Topic: windshield pattern 1936


old1936ford    -- 04-24-2011 @ 8:25 PM
  my windshied frame is rusted bad in the corner. I purchased a used frame & had it cromed. The glass shop wants a pattern to cut the glass. I'm going to leave the windshield I have in the car until I get the new one in the frame. I don't think the glass would come out of the frame anyhow. I'll just keep it for a spare.
Where can I get a pattern? I would rather have the glass cut in town to save on shipping.
Thanks Joe
1936 fordor sedan


supereal    -- 04-24-2011 @ 9:06 PM
  The are two important considerations when replacing glass in a windshield frame. Of course pattern is one. The other is thickness of both the glass and the packing. Old glass is almost always a thinner material than modern types, and this can present problems in getting the frame together. I found this out the "hard" way when two perfectly good frames were damaged when the local shops forced them together, then stripped the very small screws that hold the frames together. Frames are valuable, and hard to replace. I'd recommend using a specialist, such as Sanders, particularly since you invested in replating the frame. Many, if not most, auto glass shops have no experience in cutting laminated glass in this age of tempered glass, so be sure yours does.


40 Coupe    -- 04-25-2011 @ 5:24 AM
  I had several problems with Sanders and would not use them again. They forced large glass into a frame and expanded the frame 1/4 inch, I had to pay for the return, they recut the glass and forced it in which caused fish eye cracks in the glass face edges which show with the glass in the frame. To repay me for shipping Sanders gave me glass for my rear window, that glass does not fit, wrong size. They no longer install their own glass into your frame.
Don't bother, find someone locally. Make sure your new frame fits properly before the glass is installed. I would remove the old frame and glass, the old glass still in the frame should be able to provide a pattern for the new glass. If you have someone locally who builds hot rods ask them who they use for the glass in their cars.


nelsb01    -- 04-25-2011 @ 9:51 AM
  One other item to consider. I have seen at least 2 people break their new glass installing it in the frames because the glass gasket was new. Be careful -- the new glass gasket will be larger than the compressed one that is currently in the frame. Take your time and use clamps on the frame, and over a period of time, tighten the clamps to compress the gasket material around the glass and into the frame. You want a tight water proof seal, but not broken glass.


supereal    -- 04-25-2011 @ 10:12 AM
  Sorry to hear of problems with Sanders. The best glass supplier we have used was Bloomington Glass in Illinois. I haven't seen any mention of them, so they may be out of business. Putting new glass in a windshield frame requires much skill and patience, as the comments show. C&G shows windshield glass for your '36 on page 240 of their catalog. They show the seal on page 244. If you are using a seal instead of packing, I'd order the seal with molded corners. Good quality plated replacement frames are nearly $1,000 now, so plenty of TLC is called for.

This message was edited by supereal on 4-25-11 @ 1:01 PM


trjford8    -- 04-25-2011 @ 7:23 PM
  Check around your area for a glass shop that has been in business for a long time. Ususally the older shops have the patterns.


old1936ford    -- 04-27-2011 @ 9:46 AM
  Thanks for all the info. I will go talk to the Glass shop again.

Thanks, Joe


supereal    -- 04-27-2011 @ 10:41 AM
  If you can, use a digital caliper and measure the thickness of the glass in your old windshield to be sure the shop actually has, or access to, the right glass. In framed parts, this is vital in preventing damage, regardless of who does the job.


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