Windshield

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gbsb

gbsb

Torch Red '02
Bronze Member
Last seen
Joined
Sep 23, 2007
Thunderbird Year
2002
Got a rock chip in my windsshield today of course it ran before I could get it repaired. Has anyone had their windsheild replaced. Mine is original and has the thunderbird emblem in it. Any idea about cost mine is an 2002 . Thanks un advance for any responces. gbsb
 

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Windshield saga

We were hit by a rock from a truck June 5th. Called the insurance company on Monday the 7th. The installer came out two days later and put in a defective generic windshield I was at work, and my wife dind't notice - iot had waves all across at eye level). I had them order an OEM, it took a week and a half, and when the installer came out, he said it was defective (had a bad bend on the passenger side probably from being moved from the mold too soosn so would not have fit around the molding). It took another two weeks to get an OEM. The installer came out yesterday and did an Excellent job. It cost over $500 but worth it, but I didn't figure to wait over a month for the process finish. Bob
 
bobc4383 said:
We were hit by a rock from a truck June 5th. Called the insurance company on Monday the 7th. The installer came out two days later and put in a defective generic windshield I was at work, and my wife dind't notice - iot had waves all across at eye level). I had them order an OEM, it took a week and a half, and when the installer came out, he said it was defective (had a bad bend on the passenger side probably from being moved from the mold too soosn so would not have fit around the molding). It took another two weeks to get an OEM. The installer came out yesterday and did an Excellent job. It cost over $500 but worth it, but I didn't figure to wait over a month for the process finish. Bob
Click to expand...

The 2002-2005 Ford Thunderbird windshield WAS, and probably still is, the most complex automobile windshield ever made. It was difficlult for Ford to get it right so I am not surprised the generic's couldn't get it right.
 
Windshield.

They are very correct about the complexity of this windshield. I would never accept an aftermarket. The fit will often be a problem. The windshield in the Thunderbird was not made at Ford. It was made by PPG (now PGW) in Creighton, Penn. These people are expert specialist and all the plant does is make windshields. Quality of their product is the best in the automotive glass industry. I am a Thunderbird owner and a supplier to this plant. They still have the OEM proto type on display in their lobby. The OEM windshield will have the Thunderbird logo and PPG DOT # on the emblem. This will change to PGW, but it is still the OEM windshield made on the original mold tooling at the same plant as the original. I was told by one of the engineers they still run this windshield at least once per year. It is definately worth while to get the correct windshield. Not only for fit, distortion, but also shape affects wind noise and how well your wipers work. Often the missed spot from the wiper is from a flat spot in the windshield not the wiper is old. Wipers will squieck more on a improperly shaped windshield. Windshields from China are so cheap many of the OEM manufacturers no longer make replacement glass. These windshields many times do not make OEM quality standards.
 
CBBIRD:
Thanks for that info, I appreciate it. Certainly worth double checking with the people replacing one to get the best :cool:
 
.....PPG is the only manufacturer of our windshields....they are available with and without the T-Bird logo...(I have a replacement without the logo) ...and the price reflected that...as there are licencing/surcharges involved in the use of the logo from Ford.
 
oh boy i am getting my windshield replaced today ,the young man that came to the house to replace it was very honest and said it was beyond his ability, so i have to take it into the shop today . i am hoping it turns out ok , i have read up on replacing it -you need to remove all interior windshield pillar trim and header trim, unbolt the chrome window trim-its quite a ordeal ,i hope the replacement goes well but have a bad feeling about it.
 
My white 02 Bird had a replacement windshield installed back in 2013, installer did an excellent job,
however it did take him 2 hours. The replacement is aftermarket, but only one small visual defect
in the lower center right above the dash, where you do not look anyway, and the defect is so minimal
you will not notice it, if you are not looking for it.
 
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