looking for windshield for sale

[stephen]

where

[Nicholas R]

DMCH

http://store.delorean.com/c-315-8-6-0-glass-sections.aspx

[stephen]

Thanks for your guidance:flamed:

[Trstno1]

where

Safelite Autoglass also carries a windshield for our cars for about $200 cheaper. I guess it just depends on whether or not you care if your new windshield is stamped with DMC. If that doesn't much matter to you, you can save some money.....

[Josh]

Safelite Autoglass also carries a windshield for our cars for about $200 cheaper. I guess it just depends on whether or not you care if your new windshield is stamped with DMC. If that doesn't much matter to you, you can save some money.....

Has anyone ever seen this windsheild in person? It sounds like it is in the system, but doesnt actually exist.

[DMCMW Dave]

Has anyone ever seen this windsheild in person? It sounds like it is in the system, but doesnt actually exist.

I've heard this story a bunch of times and when they really go to order one it doesn't exist.

[Trstno1]

Has anyone ever seen this windsheild in person? It sounds like it is in the system, but doesnt actually exist.

So I have confirmed with Safelite that they no longer make the windshield for our cars as others have already stated. They won't even install it if I purchase one through DMC. Has anyone had issues finding someone that would be willing to install a windshield on our cars?

[Josh]

i had a gentleman install my windshield for $80. I did pull out the window and remove the urathane for him though! Call around and get an installer that is well experienced, they should be more than happy to do the install.

In my experience installing a windsheild on a delorean is the same as any other car. The only difference is making sure the roof is supported. The windshield is structual in our cars, when you take it out the roof sags a little. To remedy this, remove the shifter area to expose the fiberglass body and jack the roof up from there with a bottle jack. To determine how much jacking is necessary, remove the urethane from the window frame and dry fit the new windshield. You want to look at the area in the top middle, right in front of the t panel. Make sure this gap is closed and resultantly the whole upper portion of the window. There is some good info on the forum about windshield replacement.

no special tools needed, just some 2x4s and a bottle jack (stole it from the kit in my truck!)

[Delorean02378]

Something similar to this. Shipping on the windsheilds is not cheap. If you can find someone that lives close to a DMC vendor that's traveling your way, you could save some big bucks.

[Trstno1]

Something similar to this. Shipping on the windsheilds is not cheap. If you can find someone that lives close to a DMC vendor that's traveling your way, you could save some big bucks.

Thanks for the heads up. Unfortunately I don't know too many people heading past a DMC vendor on the way to Alaska.

[Josh]

Yeah shipping for me ended up costing more than the windshield...

[Trstno1]

Yeah shipping for me ended up costing more than the windshield...

:facepalm:

You have got to be kidding me......

[Josh]

:facepalm:

You have got to be kidding me......

Im not sure how it works for Alaska since it would have to travel thru Canada to get to you. But as soon as anything crosses the border from the US into Canada shipping skyrockets and taxes are added. I payed about 350 US shipping it to North Dakota, Drove 2.5hrs each way to pick it up (70 CAD in gas), and also payed 10% on shipping and the value of the windshield ~100 CAD to get it across the border. The windshield itself is 450 USD. So roughly adding things up it came in around $1000 CAD.

[Gfrank]

Like to jump in on this thread even tho it's a wtb post if that's ok

I just removed 2 windshields from my cars to so some work, I understand the posts get support from the windshield, but both mine are factory installed with beutal tape and one had urethane around the outside, so it can't be structural. By 81' I would have assumed them to be using urethane, when I goto re-install the window i had the intentions of using urethane as I prefer it, but then got to thinking if it's solid with urethane will body flex crack it? Perhaps that's why it wasn't used in the first place, what are people using? Thanks

[Tomcio]

[...] I understand the posts get support from the windshield, but both mine are factory installed with beutal tape and one had urethane around the outside, so it can't be structural. [...] Thanks

I feel I have to chime in as I have replaced more than one windshield in a DeLorean and I have carefully inspected the structure and mounting and function of one. I really don't see where the idea of the windshield being a structural part of the car came from. To me it's an urban myth similar to the rumor of plastic gears in the angle drive. The windshield does add some rigidity to the structure of the car but no more than any other car. The roof will not collapse nor it will sag if you remove the windshield. Both doors still work fine and supporting it puts unnecessary tension on the roof structure and the new windshield.
The only possibility where removing the windshield would cause the roof to sag is where something in the roof structure is severely cracked or broken. Even removing the metal roof sections should not affect it.
Same applies to the rear window - it is not structural but does add some rigidity to the body just like in any other car.

My car is a good example, I drove it with the windshield removed and then installed a new one without supporting or raising the roof. I've then added another about 10k miles on it without any issues. Right now the car is being assembled after a complete restoration. The windshield is fine!

Get a proper windshield urethane adhesive, cleaning solution and primer. Do it just like you would any other car and you'll be fine.

Sorry guys, but you're making things more complicated than they really are.

[Jim D]

I have a windshield out now and I can tell you that the center of the roof sags if not supported. I did not support the center when removing the old windshield. When I laid the old cracked windshield back on the cleaned out surface and there was a gap at the top center of 1/2".
I then jacked the center up to match the windshield and it appears it will be okay for the new installation. In my opinion, the windshield does support the integrity of the roof frame.

[Tomcio]

[...] When I laid the old cracked windshield back on the cleaned out surface and there was a gap at the top center of 1/2".
I then jacked the center up to match the windshield and it appears it will be okay for the new installation. In my opinion, the windshield does support the integrity of the roof frame.

Are you absolutely sure the roof itself is in good condition? Maybe that is why your old windshield cracked? On the three cars that I worked on replacing the windshield the roof did not sag at all. A design like this, where the windshield actually supports the roof would be very.... poor. It would put a lot of stress on the glass.
Try removing the black stainless molding over the windshield and carefully observe the metal section as you jack up the roof. See if it is still attached to the fiberglass. Maybe that's what causing the sagging.
I had a little accident where my car rolled out of the garage with the door open and the passenger side door hit the garage door. While the car stopped and there was no damage to the stainless I heard a loud crack. As it turned out the metal roof section has detached from the fiberglass. I have now removed all three metal roof sections, had them sand blasted and powder coated. Right now the glue is still setting. They were reattached just a couple of days ago. Hopefully my door will close right again.

Here's a picture showing the front metal roof section. Please note that it was only held in place by the two hinge bolts and a small patch of adhesive on the center section. That would definitely allow the roof to flex more than it normally would. In case you're wondering, there was enough time between the accident and the time I removed the roof for the rust to form - about 5 years.

Once the bolts were removed it came right off. No tools, no hammers, no nottin' ;) I just lifted it off the car like it wasn't attached.

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=32161&stc=1

[DMCMW Dave]

I've seen windshields installed with butyl tape and with RTV. And one that I suspect was roofing tar. Neither will hold up. The factory installation used the 1980's version of Urethane adhesive.

I agree that if the car is straight to start with, the roof box is not rusty, and you don't leave it out for a long time, the windshield can often be taken out and reinstalled without upsetting the roof structure. Lots of "ifs" there. I've also seen cars where the glass was out for a long time, and/or the roof was rusty, and with the glass out the doors wouldn't close. That's why you see different experiences noted here, at 30+ years old there are environmental differences in the cars, as well as long service history.

Be careful about generalizing based on a small sample size.

[PJ Grady Inc.]

The glass does increase the rigidity of the roof. If you remove the rear glass for instance and put the car up on a lift the roof will drop over an inch (measured at the window opening-top to bottum) with the weight off the wheels! That would indicate that the glass adds a very significant amount of rigidity to the structure.
Rob Grady

[Jim D]

I will check the roof out but the damaged windshield was due to a small hand took falling on it. There is just too much literature on this site as well as others instructing that the frame should be supported when removing and installing a windshield. Now the big question, where can I get one with reasonable shipping. Houston is $450 for the glass and another $250 to ship. I am on the Virginia coast and would even consider a used one if it were nearby.

[TTait]

I'd call Grady and see if he has any in stock - I know he's not right around the corner, but you could do the trip in one long day. Rent an suv for a day and between that and gas you'd still come out ahead - and that's before factoring in the added value of spending a few hours at his shop. Rob is a great guy - worth the trip if he has any.

[PJ Grady Inc.]

I'd call Grady and see if he has any in stock - I know he's not right around the corner, but you could do the trip in one long day. Rent an suv for a day and between that and gas you'd still come out ahead - and that's before factoring in the added value of spending a few hours at his shop. Rob is a great guy - worth the trip if he has any.
Thanks Tom. We do have windshields and Jim did call.
Rob Grady

[Jim D]

Thanks for the help, perhaps after the holidays, I'll do a "road trip". Now if a "D" windshield will just fit inside an Avalon! I can lay down the passenger seat and maybe without the packing crate, it might fit.

[PJ Grady Inc.]

Thanks for the help, perhaps after the holidays, I'll do a "road trip". Now if a "D" windshield will just fit inside an Avalon! I can lay down the passenger seat and maybe without the packing crate, it might fit.
We'll make it fit!

[Josh]

We'll make it fit!

I shipped a windshield in a delorean once... It fit perfectly. Took it out of the box and taped it over top of the existing windshield. Double pane windshield!

[PJ Grady Inc.]

I shipped a windshield in a delorean once... It fit perfectly. Took it out of the box and taped it over top of the existing windshield. Double pane windshield!

Very clever but what a mess it would have made if it flew off at 60mph!
rob

[Tomcio]

Hehe, welcome to the club ;)
I shipped my windshield just like this all the way from Florida to Poland ;) Lots and lots of duct tape to make sure it will stay on. Looked kind of funny but it worked perfectly. One thing though, I didn't drive the car.

[ALEXAKOS]

I hated the idea of shipping mine so I drove from Athens to Ed in Holland and back to make sure it won't crack. I assure you I was scared shit less every kilometer it will make a crack sound.... and when I lifted the original off the frame and saw how easily it cracked I thanked God for keeping an eye on my replacement.

Full report

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?t=11065

May I say that eds replacements seemed to be of a better improved make.