I have a 1985 GSL-SE
The windshield has a huge crack in it. I need to replace it. I have not been successful finding somewhere in Colorado Springs with the correct part. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

the problem nowadays is if something isn't in a catalog or on the internet it doesn't exist and cannot be done. Safelite told me the same thing when my windshield cracked. So I searched for a hole in the wall place in the bad part of town with rusted out 1960's hulks of chevys outside. Guys that know how to make any body part from a sheet of steel. Guys that are wizards with brazing welding and bondo. FOund one that replaced the windshield with no problem

 

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...s-nla-1114742/

 

Windshields are out there but in my experience corporations don't want to deal with it. I need to get one for a backup but I don't know where the hell I'd store it. If you were looking for S1 glass forget it.

Replacement part numbers are
FW00380 for SA
FW00462 for FB

Both are interchangeable the difference is 462 has a black frit band along the edge that'll cover your serial on SAs while 380 doesn't have the frit. The frit on the FB does have a window for the VIN like it should.

 

when i did mine, i used the phone book (it was this thing where they had pictures of different phones?!?). semi kidding, the internet was pretty useless for this. lots of people had prices, but you need to ask if they have it. so then the guy came and installed it wrong, and i need to do it again

 

Bob Rhinehart Sr. in Pennsylvania has them in stock....but they won't ship them....


http://store.rhinehartsautoparts.com

 

I have had to drop at least 3 windshields into my SA over the past 15 yrs, the most recent in 2019. I always used local shops, never the 'national' brand agents. This was thru State Farm, who always let me find my own sources, Be it here in northern AZ (Sedona) where my local guy sourced the last glass, or in Alaska where the locals there chased them down, I always got the glass ASAP.

Sorry you having troubles with this! They are out there...

Stu A
80GS
AZ

 

I need to start looking for one, mines original and has tons of tiny chips. Windshield wipers don't really do anything.

 

I managed to find a shop that's local to me (Jolliff Glass Co. Peoria, IL) that was willing to look for and order a replacement windshield for my 1979 SA22C. I gladly paid the 378.00 (installed). The glass is out there. It's just a matter of finding someone willing to put in the work of searching and having deep glass industry contacts. Good luck.

 

And finding a shop that can replace the metal trim without it falling off when you get out on the highway.

That's what happened to a friend of mine who recently had his replaced, using a unit purchased from the Norcross store linked above.

Windshield guys these days are used to "no trim" windshields, just cut the old one out and glue the new one in.

But 1st gen windshields are positioned and held in by a bunch of clips and clamps and the metal trim needs to attach firmly.

This takes a lot of skill, make sure your shop is aware of what they are getting into and can guarantee a good job.

 

The clips are not for the windshield...they are for the trim and you can order those from www.atkinsrotary.com. kind of expensive...there are about 20 clips on the windshield about $4.00 each....🤦‍♂️

 

The clips are actually for holding the trim in place. There are spacers that are required to locate the glass but the adhesive is what holds the glass in place. (Illustration from factory manual) http://www.wright-here.net/files/man...X7(14)Body.pdf

 

Yes, I misspoke, the spacers only position the windshield, it's glued in after that.

The clips hold the trim pieces on, that's the part that a lot of glass shops don't seem to get right.

Here's some pics of when I installed my new windshield last year:

 

A little "frosty" that morning Ray?

 

I had Safelite do mine in 2016. The gasket they installed is thicker so the metal trim at the bottom doesn't fit and it's tighter at the sides and top.
Their policy has probably change because last year a friend with a Datsun 280Z called them and they said they won't work on old cars.

 

Thanks for the pictures, the are immensely helpful!

 

Glad you find the photos useful CK, I always appreciate a picture showing what I'm trying to figure out how to do.

Seniorchief, that does look like frost on the windshield, but with global warming, it rarely gets below freezing anymore here in Georgia.

The frosty stuff is actually just a bunch of condensation, the result of a lot of cleaning and a cool humid morning the day after.

After doing this installation, all according to the FSM, I would never trust a glass shop to do it for me.

There are too many critical details.

Cleaning and priming, fitting all the spacers and clips, positioning the unit and using the right adhesives.

And of course there's installing the trim pieces so they don't fall off first time you hit the highway.

Replacing those trim pieces is very expensive.