'72 New windshield glass lessons

[steffan]

Pretty sure there have been other threads on this but just wanted to share my experience in trying to replace the old windshield.
I first made a template out of cardboard of the old, cracked windshield. Made a bunch of calls to local glass places finding out that most didn't want to deal with it/ could only replace off the shelf glass. I finely found a place that said they could do it: $240 later this is what I got. The size was pretty much spot on but I was a little put off on the quality of the cuts. They said that's as good as it would ever get... not having ever had a windshield cut, I had to take them at their word.
here are the dimensions of the old/ new glass and the gasket

 

[steffan]

some more pics of the 'quality' of cuts and edges... pretty crude and disappointed but figured it was the correct size and all would be hidden anyway. that being said, the biggest disappointment came upon placing the glass in the frame: it was way too small... literally dropped into the frame.
All the glass for the sides and hatch were about 1/8" larger than the opening of the frame. The windshield glass was about 1/4" smaller than the opening.
I knew the glass was in placed at once time because I had taken it out of the vehicle. Unfortunately, that was so long ago and the gasket in such poor condition, I no longer had a reference for replacement. I called a few well known weatherstrip companies to find a suitable fit. Steele Rubber has a catalog of thousands and discussing it with their service department, they sent me some samples that were as close as they could determine. Nothing was a real good fit.

 

[steffan]

I bit the bullet and decided to have a new, larger windshield cut. Made a template of the frame itself, the pinch weld and the size I thought was appropriate based on the gasket

 

[steffan]

after another hour on the phone, found a different glass shop - what a difference in workmanship: nice rounded, radius corners, smooth sanded edges - just what I thought it should look like. $260 later and another windshield

 

[steffan]

the new dimensions and compared to the old glass size

 

[knuckle47]

@steffan have you installed this new windshield ? I have mine in the garage from Cruiser Corp sitting there for about 18 months…not yet getting the urge to change it. The original has 2 stone chips. One is at eye level that can make you a little on edge? The other at the passenger side

 

[steffan]

Yes, new on is installed- went in great