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Featured Technical Chopped windshield help

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by Fred Pinckard, Nov 1, 2025.

  1. Hellfish
    Joined: Jun 19, 2002
    Posts: 6,816

    Hellfish
    Member

    I'm having a pro cut my windshield in late Nov/early Dec. He cuts curved gl*** all the time. He's coming from Chicago to TN and WV to install gl*** for some customers and agreed to cut mine while he's there. It's a 5 hour drive from me, but I'm in RVA and C'ville regularly visiting my girlfriend. I could probably take your gl*** to him and have it cut at the same time. If you're interested, send me a PM and we can discuss details.
     
    Okie Pete and Fred Pinckard like this.
  2. Fred Pinckard
    Joined: Mar 15, 2025
    Posts: 12

    Fred Pinckard

    yeah, honestly I don't believe any shop is going to cut this. My third windshield came in last week and I gave it another shot last night with the best results yet. I've got one tiny crack that I'm going to seal up with resin to see how that goes. The nice thing is that gl*** for these is readily available
     
    Okie Pete likes this.
  3. Fred Pinckard
    Joined: Mar 15, 2025
    Posts: 12

    Fred Pinckard

    Thank you for the offer, I'll keep that in mind if this one doesn't work.
     
    Okie Pete likes this.
  4. Sgt. John
    Joined: Nov 23, 2014
    Posts: 238

    Sgt. John
    Member
    from Virginia

    Hello..did you ever get the windshield cut ?
     
  5. Hellfish
    Joined: Jun 19, 2002
    Posts: 6,816

    Hellfish
    Member

    I did.
     
    Uncle Ronn likes this.
  6. Take the window out, make a paper pattern off it chop the paper pattern the amount you want then put the pattern on a sheet of1/8 in Lexan Plastic and cut it out, then use a welding tourch with a moderate flame back about a foot and bend it to fit using a cardboard pattern of the bend. It'll take all afternoon and 2 guys bending it but it'll work. I did a couple of 56 Ford pickup trucks and it worked fine. Or find a gl*** shop to cut your gl*** window..
     
  7. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 11,383

    BJR
    Member

    Lexan windshields are NOT LEGAL in all 50 states.
     
    El Camino Kid likes this.
  8. chopolds
    Joined: Oct 22, 2001
    Posts: 6,328

    chopolds
    Member
    from howell, nj

    Plastic windshields ****.
     
    El Camino Kid likes this.
  9. nrgwizard
    Joined: Aug 18, 2006
    Posts: 3,047

    nrgwizard
    Member
    from Minn. uSA

    If you don't want to cut the gl***, you could grind(sand) it. Takes a long time, eats a lot of sanding belts/paper. Use wet-or-dry only, & keep it very wet, so's cutting medium lasts longer, gl*** stays cool(er), & sanding-gl***-dust is moved out of the way. Safer, but very tedious. & messy. I've used a DA w/success, but I didn't chop the gl*** w/it, just used it to "tune-up" the edges to both smooth them & also fit them correctly. Hand-sanding on a block worked too, but I wasn't that energetic. ~3". +/-, is a *lot* of sanding... When I chopped the Ghia gl***, the old oem one(pre-cracked, so for experimenting only) withstood at least 2 chops, maybe 3 - for practice. Went well. A new one almost went well, fracturing at the last cut. Another used one did cut ok, but I was nervous. A glazier friend of mine explained that since as the gl*** is formed, tension(s) are developed - & there isn't anything to be done about it. & age doesn't help any, either. So any windshield is a ****-shoot to cut & modify. There's *no* way of knowing which one will, or will not, take - & hold - the cut. He also warned me that even a successful chop could shatter later during, or after, installation, again, because of stresses induced thru fitting, or road-vibrations/etc.
    Marcus...
     
  10. junkman8888
    Joined: Jan 28, 2009
    Posts: 1,076

    junkman8888
    Member

    In the March 1998 edition of "Custom Rodder" Elden ***us showed how to cut down a Rivera windshield using a sander-polisher (1750 rpm), a box of 36 grit sanding disks and a steady stream of water from a garden hose. If you don't like that approach there are a number of videos on the internet that will show you how to successfully cut curved gl***.
     
    Okie Pete likes this.
  11. Fred Pinckard
    Joined: Mar 15, 2025
    Posts: 12

    Fred Pinckard

    thank you for everyone's advice, after going through a few windshield, I got it figured out and have successfully cut the windshield. I'm moving on to prepping the body for a respray then t******* out the interior pieces to prep for upholstery. IMG_6753.JPG tempImagef13wGW.png tempImageFWB26F.png
     
  12. bchctybob
    Joined: Sep 18, 2011
    Posts: 6,110

    bchctybob
    Member

    Great looking car! Glad you finally had success. Care to share the process?
     
  13. Fred Pinckard
    Joined: Mar 15, 2025
    Posts: 12

    Fred Pinckard

    honestly I found some things on YouTube and just took my time.
     
    Okie Pete likes this.

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