So my Ascona has a cracked windshield and i am not about to willingly hand over 550+ euro for a winddhield (gotta buy my own window ~270 euro; install is ~200 euro).
how DIY-able is this job? any eBay supplies i should get? any tips for a newbie at this? two, three or four person job?
Thank you in advance!
I have heard many times that glass is one of the few jobs it is almost always worth paying a pro to do. Seems most people that try to do it themselves end up cracking their windshield the first time and end up paying the same amount or more in the end.
If you decide to do it yourself good luck, you are a braver man than I.
I'm a DIY guy. Being a technician for decades I've always attempted just about everything from auto body, auto painting, carpentry, masonry, even surgery (Ok, not really). Glass installation is something I just let the pros do. Although at $600+ I might think of trying.
Have helped a friend do two Mustang glued-in windshields. Would not say it required a lot of skill but there is a knack to it that you wont have the first time. I say it is a two man job, but those who do it for a living seem to prove otherwise.
There are tools to remove the trim and the glass and they are not expensive. Good ones might be more expensive.
You need a primer and the proper adhesive. The primer is surprisingly expensive for the little bit you need. You will curse a lot as you try to get the glass out.
As with all jobs, the first time you do it is the education for the next time.
You tube will get you primed.
I have never put one in a Ford but overall there is not much to it. The hard part is cutting the seal out, after that you just apply new sealant (or seal) and set the glass in place making sure everything is in the correct location. Start at 7:06 glass.
Since nobody has mentioned it yet, don't get the adhesive on your hootus
Easier to install than to remove. I know there are lots of independent glass guys around here that will do the job for less than I would. Maybe do a bit of shopping around.
The trickiest parts involve getting the mouldings and clips off in one piece (Or knowing which mouldings you need to order new) and cutting the urethane without having the knife slip and remove either your navel or all the paint from the fender.
Following for tips. Gotta get a windshield for my Z and dont trust other people around it.
i noticed that they sell this rubber separately online, is that something that i need new? or if im careful i can remove without too much damage? @Donebrokeit you said sealant or seal, does this give you a clue if i need sealant or seal? i gotta go ebay fabulous, not a lot of places on other sites ship to APO; don't really feel like dealing with a language barrier either
this is a windshield with the rubber i found on the german CL:
https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/ascona-b-frontscheibe-mit-gummi/613345435-223-230
possibly a complete removal tool kit:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7Pcs-Car-Van-Windscreen-Windshield-Glass-Removal-Set-Installation-Hand-Tool-Kit-/122409361494?hash=item1c802aa056:g:6EkAAOSwOgdY0kIi
primer and adhesive:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-Titan-P2G-Windshield-Urethane-Adhesive-Automotive-Sealant-Princhweld-Primer207-/112055711261?hash=item1a170a761d:g:ZJoAAOSw7XZXhox0
IIRC the windscreen isn't glued in with that generation Ascona, so it's more DIY-able that the glued in stuff.
What type of seal does it have? If it's like an E30 - a rubber seal with a separate lock strip, where the glass floats in the seal and isn't glued to the frame - it's very doable yourself with a helper and a warm day. I've never done one with adhesive but I'd probably pay the man to deal with that.
Can you get a nice close up picture of the seal?
Windshield cracked on my Fiesta. Getting new one installed.
No direct cost to me.
insurance pays for it.
Was going to ask what year Ascona but Boxhead Tim got it covered. Rubber seal with insert (filler) some thin cord and the tool for inserting the filler with a helper will do the job. When I reinstalled the original windshield in my GT I hired a glass guy that knew rubber seals (dealt with old cars) and he & I did the job together. There is some good youtube videos on it. Be careful, don't put too much force or you'll crack the new one.
Yeah. What year Ascona are we talking about? If its a rubber seal, two guys, a length of 1/8 nylon rope, soapy water and some youtube will let you do it. The rubber seal may be worth replacing if its too hard, but getting the new ones in can be a right bitch sometimes too.
Just remember glass doesn't bend very much.
I successfully removed the windshield from one of my E21s, gently set it down, then promptly tripped and fell on it breaking it.
I paid someone to install the new one. I don't think it was anywhere near $500 for the new windshield, rubber and install though.
For some reason autoglass seems to be a lot more expensive in Europe than here. I'm still surprised how cheap windscreens for regular cars are over here.
I should think the glass rubber will be hard to work with being aged and all - and if not nice and pliable I would think will leak in due time.
If you can get it, I would.
Otherwise take plenty of time to over think all the angles and pitfalls, work slow and I should think it's doable. That's all I got.
I don't know what the exchange rate is but I get windshields for most cars installed for about $250 US. Porsche and Audi cost me about $275 or so. This is cash done in my driveway from a smaller indipendant guy that all he does in auto glass replacement. Never had an issue with his work.
@BoxheadTim @cmcgregor @Streetwiseguy
-1978 Opel Ascona, was left in a French barn since who knows when it was parked...
-Could try and get a better pic tomorrow or the day after, ill post up relatively soon
@wlkelley3 @Streetwiseguy
-earlier when i used google fu i only came up with cutting glue/prep and new glue/install, what key words do i use for that?
-getting new rubber isnt hard, i found some on ebay.de without too much issue.
@iceracer @Nick (Bo) Comstock @BoxheadTim @dean1484
-cost being upwards of 600 USD (550+ euro) is whats scaring me from letting the man doing it. if i can try 2-3x and still come out ahead (especially if i go the used route) im sure as hell going to. i work for my money, ill do what i can to protect it.
-i lol'd pretty hard at breaking your own glass, thank you XD
If i do attempt this foolishness ill update the thread with pictures, emailing the local-ish guy with a windshield and rubber now.
Thank you GRM
I saw an amazingly simple solution to removing old adhesive the last time I had one replaced. Basically, the installer had a Sawzall with, for lack of better description, a flexible butter knife attached to it. It took all of 5 minutes to remove the old windshield.
I've done a couple with rubber gaskets. It's not that hard with patience. wlkelly3 has it right. Oh, on one end of the nylon rope (long enough to go around the windshield perimeter) it's handy to wrap it around a little dowel (or screwdriver handle) for some extra leverage. You got this.
I assume you've checked your insurance to see if windshield replacement is covered? That's pretty common in the US but don't know how they do it where you live.
no insurance yet... its been sitting for a long time, i dont want to waste money on trying to get it to pass (30+ USD for three tries or one month) on top of paying the insurance monthly.
besides who know how long it'll take if i dont find a seller willing to ship? at least 12 weeks according to an ebay manufacturer, or 500 bucks for a new one sooner.
is this a good video on the rubber insert ones?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MNIXbHb8KU
In reply to TurboFocus:
Not a bad one, shows the basic idea. Here are a couple more that may be more relevant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh3hVoo4MO4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI0x36fJpDw
I've always put the seal on the car window frame first and used a cord to install the glass into the seal. Then use the tool to install the filler. I've also used a box end wrench the filler will fit into, something like a 3/8 or along that line when I didn't have the tool. A long one works good. But the tool isn't that expensive and does work better. Also, something I learned from a friend helping him install a windshield in his Midget is the type of lubricant used in bedrooms work real well for this. Water soluble, slick, when dries out just spray with water and it gets slippery again. Or use the ol' standby soapy water or windshield cleaner. The lube is more slippery though. May have to explain why you have a bottle of sex lube in your tool box though. 
About the only glass I would feel comfortable installing would be side windows of most cars, the rear window of a 914 or any glass on any air cooled VW
I would pay someone to do the windshield of a more modern car.
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