I wouldn't be so quick to judge the glass quality. Lots of folks go bananas with different cleaners and detailing techniques which are wrong. Lots of residue left over from either over applying product or using the same towel for every job..
Adam, They just have switched suppliers, and it has been years since I saw their offerings.. The ones there were selling back in the 2000's had a sunshade that was applied with a straightedge. Instead of the dark blue area at the top being a uniform distance from the top edge, following the curvature of the windshield, it was applied straight across.. meaning that it might be 3" wide in the center, but more like 5" wide at each side. It was also the wrong color, a weird blue.. I am sure you would not have accepted this Adam.. it looked horrible. That was the only beef I really had, other then them selling the incorrect rear glass for a HT.. you can tell you have that one, when it won't sit down on each side, you have to keep pushing it down. One might think it was upside down, but the other way was actually worst.. we thought that the first time we put one in. I had to send Plinkington glass an original one, and then they made me the correct one, that fit perfectly. Next time you need glass for a resto, give them a call. You will have to set your business up with them, I am not sure they sell directly to the public. I seem to recall having to jump thru some hoops before they would sell to me, but once we had a relationship, they were excellent to work with , the glass was exactly the same thickness as the original stuff, and their etching was dead nuts perfect. https://www.pilkington.com/en/us/automotive For the daily driver and not so picky restos, contact PPG directly, and get set up. I am sure there is a local wearhouse in St Louis that you can will call from.. saving you time, money and the possiblity of damage in shipping. The PPG windshield is very nice, and the right price... JW
I believe Safellite is owned by PPG and will come to you with the glass(windshield) and do the install. I cannot vouch for their install.
Some time back I talked with a glass person about the modeling of the glass, that funny look that new glass has. I wish I could remember what he told me but with manufacturing procedures the way they are all glass is going to have that modeling look.
I ordered a set of date coded side glass on Thursday, and it arrived today. Talk about a quick turn around!
Not looking at the moment, but since the topic has been raised, does nayone know if the sources listed would be able to supply a replacement for my 70 Lark Custom that has the radio antenna in the windshield? Have always wondered how difficult they are to obtain.
OT a bit, but related: On a no radio option car, did Buick include the antenna in the windshield or were there factory windshields w/o the antenna? I have a stripper '70 350 4-sp that came only w/an AM. I always wanted a no radio GS and this is the perfect candidate but since almost every A-body was ordered w/a radio option I was wondering about the windshield esp. since the radio could be added as a dealer installed option and I doubt they were changing windshields to do that. Seems like w/the volume, it would've been just as economical for Buick to have put the antenna in every car.
Great question! We have a '72 Stage 1 HT that has lots of options but was ordered by the customer without a radio. I checked the front windshield date many years ago and noticed that it was dated 1973. Now I wonder if the glass was replaced so he could get an antenna to add the old Pioneer stereo rather than drilling the fender for an antenna or did the original glass have an antenna and just got damaged and therefore replaced when the car was only 1 year old.
Parts book might give the answer if nobody chimes in w/a definitive take on this. Funny how ppl ordered these cars & I wonder how many were mistakes like I suspect the low option Stage 1 4-sp I looked @ that orig. came w/a rim blow was. My own special ordered low option (manual steering, no AC, no consolette) Stage 1 4-sp came w/gauges & a clock. Maybe a mistake or maybe they were planning on a day-2 Sun Tach on the steering column. Also had map/trunk light, upper peak molding and the requisite vinyl top & remote mirror so...
