Hello Everyone, Hope life is treating you all well, not sure where to post this question but here goes... I am looking to replace the driver's side vent window; to remove the original glass, have you used a heat gun, propane troche to soften the material holding the glass in to remove the glass, anybody been there done that??
AND has anyone purchased the glass replacement online before, if so where ???
Well here goes nothing. It has been a long time since I did mine but IF I remember I didn't use a torch or any heat to remove mine, it kinda just pulled out, maybe wood blocks and a little tapping. Once out I bought the glass from a glass shop online through eBay. I did have my rear quarter glasses cut down at a local shop that had flat laminated glass, I converted to fixed rear windows. A good glass shop can do the vent windows using the original as a pattern. It was my first experience doing this and it wasn't too bad.
I had mine soaking in lacquer thinner overnight. That softened the old stuff enough to let me pull it out of the frame. It came out broken but in the correct shape. The glass shop put the new glass in with urethane windshield sealer (I guess that's what it is called). He filled the frame with the sealer, pushed the glass in, let it set overnight then trimmed the extra that oozed out with a razor.
Quality Glass in Napolean (old time glass company) did mine.
Auto City Classic. I got mine with the side glass set. Pretty much as Lynn and Bill described. The frames are all stainless, so now's the time to get it all polished up. Even the hinge is ss., and the chromed handle is being reproduced.
Thanks for the response, I was thinking about trying to remove the glass from the frame without removing the frame from the car door. I can look into the process of removing the assembly from the door, maybe I was looking for an easier way out!!!
Same I got mine from auto city classics. You have to get the setting tape. Some people apparently use a silicone.
I think most of us used a silicon sealant/liquid rubber of some type. I filled the channel, squishing the stuff out. I used toothpicks to keep the glass centered while it was starting to set up. Just let it get messy. Easy trim with razor blade after it sets up.
As far as replacing the glass with the frame still in the car, it's a lot of work getting the assembly out, so why not give it a try? I can't think of any reason why you couldn't. I'd use an automatic center punch to break up the glass as much as possible.
I guess I should not have brought up doing glass work on my 57, last night two deer ran in front of the car the third tried to jump over it, more GLASS WORK!!!
Ouch! Been there with the deer.....3 times! Actually, only once with a deer, other two were elk.
I think that I will need to find another windshield, not the way I wanted to end this year's driving season!!!
Lucky it was just the glass! OUCH!
Quote from: glenmichael on 2025-10-13 09:59I think that I will need to find another windshield, not the way I wanted to end this year's driving season!!!
Worse yet would have been at the beginning of the season.
The only good glass in my 70A was the back window or back light and one door glass.
I bought the side glass kit from Auto City Classics but my windshield was obtained locally.
I had two pieces of side glass cut locally bc of the way I installed my run channel. Those two pieces cost more than the complete ACC kit. Of course ACC provided tempered glass.
I disposed of my wing window and quarter window glass after copying them onto 1/4" plywood. I also copied the door glass onto the 1/4" plywood.
I have a spare windshield you can have if you can "teleport" it.
Thanks for the offer, Lynn, If I lived a little closer, I would like to visit. For now, I'm in the process of removing the damaged windshield!! There is a Gentleman a half hour from me I have visited that has 16 1957 Fords plus many 55 and 56 fords he has offered to sell me a used windshield, cash up front just in case I break it trying to remove a 68-year-old piece of glass from rock hard rubber!! OR buy a new one for $400 and $200 in shipping and hope it arrives in one piece...
With a bunch of sharp blades, cut the seal...it's no good anyway.
Since I have never removed a car windshield before, I have a roll of clear tape that I attached to the windshield both inside and outside where the glass is all busted up, and I will attempt to remove the outside portion of the rubber gasket first and see if the glass pushes out from the inside. If all goes well, I think at this time I will visit David and his collection of 57 fords he has outside on his property. I have nothing to lose removing the windshield just experience to gain, wish me luck!!!
Just take your time, and you'll be surprised how easy it is, both removal and instalation.