Junkyard windshield

[Matthew Jeschke]

My windshield is getting bad. It has a bigger crack in it now. Sooner or later it will need replaced. I asked the junkyard for the heck of it last time I was there what they wanted for the glass. They said they'd sell me a windshield for $40! I've done every solitary thing on my truck so far... I may try and do this too.

However, I'm not 100% sure what years are compatible with no issues. I assume all GMT800 NBS trucks? 2000 to 2006?

 

[OR VietVet]

I would not assume with a w/s. Any slight difference can cause big problems during install that could lead to glass everywhere. I have watched glass installs. Most of the time, a better experience happens when the rubber seal is new and of course, prep is important and the sealer is too. I have never rebuilt a diff but would try it. I have never done a w/s and would never try it. Good luck.

 

[blueinkd]

Good luck. This seems like a repair that would be better left to a experience glass man. A new one is about $150 around here.

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

If anybody has installed glass before knows part number compatibility let me know. I cannot seem to find a catalogue to show what years have the same windshield.

 

[mountie]

If anybody has installed glass before knows part number compatibility let me know. I cannot seem to find a catalogue to show what years have the same windshield.

Take a look at the driver's lower - corner windshield. Read the info ( Pinkerton ? ) Maybe a number also?
Honestly, compare the labor to prep-install a used glass versus a new/ installed.... I'd go with a new. To be safe. And a CLEAN view.

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

Thanks for the tip. I'll take a look.

 

[Doubeleive]

if you are going to pull one good luck, from what I have heard they tend to break easily and you need a piece of piano wire to cut it out. Probably will need or want a couple of glass suction cup tools to both pull it and put it on.
I attempted it once or twice many years ago, did not have the proper wire and couldn't get a tool in edgewise so you may want to research how it is done with success.

I could see trying to do it if the glass was $500 or something ridiculous but between time and effort and tools and sealant, $150 to have a shop do it is a easy alternate choice

 

[mountie]

#1 : Buy a wrist rocket.
#2 : Pick up a 1" stone.
#3 : Make sure the ricochet is in a safe area.
#4 : Contact your insurance company.
#4 : DON'T tell anyone !!!

 

[Fless]

Windshields crack much more easily from an inside impact ....

 

[mountie]

Windshields crack much more easily from an inside impact ....

I noticed that in a Godfather Movie.....

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

I'll ask the glass company I do business with at work about a windshield although last two I bought were $300+ unless I got a cheaper glass which was under $200. It's my understanding that factory glass is some of the best?

I've been studying up on it, the hardness part so far looks to be removing the windshield w/o breaking it. I don't think the junkyard is terribly worried if I break it, as my guess is they virtually never sell windshields... although I asked them if they'd take it out for me. They said no.

Seems way to go is the piano wire as mentioned or high test fishing line but people are saying takes 5+ hrs to get through all the glue. If that's the case it maybe unfeasible as it's so damn hot here, I'd probably die before I got the windshield out haha Plus I have to find a friend to help me lift it off and carry it to my truck in which case I'd not want to subject them to that.

Much of my truck is learning. A windshield is one process I've never done. It wasn't uncommon to hear folks saying they'd prefer not to try some of the projects I've taken on. Most everything I've done I'd do again w/ a few small exceptions. Breaking bead on a tire and removing it, managed to bust a rim. Headliner I saved $10 doing it myself, and not pleased with my results. Otherwise, transmission build, rebuilt my own cluster, built a dash core (need to install), rebuilt my radio / head unit, rebuilt power steering gearbox, engine... Studied up on building a diff, have yet to do that but have tore the front and rear diffs down, rebuilt all except carrier, pinion, and associated bearings. Been looking for a semi float 14 bolt to play with. Anyways.... I'm a glutton for punishment haha

 

[Mean_Green]

Check with your auto insurance company. Many will cover windshields under Comprehensive with no deductable, regardless of reason for damage.

Looks like Arizona is one of the places:

Insurer won't pay for a new windshield? State law requires they offer that option

So you're driving along and suddenly hear... pop! A rock or other debris hits your windshield. It leads to a crack and you need a replacement. Will your insurer pay?

www.abc15.com

 

[Larryjb]

Of all the things I like to learn (including doing a rear main seal), replacing a windshield wouldn't be one of them. Go for a drive behind a dump truck on a gravel road, then take the nearest exit to the auto insurance.

 

[tom3]

Get a windshield removal wire at NAPA. About 15 ft long and has a ridged outer finish that cuts the glue. And a hot scraper/putty knife will sometimes work too. Still a pain though.

 

[Fless]

Here's the tool: https://www.amazon.com/Windshield-R...hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584207591129139&psc=1

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

@Mean_Green darn I'll have to check into that! I didn't know regaurdless they might cover a windshield. Brings me to bit of an off topic. I may want to upgrade my insurance to full coverage but not sure. I have about $15,000 into upgrades in the truck and my labor doing them. My catastrophe planning was to pull motor and trans if it gets wrecked and junk the rest. I currently just have liability.

 

[adventurenali92]

I'll ask the glass company I do business with at work about a windshield although last two I bought were $300+ unless I got a cheaper glass which was under $200. It's my understanding that factory glass is some of the best?

I've been studying up on it, the hardness part so far looks to be removing the windshield w/o breaking it. I don't think the junkyard is terribly worried if I break it, as my guess is they virtually never sell windshields... although I asked them if they'd take it out for me. They said no.

Seems way to go is the piano wire as mentioned or high test fishing line but people are saying takes 5+ hrs to get through all the glue. If that's the case it maybe unfeasible as it's so damn hot here, I'd probably die before I got the windshield out haha Plus I have to find a friend to help me lift it off and carry it to my truck in which case I'd not want to subject them to that.

Much of my truck is learning. A windshield is one process I've never done. It wasn't uncommon to hear folks saying they'd prefer not to try some of the projects I've taken on. Most everything I've done I'd do again w/ a few small exceptions. Breaking bead on a tire and removing it, managed to bust a rim. Headliner I saved $10 doing it myself, and not pleased with my results. Otherwise, transmission build, rebuilt my own cluster, built a dash core (need to install), rebuilt my radio / head unit, rebuilt power steering gearbox, engine... Studied up on building a diff, have yet to do that but have tore the front and rear diffs down, rebuilt all except carrier, pinion, and associated bearings. Been looking for a semi float 14 bolt to play with. Anyways.... I'm a glutton for punishment haha

2 things from my .02cents worth. I’m running an aftermarket windshield that safelite installed in September of 2021 on my truck. So not quite two years yet. For me the roughly $380ish it came out to for the job was absolutely worth it. What would have taken me an entire day off from work and lots of frustrations to try and figure out how to do on my own took the safelite tech just under two hours to do. I don’t have a glass shop up here in the mountains where I live. So if not safelite I’d have had to take a whole day off and spend 50 or 60 bucks round trip in fuel to go off the mountain. I was able to have safelite come up on one of their two days they have techs available to service big bear. It was done in two hours, the tech was incredibly knowledgeable and took incredible care to not cause any damage or even get my truck dirty while he did the job. Even commented on all the mods I’ve done and how classy my truck looked.

Point number 2…. You mentioned that research leads you to believe that factory glass is best. While that may be true, even if you find a windshield compatible with your truck that’s newer than yours, you’re still not getting a windshield that’s any less than potentially 15 years old. Even if you find a 2006 and pull a windshield that glass has up to potentially 17 years of road use if it’s the factory original windshield. But then again it could have been replaced with an aftermarket one at some point and you pulling it means you’re not getting the factory glass so it’s a crapshoot either way to pull a windshield off a junkyard rig.

I say do yourself a favor and pay a professional glass installer to install a brand new aftermarket piece. Plus you’re likely to get some sort of warranty on the new piece depending on what vendor you go with. I believe on my safelite windshield if any chips or cracks happen in the first few years they’ll come up and seal them up at no charge since they installed. That combined with a brand new crystal clear windshield two years ago that is still pretty damn clear and easy to see out of was well worth the money I spent on it.

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

So I hand built (myself) a custom 2500 ton drivetrain for my Tahoe. Honestly, the most financially sound decision would have been not to do any of it. That aside, $380 at my current income is easily a weeks work in a normal year. This year it's two months work no joke. Business is dismal and I'm poor, no joke. Now when I was a full time engineer it would have been around seven hours of my work (after taxes) so I don't look at it as a bad financial decision.

I don't want to get anybody off on the wrong foot here. I REALLY like this forum. I get more out of here than ANY other forum on the internet, Corvette Forum, LS1Tech, HP Tuners, etc. that I'm on. There some industry leaders on the other forums but here DANG you guys REALLY know your stuff. No kidding, likely an understatement!

However, I don't get why everybody wants to post to tell me why not to work on my truck? It's a bit annoying to be honest. There are some people who read books, some who watch TV, I take things apart and rebuild them. It's VERY hard for me to have a vehicle or toy that I've not taken apart. It's almost like reading a book for me. On my truck, I've done every bit of work on my vehicles, right down to 4L60E build, engine rebuilds, steering gearbox, painting & body work, taking tires off the rims, headliner, axle housing rebuild, circuit board repair... I even hacked the old OBDI computer back in college. I'm trying to think of something I've not done. I believe windshield is on that short list and I've got it pretty well figured out.

I posted for a few tips if anybody has them, and parts compatibility. I'm not really interested in getting bombarded with why you as an individual wouldn't do this. Most people wouldn't do 99% of the stuff I've already done.

My rant it over. I'm going to go to the junkyard and play around. I may get a W/S out or may not. Either way it's a good learning experience. I'll report back.

There's TWO things I'd not do again at least not without better tools. You're welcome to guess at what they were. I put them in my list above.

 

[Doubeleive]

So I hand built (myself) a custom 2500 ton drivetrain for my Tahoe. Honestly, the most financially sound decision would have been not to do any of it. That aside, $380 at my current income is easily a weeks work in a normal year. This year it's two months work no joke. Business is dismal and I'm poor, no joke. Now when I was a full time engineer it would have been around seven hours of my work (after taxes) so I don't look at it as a bad financial decision.

I don't want to get anybody off on the wrong foot here. I REALLY like this forum. I get more out of here than ANY other forum on the internet, Corvette Forum, LS1Tech, HP Tuners, etc. that I'm on. There some industry leaders on the other forums but here DANG you guys REALLY know your stuff. No kidding, likely an understatement!

However, I don't get why everybody wants to post to tell me why not to work on my truck? It's a bit annoying to be honest. There are some people who read books, some who watch TV, I take things apart and rebuild them. It's VERY hard for me to have a vehicle or toy that I've not taken apart. It's almost like reading a book for me. On my truck, I've done every bit of work on my vehicles, right down to 4L60E build, engine rebuilds, steering gearbox, painting & body work, taking tires off the rims, headliner, axle housing rebuild, circuit board repair... I even hacked the old OBDI computer back in college. I'm trying to think of something I've not done. I believe windshield is on that short list and I've got it pretty well figured out.

I posted for a few tips if anybody has them, and parts compatibility. I'm not really interested in getting bombarded with why you as an individual wouldn't do this. Most people wouldn't do 99% of the stuff I've already done.

My rant it over. I'm going to go to the junkyard and play around. I may get a W/S out or may not. Either way it's a good learning experience. I'll report back.

There's TWO things I'd not do again at least not without better tools. You're welcome to guess at what they were. I put them in my list above.

I understand the point completely which is why I both offered my limited input on how it is done versus having it done, I have been poor my entire life and learned a lot just trying to save myself some money even if I didn't really "want to" do something it was more or less "i have to do it" because I don't have the money. After making a couple slight attempts I figured for me it was more trouble than what it was worth, it was like do I spend 12 hours trying to do this and then have it leak because I did it wrong or break the glass or f-up the paint or any other things like that or do I call it a wash and bite the bullet. Today I am slightly better off but still poor by most standards so it comes down to "maybe" paying to have something done while I actually work and make the money to pay for it doing what I "do know how to do" and be more productive than what it cost's to have it done (if that makes sense).
in a lot of cases a 2 hour job for a experienced mechanic could be a 48 hour job for me, so I just kinda judge it as it comes.
but that didn't work out for me in the past, there was just no way, no credit, no helping hand. so I get it.

 

[adventurenali92]

So I hand built (myself) a custom 2500 ton drivetrain for my Tahoe. Honestly, the most financially sound decision would have been not to do any of it. That aside, $380 at my current income is easily a weeks work in a normal year. This year it's two months work no joke. Business is dismal and I'm poor, no joke. Now when I was a full time engineer it would have been around seven hours of my work (after taxes) so I don't look at it as a bad financial decision.

I don't want to get anybody off on the wrong foot here. I REALLY like this forum. I get more out of here than ANY other forum on the internet, Corvette Forum, LS1Tech, HP Tuners, etc. that I'm on. There some industry leaders on the other forums but here DANG you guys REALLY know your stuff. No kidding, likely an understatement!

However, I don't get why everybody wants to post to tell me why not to work on my truck? It's a bit annoying to be honest. There are some people who read books, some who watch TV, I take things apart and rebuild them. It's VERY hard for me to have a vehicle or toy that I've not taken apart. It's almost like reading a book for me. On my truck, I've done every bit of work on my vehicles, right down to 4L60E build, engine rebuilds, steering gearbox, painting & body work, taking tires off the rims, headliner, axle housing rebuild, circuit board repair... I even hacked the old OBDI computer back in college. I'm trying to think of something I've not done. I believe windshield is on that short list and I've got it pretty well figured out.

I posted for a few tips if anybody has them, and parts compatibility. I'm not really interested in getting bombarded with why you as an individual wouldn't do this. Most people wouldn't do 99% of the stuff I've already done.

My rant it over. I'm going to go to the junkyard and play around. I may get a W/S out or may not. Either way it's a good learning experience. I'll report back.

There's TWO things I'd not do again at least not without better tools. You're welcome to guess at what they were. I put them in my list above.

I’m not saying don’t work on your own truck. Not at all! I’m definitely a DIY guy because like you I’m poor too. Maybe not DIRT poor, lol but when I house sit for my best friends parents who are incredibly wealthy, like flying around in their own private Cessna CJ3 jet, my truck is always the old beater in the driveway parked next their shiny 2021 Yukon Xl Denali. I’m the help….. even if they don’t say it or treat me that way… lol. And I stay there ALOT to help with horses and dogs when they travel. And I’m in the garage wrenching on mine to keep it running.


You’re absolutely right that this forum is definitely the most knowledgeable and helpful. The majority of the guys around here(save for a few very annoying knuckleheads lately) are always willing to share expertise that’s helpful. I wouldn’t have been able to keep my GMT800 for 8 years and kept it in good mechanical condition if not for this place. And thankfully I can pass on helpful info from what I’ve learned about my truck and the many others I’ve either detailed for clients and gotten to know the inner workings, in addition to the junkyard trucks I’ve been able to play with. And just like you I love taking things apart andearning what makes things work and learning how to reassemble.

I think @Doubeleive makes an excellent point here about what your labor and time and skill set is worth in the scheme of “should I replace this myself or pay a professional for this job” scenario. I’ve realized in the last three years that that’s exactly how I need to look at mechanical work. I need to approach things from the mindset of “how much frustration in a day is this work going to be cause, and what’s the reward attached to it?” On the windshield i decided I’d much rather pay the professional for their expertise, and use my time off while he’s doing the windshield to do other things. Like schedule detail appointments and return client phone calls and keep my business running smooth. For me it was so worth that time. Fortunately for me the roughly $380 I paid out was a full detail job to cover that expense and I was able to pick up that kind of work easily. I understand not being able to afford paying the professional. Been there and done that.


All that to say we’re not discouraging wrenching on your own truck and I apologize if my response was offensive. We’re just trying to help look at the scenario objectively.