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Posted by: Tdskip Nov 21 2018, 09:54 AM

Good morning.

What do you think the odds are, if diligence is taken, of success will be removing a windshield for one car and getting it successfully in place on another?

Quite likely? Am I fooling myself about the billet he to do this?

Posted by: mepstein Nov 21 2018, 10:01 AM

It’s more likely to work if it was an original windshield install with factory butyl tape. By now the tape would have dried out and the glass should pop out. If it was reinstalled with urethane, good luck.

Posted by: Krieger Nov 21 2018, 10:06 AM

I did it! The car was in pick n pull. It had the original butyl seal. I slowly worked a piece of thin wire aroiund to separate the windshield from the semi dried butyl. I cleaned the old crud off and used new buty to install.

Posted by: brant Nov 21 2018, 10:09 AM

I broke one trying...

and have heard a lot of others with the same broken experience

I'm going to bet 30/70, with the 70 being the likelihood of breaking it

Posted by: 914forme Nov 21 2018, 10:10 AM

Done it several times, only broke one. And that was when it slid off the table when I turned my back.

I used to use one of the draw knife type units. I now use one of the oscillating tools used to flush cut stuff. I noticed it was the same concept as the tool the pros use. Just add a bit of soap to the blade, thinner and narrower the blade the better. Takes no time to cut out a windshield set in tape.

Best of luck

Posted by: Tbrown4x4 Nov 21 2018, 10:18 AM

I believe anything with urethane will be tough to get out in one piece. I suppose a windshield with the butyl tape would be easier, but I've only replaced "modern" car glass.


The piano wire trick can be a pain, but does work. There is a seal cutter that you hold and pull along with a small T-handle. That can be hard to get started without chipping the edges.

I also have a long piece of aluminum with a utility knife blade that works best for me. My first one I made myself by flattening a piece of 1/2" conduit and trapping a blade in the end.


With these you cut the seal from inside the car

Posted by: Coastal6 Nov 21 2018, 10:39 AM

QUOTE(brant @ Nov 21 2018, 09:09 AM)

Posted by: Tom_T Nov 21 2018, 10:52 AM

Paint & Body shops do glass R&R all the time for their work, but they're pros with the right equipment. If you're talking at a shop - or if you are/were a pro at a shop, then the chances are better.

Otherwise as an average person, it will depend on the butyl tape or urethane, your care & patience, & quality of the glass being removed - as others have said.

I'd guess remove the trim, get some thin steel or very strong lbs rating poly fishing line to cut it loose - better with 2, one inside & one outside, then slowly & carefully work your way around the edge. & use the suction type windshield puller to lift it out & place it at the new car.

This makes a good case for using old school butyl tape for an install, instead of the urethane, poly, silly-cone, or other gel type adhesive to seal in the glass - so you don't have to replace the windshield or other glass for any work.

Good Luck!
Tom
///////

Posted by: Tdskip Nov 21 2018, 10:57 AM

My goodness you guys are awesome.

Wonder if it makes sense to have a pro remote and reinstall?

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Nov 21 2018, 11:06 AM

if a younger windshield no problem, like old people windshields get old and brittle as they age. Therefore chances of getting an old one out are less

QUOTE(Tdskip @ Nov 21 2018, 08:54 AM)

Posted by: rhodyguy Nov 21 2018, 11:07 AM

I'm prob a 25% success rate. First 3 broke at the corners. 4 time took a few days. Car sat in the summer sun to soften the mastic. Cedar wedges. Mind that I had to work IN the sun. The windshield is in the shed. Just old glass. New replacements are reasonable and seem to have good QC. I would never do it again. The value these days is salvaging the trim.

Posted by: mepstein Nov 21 2018, 12:06 PM

The only one i've gotten out perfect, I sat on a box inside the car, put both feet up against the glass and gave it a push. Popped out with the trim. Gave the glass to Paul P and put the trim on a shelf.

I bought the car from the original owner and the glass and trim had never been out.

Posted by: raynekat Nov 21 2018, 12:23 PM

I think if you are careful and have a good plan, high probability to get it out unbroken.
I used a thin guitar string to saw through the butyl.
Wrapped the string around some small pieces of wood, used some big ass gloves and worked my way around.
Window easily pushed out after that.
Clean up was the hardest part.
Good luck.

Posted by: bbrock Nov 21 2018, 12:44 PM

I've also done it with a guitar string. The key seems to be making sure you cut around the entire perimeter of the butyl, don't apply too much pressure to one spot, and stay away from the corners when pushing out from the inside.

Posted by: shelby/914 Nov 21 2018, 01:10 PM

Good Luck. I think we got about 1 of 5, but if you are parting out the car might as well try. Then be careful with it. Don't set it where someone can then break it as soon as it's out of the car.

Danny

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Nov 21 2018, 01:33 PM

we have often seen the butyl tape so dry that the original windshield is loose in the windshield frame, makes removing very easy!

Posted by: wes Nov 21 2018, 01:43 PM

Did it once with no success! I used the T handel piano-wire tool and a long utility razor blade type knife (probably not enough patience) and just at the very end she turned to many unuseable parts. If there is a next time I’ll just !

Posted by: Larmo63 Nov 22 2018, 12:25 AM

Call Ruffino, he can do it.....

714 292-5811

Posted by: larryM Nov 22 2018, 11:15 PM

time vs money

- i have b'ot 2 new 914 windshields in the last 60 days for $185 each

i've tried in the past to save old glass from cars i was junking & broke 2

agree on the old butyl - i had 2 that essentially just popped out ( most recent one cuz the installer used urethane over the old butyl & it didn't bond!)

another factor to consider carefully is that old glass is gonna have pitting etc - it won't be "like new"

one might[i] get lucky, but how much time are ya gonna invest in trying? and what's your hourly value?

Posted by: Beach914 Nov 22 2018, 11:29 PM

I've only attempted this one time and managed to get one out of a 76 chassis that I was parting out. I still have it in storage waiting to go in my 70.
If I recall it was a warm day, car sitting outside, and I used several narrow, flexible putty knives and very thin flexible strips of 1075 steel to wedge under the windshield as it lifted so it would not sit back in the butyl. It took an hour or so to do it.

Posted by: EdwardBlume Nov 23 2018, 09:51 AM

I removed one. Its super easy, but not really. I worked at the butyl from the outside and never levered it up. Used tools like an ice pick but with 90 degree angles. Was not fun, but I ended up selling it. Take your time. Go slow. Resist the urge to pry it up.

Posted by: Tdskip Nov 23 2018, 10:28 AM

QUOTE(Larmo63 @ Nov 22 2018, 01:25 AM)

Posted by: Chi-town Nov 23 2018, 10:37 AM

If you have an air knife it's a 15 minute job, with a normal drag knife it's a bit tougher but can be done with great care not to nic the edge of the glass.

Posted by: burton73 Nov 23 2018, 02:18 PM

QUOTE(wes @ Nov 21 2018, 11:43 AM)

Did it once with no success! I used the T handel piano-wire tool and a long utility razor blade type knife (probably not enough patience) and just at the very end she turned to many unuseable parts. If there is a next time I’ll just !

Posted by: Larmo63 Nov 23 2018, 02:45 PM

Ruffino has done numerous 914 windshields and windows for SoCal Porsche owners.


You don't know him, unless you call him.

Posted by: Tdskip Nov 23 2018, 04:35 PM

Thanks guys!