Thoughts on windshields?

[Arctic91]

So what is the consensus on windshields? Is it too risky to remove and store for future use/sale?

I'm pretty sure that I'm going to catch a rock sooner or later... and when I do, I would rather it be with a $300 std windshield than my perfect KoolOf (at least I think it's perfect - do they all have a 1/2-3/4" golden-colored ring all along the outer edge? If not, then mines not perfect). I don't have any of the types of delam I've seen in pictures, where the wiping patterns are clearly visible.

Seems people have said that removing the windshields is too risky - possibility of breakage. I can definately see that. Others say that installing them is too risky - same reason. I don't understand this as much. I'm sure that storage is risky, too. I have three kids - they smash things for a living.

Anyone out there have any luck replacing their original with a good "used" original?

Am I wasting my time trying to game this for the future?

Any thoughts?

[Jeffvette]

You current windshield is already delaminating.

Keep it in. If you catch a rock, do a regular Vette replacement.

[blackjack]

it can be done...we did it twice on mine..but its still risky...the guy has to be a real expert,and they never guarantee the job....never....
bj
91/1735

[Arctic91]

Thanks for the replys... at least that's not something to sweat over any more!!

[ZRWON]

You current windshield is already delaminating.
Keep it in. If you catch a rock, do a regular Vette replacement.
I agree; Jeffvette's advice is right on target! That's the plan many of us followed before Kurt White tried to give us a better solution. I feel sorry for Kurt that his many frustrating hours and $$ resulted in such a loss and the many owners who were hurt in trying to buy one of his OEM looking ZR-1 windshields...very sad indeed to see how fast Kurt went from hero to bum...but didn't something like this also happen to a great ZR-1 enthusiast named "Larry MXXXXX"? Are we getting too fickle cheering when someone goes the extra mile for us and then if it fails vent our spleens about crooks, legal action, etc. There's risk in everything however painful it might be.:blahblah:
Several years ago I purchased one of the last known new correct OEM windshields from Kurt for my '91 turq ZR-1... paid something like $3600 to get it and have installed.
Less than a year later I got a bad stone hit and had to replace it with a standard C4 windshield for <$1200. If a class action suit is initiated against Kurt should I get to enter my claim? :???:
Sorry about my RANT but it's an "old man thing";)

[Zr1 Destroyer]

So what is the consensus on windshields? Is it too risky to remove and store for future use/sale?

I'm pretty sure that I'm going to catch a rock sooner or later... and when I do, I would rather it be with a $300 std windshield than my perfect KoolOf (at least I think it's perfect - do they all have a 1/2-3/4" golden-colored ring all along the outer edge? If not, then mines not perfect). I don't have any of the types of delam I've seen in pictures, where the wiping patterns are clearly visible.

Seems people have said that removing the windshields is too risky - possibility of breakage. I can definately see that. Others say that installing them is too risky - same reason. I don't understand this as much. I'm sure that storage is risky, too. I have three kids - they smash things for a living.

Anyone out there have any luck replacing their original with a good "used" original?

Am I wasting my time trying to game this for the future?

Any thoughts?Yeppers...i caught a rock with mine the second month i had it and just did a plane jane corvette windshield.....looks fine!!!

[bobbyhi]

Less than a year later I got a bad stone hit and had to replace it with a standard C4 windshield for <$1200. If a class action suit is initiated against Kurt should I get to enter my claim?

Why would you sue Kurt for a windshield damaged a year later and was damaged by a rock???:???:

[ZRWON]

Less than a year later I got a bad stone hit and had to replace it with a standard C4 windshield for <$1200. If a class action suit is initiated against Kurt should I get to enter my claim?

Why would you sue Kurt for a windshield damaged a year later and was damaged by a rock???:???:

NO WAY BOB...My comment was intended to be sarcastic humor wondering how far the negative comments about Kurt's windshield project will go and if he will ever regain his reputation from his aborted attempt to help ZR-1 owners with the windshield problems. INHO Kurt deserves better than some of the negative stuff I've read about this mess and KURT!!! SAD:-({|=

[Lowflight]

When my delam gets too bad, I am replacing with a regular windshield. I could not imagine paying that much for something that is exposed to the highway and roads at speeds anywhere from 0-180mph. If A rock hit a windshield I just paid $3000 for I would go ahead and wrap the damn car around a tree. I have a glass guy that was able to get my windshield out of my 94 z without cracking it. I would let him try mine again to kep for historical accuracy.

[DMark]

...... INHO Kurt deserves better than some of the negative stuff I've read about this mess and KURT.....
JMHO, but I think Kurt has set himself up for this backlash.

Alot of folks think he has been trying to corner the market on the remaining LT5 spare parts in order to jack up the price. Something goes bad on a project he is funding and the knifes come out. :(

BTW this weekend I was at the NCM and one of the ZR-1s on display had a regular C4 replacement windshield installed. ;)

[phrogs]

JMHO, but I think Kurt has set himself up for this backlash.

Alot of folks think he has been trying to corner the market on the remaining LT5 spare parts in order to jack up the price. Something goes bad on a project he is funding and the knifes come out. :(

BTW this weekend I was at the NCM and one of the ZR-1s on display had a regular C4 replacement windshield installed. ;)



Im sorry but there is not thinking he has tried to corner the market, I mean If he has the last of something sure you can make a profit but damn something that cost 6 bucks from GM now cost $40 through kurt? thats insiane!

I really do appreciate Kurt as I have bought some items from him but some stuff is available elsewhere you must shop around.

glass I could care less my original ZR-1 glass has a rock chip in it and I just drive with it like that still pass inspection as well

[Kevin]

I like kurt, i've met him, bs with him, drank with him. he's a great guy...but his prices are a bit high

[Arctic91]

I can tell that some of you are really passionate about this issue... didn't mean to stir the pot. I appreciate hearing the stories though, it makes me that much more sure that leaving in and taking my chances is the route to go. Stones will do what stones will do and I'm sure that I'll end up with a non-correct windshield sonner or later. I don't think the NCRS judges will be evaluating my car anytime soon, so it's probably not a big deal.

[Jeffvette]

I don't think the NCRS judges will be evaluating my car anytime soon, so it's probably not a big deal.

They are like the underwear gnomes. They come at night and judge your cars while you sleep.

1) Judge cars
2) ?
3) Profit

[louispf]

I can tell that some of you are really passionate about this issue... didn't mean to stir the pot. I appreciate hearing the stories though, it makes me that much more sure that leaving in and taking my chances is the route to go. Stones will do what stones will do and I'm sure that I'll end up with a non-correct windshield sonner or later. I don't think the NCRS judges will be evaluating my car anytime soon, so it's probably not a big deal.
If the majority of us have non ZR1 windshields because of this issue just maybe they might bend a little?:pray

[Arctic91]

I don't see that happening... not sure that I would either. Standards should remain high, otherwise you dilute the scores and dimish the prestige.

[bobbyhi]

ZRWON - I guess that I took it wrong the wrong way:o :o I agree 100 % with your statement about Kurt and the windshields. It sure seems that he got the short end of the stick - all for helping us ZR1er's with the problem. And yes his prices are what the market will bear.

[tomtom72]

Two more cents from the peanut gallery.....:o

The first rock chip I got in my otherwise perfect 7400 mile/15 yr old Z windshield was on the way to BG......I cried profusely and by the time I completed the round trip from NYC to BG & back I had two more!:cry:....but they're all on the passenger side!:mrgreen:

Now, four years & 23k miles later, I've got who knows how many more and sandblasting to go with the chips....it depresses me everytime I look at it....but not enough to spend the cash on a replica, however accurate, to do it all over again. I'm not gonna stop driving my Z so why bother? I never even thought about saving the OEM glass by using a regular C4 windshield, and I doubt I would have spent the cash without an absolute assurance of not breaking the OEM one upon removal.

I'll leave it in until I can't see out of it any longer and then do something about it. The only thing I'll miss is the diferent tint that we seem to have over the regular C4 windshields?? I think it looks cool.Oh. about the delam, I had none & now I have some....comes with the territory I guess. I know I sound like I don't care, or that I don't take care of my Z.....my only defense is that I paid for it & I didn't buy it to look at....a poster would have been cheaper for that porpose......I bought it because I wanted to drive a ZR-1, and that's what I'm doing & lovin' every minute of it too! JMHO

:cheers:
Tom

[ZR1Vette]

I heard NCRS judging 'forgives' ZR-1 windshield delam and mottling of the engine finish... true or not... inquiring minds want to know :D
Michael

[drmcar95]

Hey, Kurt is in business to make money and has responded to our needs. Anyone else out there doing it???

[Nick]

Hey, Kurt is in business to make money and has responded to our needs. Anyone else out there doing it???
I agree; there are plenty others out there doing it.

As for the original post, I ditched the stock windshield in my '94 when a rock chip expanded overnight into a nice crack. Replaced it with a non-ZR-1 windshield for under $300. Two weeks later I picked up two nice large rock chips in my brand new windshield. When the time comes I'll replace it again with a non-ZR-1 windshield and never look back.
NCRS? Not me...Have fun...! :thumbsup:

[tomtom72]

Hey, Kurt is in business to make money and has responded to our needs. Anyone else out there doing it???

Ya know this a good point! There are others, it's a very limited number of suppliers but there are others & personally I'm glad that they all exist.

As to the cost/profit/selling price structure...... vette parts were always "taxed" even at the part's store. I feel that whomever I buy from if I don't like the pricing, I'm free to look else where. I think we all knew going in with these cars that parts & prices were always gonna be an issue....but we all bought in anyway. Why be vocal about something we knew going in?
JMHO
:cheers:
Tom

[BLACK90ZR1]

:hello: According to the 1990 - 1991 Corvette NCRS Judging manual and my judging sheets, there is a deduction of up to 24 points of condition for scratches, cracks, delam, and pitting. There is a deduction of 50% of 26 points for incorrect brand replacement on originality. The total deduction for having a completly wrong windshield would only be 50 points, out of 4500 total points. This would only be 1.1 % of the total score. A score of 94% is all that is required to get a top flight rating, so this is not a great concern to me, and is not worth the $2000.00 or so cost of a exact replacement, if I could find one. My windshield is in great condition, and I didn't receive any deductions for it, but if it breaks, I will probably get a service replacement for it.

[ZRWON]

:hello: According to the 1990 - 1991 Corvette NCRS Judging manual and my judging sheets, there is a deduction of up to 24 points of condition for scratches, cracks, delam, and pitting. There is a deduction of 50% of 26 points for incorrect brand replacement on originality. The total deduction for having a completly wrong windshield would only be 50 points, out of 4500 total points. This would only be 1.1 % of the total score. A score of 94% is all that is required to get a top flight rating, so this is not a great concern to me, and is not worth the $2000.00 or so cost of a exact replacement, if I could find one. My windshield is in great condition, and I didn't receive any deductions for it, but if it breaks, I will probably get a service replacement for it.

I AGREE: Thanks BLACK90ZR1 for your excellent explanation and logic that most who are experienced with NCRS judging understandand and employ when preparing their VETTES for judging. Maybe your post will help others better understand NCRS and their goals, thus eliminating some of the rumors and mis-information that's tossed about.
NCRS is a great organization that's goal is preserving the history of VETTES with originality "as manufactured and left the factory".:thumbsup: