PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA
Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: Henrius on February 18, 2014, 02:21:14 PM
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Hey,
My body shop wants to remove my 1973 windshield to do a good job painting the dash. The surround rubber is in pretty good shape, as the car has been garaged most of its life.
1. What new parts are needed to reinstall the windshield? I a new windshield rubber molding available?
2. The windshield has some small scratches on it. If I decide to replace it, are they available aftermarket new?
Thanks!
Kim Henry
henrius@mindspring.com
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The rubber seal is being made by Steele Rubber, http://www.steelerubber.com/search?year=1977&make=ford&model=pinto&style=2-door-sedan#windshield-gasket-70-3171-50 (http://www.steelerubber.com/search?year=1977&make=ford&model=pinto&)
I used it on my CW and it fit perfectly. Do not try to remove the windshield without cutting the gasket. It can be done but the risk of cracking the windshield is WAY to great.
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Thank you so much for this answer! Steele is so handy, but I did not think to check with them first.
Do you happen to know if replacement windshields are available, if I decide to replace it?
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No new glass that I know of just either nos or used! Have a good windshield from a 73 wagon for sale if looking!
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No way would I compromise a windshield that is not cracked or leaking. Especially on one of these where you cannot instantly call up a new shield. You mask off or remove the dash. You only touch sealed glass like front or rear when forced to, there are too many potential other issues when you mess with it.
Everything in the universe goes from a state of higher order to a state of lower order......... ..........that goes double for windshields.
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"No new glass that I know of just either nos or used!"
Good to know. I have been contemplating picking one up at Pick Your Part for some time. Then, about two trips ago I just pulled one. $20 out the door at the 50% off sale. Come to think of it, I haven't seen a Pinto since.
I went through a nightmare looking for a windshield for my '64 Sudebaker Daytona. After an year and a half of looking I has to settle for bull's-eyed glass and a bunch of scratches. It was 400 miles from home and cost me $100. But, you have to take what you can get.
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I had the yard guys pull two at $75 apiece that had the tar rope on them, needless to say they both cracked in like the next week. Luckily I found one of the rubber mounted ones and pulled it myself and that one has been in mine for ten years now.
It is almost impossible for you to get a good shield that has been pulled by using the commonly used two man wire tool that they run along edge of glass. The glass gets miniscule chips that later turn to stress risers that crack as soon as it gets hot or cold. Every glass man will secretly tell you that. Almost any glass pulled that way will crack in less than a year. Even the rubber seal needs to be cut in such a way that the blade used never puts any stress against the glass.
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I had a chip repaired last year on my wagon because it's a nice clear windshield & the company that repaired it said they can get new windshields for Pinto's & it was $230 installed. Call around.
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I would firmly be willing to bet they are not new at all, rather used. The $230 price confirms it, no one sells new shields for that low anymore. That is a used part pricing structure there. Everyone here says the same thing for older cars but not true at all. Once the cars are old enough there is no one making glass for them; the cost of a few units is too cost prohibitive.
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One of my other "glass finds" was a windshield for my '61 Corvair station wagon. The wagon glass is 2" taller than the sedans and very hard to find. I was in a yard in Fresno and saw a Corvair off in the distance, as I got closer I determined it was a wagon and as I got closer yet - it wasn't cracked!
I had to put it on the floor in front of the back seat. My kids (2 and 4 at the time) had their feet dangling over it the whole journey. When I got to my brothers he mentioned that my nephew was coming by. And, sure enough when I returned to So. Cal. from vacation the windshield was in my living room - unbroken. You can't ask for more than that. :-)
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You can still get new windshields for pintos from safe lite glass company. they are still making them for different years. They brung one out when I was replacing my windshield and gasket for my 77 pinto wagon but I bought the gasket from steel rubber in Charlotte NC
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A year and a half ago safe lite couldn't find one for my 78. A few months prior to that they said they could but I decided to save up some money and wait. I don't think they were making them, they just had new ones in a warehouse somewhere in California I think, but those must have run out. I ended up getting one from another member, not new but much safe than my old one.