[Baseball12165]

Hey does anyone here know if a 68 gto convertible windshield is the same dimensions as a hardtop? I am doing a nut and bolt resto on a 68 conv. and found a original windshield from a hardtop. If I buy a new windshield --- will i get points taken off in judging?

[gto4evr]

nope, vert windshields have a different contour at the top and are a tad wider. All 68-72 A Body convertible windshields interchange (GTO/Chevelle/Cutlass/Skylark), but the 70-72 will have an antenna nested in the glass so those fit but would be visually different. I believe you can get aftermarket glass with date codes as far as point judging.

[gtohurstjudge]

To clarify, the convertible windshield is identical except it is not as tall as the
hardtop windshield. I had a glass guy who ordered a hardtop windshield and tried to install
it in my car by mistake and it fit perfectly except it was about an inch too tall.

[PaulatFast]

as far as judging goes, you can have the new glass dated coded. We use Auto City Classics. it will depend on the judge, original glass will have deductions for condition... I would go new and not worry about it.

[Chipper7]

Are you guys installing the glass with urethane or butyal?

[PaulatFast]

Either... For correct appearance butyl should be used. I have a friend that is very good with an electric caulk gun and lays a perfect, even bead of urethane. It is hard to tell it's not butyl, other than the gloss. Most guys don't get the butyl even and the results are pretty bad.

[Chipper7]

Originally Posted by PaulatFast

Either... For correct appearance butyl should be used. I have a friend that is very good with an electric caulk gun and lays a perfect, even bead of urethane. It is hard to tell it's not butyl, other than the gloss. Most guys don't get the butyl even and the results are pretty bad.

Thanks for your input

[68ragtop]

Resurrecting an old thread here as I was searching for some windshield info.

I called Pilkington to get a quote on a new windshield with the date code for my 68 vert. they told me it would have the blue sun tint at the top & that's the only way I can get it. Was that even an option in 68? Seems weird to pay up for a date coded glass, but would possibly have an incorrect blue band at the top. Or am I mistaken on that being an option in 1968?

[dataway]

My 68 wind shield has the blue band. Not sure if it was an option or not.

I think AC cars got the "cool ray" glass as part of the AC option, or it could also be ordered stand alone.

Thing is, I'm not sure if the blue tint was part of the "cool ray" option, or if it came on all wind shields. Both my 68's have had AC, and both had the blue tint and the cool ray glass.

[68ragtop]

Originally Posted by dataway

My 68 wind shield has the blue band. Not sure if it was an option or not.

I think AC cars got the "cool ray" glass as part of the AC option, or it could also be ordered stand alone.

Thing is, I'm not sure if the blue tint was part of the "cool ray" option, or if it came on all wind shields. Both my 68's have had AC, and both had the blue tint and the cool ray glass.

Are either original glass? I don't know where I got the idea the blue band wasn't available. Personally I like the look of it that way

[kk68]

I didn’t even realize or notice that my replacement windshield had the blue band. Not sure what vendor it came from 10+ years ago. I remember considering spending extra for the correct date code, but chose not to to save a few bucks🤨
Not sure how to read the date code anyway.

Mine originally came optioned with the Soft Ray glass all around, but can’t say if the original Soft Ray windshields had the blue band. I pulled out the old photos and can see a tinted band at the top of the windshield, but it looks brownish in the old photos, not blue. Could just be a lighting effect in the old 35mm film photos. Also not sure it was the original windshield (broke it during removal), since car was 19 yrs old when I bought it.

[Greg Reid]

As I recall from researching why my '74 T/A did NOT have the band, I found some info somewhere that the band was standard on cars with A/C and optional on cars that did not have A/C. 'Soft Ray' was optional on all cars, I believe, whether equipped with A/C or not.
My '68 has soft-ray glass all around and has the band as well. It was originally an A/C car.
Looking at the pic below, check the white garage door and the difference in what it looks like outside the car and through the glass. So...it's tinted at the top and Soft Ray tinted also.

[68ragtop]

Would that have been on the order/build sheet? As long as it was an option, I am happy.
My car has quite a few things that are 68 correct, but not ordered that way. Also have things that are not factory correct for concours showing. Some stuff over restored, some things not the correct finish, fasteners, etc. Then I added power windows & a tilt column. So, I am not sure why I would even bother with a date coded correct glass, I guess for the look & its only $50 more. But the logistics of getting the Glass is almost as much as the glass itself. Not opposed to buying a windshield from a local supplier either, but they often have large logos printed on them. Maybe I'll look more into that option as well. Safelite I think owns the market now days..... I hear replacement auto glass is a tough industry to be completive & survive in.

[dataway]

Originally Posted by 68ragtop

Are either original glass? I don't know where I got the idea the blue band wasn't available. Personally I like the look of it that way

Yep, they are (were) both original.

I notice the option code sheet (PHS) shows soft ray glass an option in box 53.
(1) is all windows, (2) is windshield only. No mention of the blue band ... but I do have a picture of my 68 the day I bought it in 1976, it has a very distinct blue band.

Wish there was a break down on what options came with AC, and what options were disallowed. Like radiator, fan, window glass etc.
AC cars in 68 had a lot of stuff associated with the option ... even different fuel pump plumbing.

As Greg says ... same way I always heard it, the blue band was standard on AC cars. My guess is that the band came on ALL soft-ray windshields ... which means it would be on ALL AC cars.

In other words ... I don't think you can have a soft-ray windshield that does not have the blue band.

[Gtozy]

Seeing as this has been resurected. I can definately say that the convertible windshield has a slightly different contour at the top.

I tried fitting one and it was obviously not right once we layed it up, this was the hardtop glass DW709.

I ended up fitting DW752 GBN (green band) with antenna.
DW711 - GBN is w/o antenna

The link below may be helpfull.

https://arizona-classic.com/Windshields.htm

[Half-Inch Stud]

original 68s can have "Tinted and Shaded" wibdshields; Softray and the blue band.

[north]

All Softray windshields included the blue darker top band, standard windshields did not have any tinting or the blue band. Any 68-69 would have come from the factory with clear glass all around unless 531 (soft ray all) or 532 (soft ray WS only) was ordered. The AC option did not include soft ray glass. However if you ordered AC the 532 SR WS option was mandatory and therefore it was added (and billed separately) to the PHS invoice. You could override the 532 with 531 (SR all) and almost all AC cars have the 531. In 68 the 532 was $25.28 and the 531 was $36.86. In 69 the 532 went up to $26.33 and 531 was unchanged

AC did include at no extra charge (and therefore not shown on the PHS) the 691 (de-clutching fan) and 701 (HD rad-i.e. 4 core). Other changes included a different axle ratio, different pulley diameters on the crank and water pump to increase coolant flow and in cases where it wasn't already standard it included a return line for the fuel system. The HD rad option included extra baffles etc along with the thicker rad core itself.

[north]

This factory pic shows a 68 GTO ragtop without either soft ray option so completely clear windshield. It was common in that era for factory pics to use clear windshields even sometimes on expensive models. I guess to better show the interior.

[north]

inversely here is a factory ad with a SR windshield

[68ragtop]

So I decided on a Pilkington replacement. I test fit it tonight & was a little surprised how short it is. From the adjustable bump stops to the top of the glass it's only 22" tall.
I am going to guess it should be at least 22-1/2" tall if not a fuzz more. I can make it work, but will have to put spacers in at the bottom & the stainless trim will just barely cover the edge of the glass.

So are they all this way, or did I just get "lucky" ?