Original Clear Glass - Replace?

[Duffman]

Hi, all, I have an early model Z with the clear glass in the rear hatch. Problem is a PO somehow put marks/gouges in the glass from a grinder or something and it needs to be replaced, or hidden. Phoenix, AZ, doesn't have any resources for old hatches to pillage and I have tried to get the gouges "buffed" out without success. I could put the louvres on to cover them up but not sure if that would make sense for an early Z.

Any ideas/thoughts?

Thanks!

[Virto]

Louvers look great on any 1st gen Z...if fact, it's too bad my set requires drilling the car, or I'd put them on.

You can try bad dog parts or ebay for a good hatch/glass combo or maybe get lucky and find a pane of glass by itself. You can get a later model glass with defroster lines, but that would hurt the originality...however, lined glass is more common.

Worst case scenario, maybe a local glass shop can fab you a window from safety glass.

[Arne]

Louvers on these and other cars were big when I was growing up and 240Z's were new. But I've never really cared for the looks of them myself, even though I understand their value.

How fussy about originality are you? You could always take any later piece of glass and try to remove the defroster grid. It would still be tinted glass, but maybe that would bother you less than the gouges?

I've actually got a rear window out of a 280Z hatch with a bad defroster grid that I was planning to get rid of. But shipping it to you would be a major pain.

[Duffman]

Thanks, Kelly and Arne, will look into getting a more recent piece of glass and remove the defrost grid. Living in AZ. I plan on tinting anyway, so that is no problem.

Stephen

[DougN]

If you can't find one anywhere else, this may be an alternative:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-240Z-260Z-280Z-Rear-Hatch-Deck-w-Glass_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ34204QQihZ010QQitemZ200007955961QQrdZ1

[26th-Z]

The defroster grid cannot be removed from the glass. The glass is etched. Buy a new piece of glass, and if I were you, the correct one.

http://page9.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k34893503

[MikeW]

The defroster grid cannot be removed from the glass. The glass is etched. Buy a new piece of glass, and if I were you, the correct one.

http://page9.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k34893503

Note one of the few pieces of english on that page:

"Seller will not ship internationally."

[Duffman]

Anyone have experience buying a new piece of glass from a glass company to replace? Am assuming very difficult to get someone to cut the unique shape, but it may be an option.

[26th-Z]

Note one of the few pieces of english on that page:

"Seller will not ship internationally."

Yes, arrangements would have to be made. It IS possible and one of the things I have found is that to buy original stuff, one must return to the mother-land.

[MikeW]

Anyone have experience buying a new piece of glass from a glass company to replace? Am assuming very difficult to get someone to cut the unique shape, but it may be an option.

a) The glass has a curve to it so it can't just be cut from a flat piece

Automotive glass is tempered safety glass which can't be cut. It has to be manufactured to a specific size and shape.

[Arne]

The defroster grid cannot be removed from the glass. The glass is etched.

You know, I wondered about that shortly after I posted that. Thanks for clarifying that, Chris.

I'd go back and edit my post, but the server config has apparently been changed recently to prohibit editing old posts.

[26th-Z]

I have a few pieces of old glass with defroster lines and when some friends started asking me to buy my clear pieces, I tried to scrape the defroster lines off with a razor blade. No work!

The Yahoo Japan auction has a starting price of about $170 which is about the going rate for clear glass. I have seen it go for up to $300. I guess my encouragement here is "don't give up just because it is in Japan and the seller doesn't want to be bothered with the hassel of international shipping". Stuff is shipped internationally all the time and the fact is that the glass is available. Our cars are old and this is what it is going to take to get the real stuff.

And if you think this is an expensive proposition, try getting a windshield!