Curved Glass

71customghia · Post by **71customghia** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 7:26 pm

I would like to have my roof choped 2" on my 71 Ghia. The problem i have is the curved glass (winshield & rear window). I hear it's a fortune to have a new piece cut. I'm sure someone else out there has delt with this problem. Any ideas. Also if anyone has had a new piece cut could you provide a guess as to what this would cost. Thanks in advance!

Kubel Nick · Post by **Kubel Nick** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 7:54 pm

OK, cutting glass is tricky. To get someone to cut it may cost a few hundred, but they won't guarantee they'd be able to successfully cut it the first time. It may take a few tries as the tend to shatter...

Cutting the rear glas is, well next to impossible. The front is safety glass, has a sheet of plastic sandwiched between two layers of tempered glass. So when it shatters it shatters in thousands of pieces, instead od dozens of sharp shards. The rear does not have plastic, so it's not as strong. Meaning cutting it is impossible. Most people use plexiglass for the rear.

Check out www.volksrods.com if you're eserious about chopping. A couple peopel ther ehas chopped Ghias

jspbtown · Post by **jspbtown** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 8:36 am

I am in the process of building a Porsche Speedster from a 1991 CMC kit. The front was significantly damaged and I needed to graft a new fender onto it. Storage for the past 13 years, and due to the major surgery required for the new fender, caused some irregularity in the cowl section. As a result I needed to trim the bottom of the windshield to follow the new contours. Most glass shops said what the previous poster has said. They wouldn't gaurentee it, and it may take several trys. On the windshield, the problem arises from having to score the glass on both sides because of the plastic film in the middle. If the scores are off by the slightest amount they can stress the glass and cause a crack, even well after the cut was made. After searching for weeks I got a lead from a glass shop to an auto windshield place. This place (in Mass) said no problem. They used a grinder and took about 1 inch off in some areas, down to 1/8" in others. They charged me $60. It came out perfect on the first try. My advice....spend some time on the phone. Some places just spread the word of mouth they hear, while others have actual knowledge about their ability to do the job. Don't get discouraged. Keep calling.

Kubel Nick · Post by **Kubel Nick** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 9:36 pm

Yeah, there's different methods on cutting the front safety glass. Score both sides then burn with lighter fluid, wet tile saw, grinding, sandblasting, etc. Some shops/people prefer it (or is more comfortable or only knows how to do it) one way.

Rear glass as I said is next to impossible. Not impossible, but for the most part it is...

brokevolk · Post by **brokevolk** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 8:00 pm

I own a glass shop and cutting your front w/sh down would be easy!
It is laminated safety glass and not hard at all to cut. If you came to my shop for this project I would charge you about $50 u.s.

As far the rear....That is Tempered glass and cannot be cut at all. You must use plexiglass or some type of acrylic sheet to fill the hole.