lexan/plastic rear windows for these cars like the T-Top ...probably those would survive and should cost less.

Still over 1400$ in 92 ...just wow.Wonder how much is a windshield now

EDIT: Notchback part # 10070763 @ $2144 ....well atleast thats not easy to break.

 

Windshield will always be reproduced, they break often. New windshield installed last year with trim $180. Wasn't GM trim, was a little wider. But it seals better and looks good. You being outside the US, I would expect to pay 2-3x that.