I am getting ready to paint my z and I had a couple of dumb questions. I am going to take the windshield and hatch glass out and I was wondering if there was a trick or easy way to do this so I don't break them. Also do you have to drop the gas tank to get the rear bumper off? Any help on this is appreciated!!

Thanks,

Mark

If you are going to take the glass out of the car to paint it, and I recommend it, cut and waste your rubber weatherstrip molding and replace it when you put the glass back in. Be very careful with the old glass.

I just took the windshield out of mine a few days ago, and 26th_Z is right - cut the weatherstrip off and the glass will just about fall out. I took a sharp utility knife and ran it around the perimeter of the glass (blade slipped down along the glass and into the weatherstrip). The weatherstrip then just peeled off, and the glass popped out.

Thanks for the reply! I'll try that. I'm just hoping that it doesn't break on the way out! I think I'll have a glass company put it back in when I'm done.

Thanks,

Mark

Just a note on having a glass company put in used glass...

I had this done on a Blazer I owned years ago. I went and found a windshield in a junk yard for $75 and the install price was $50 totalling WAY less than a new windshield. HOWEVER, the glass company would not take any responsibility should the old used glass break upon re-installation. So basically, if they would have broken it I would have had to go get another one. Fortunately there were no problems but the lesson here is that while they do know what they are doing and typically do things the right way they probably will not ensure that the used glass will not break and will take no responsibility if it does.

Not to beat a dead horse, but I had the same experience years ago painting my Z. The glass company did break the windshield putting it back in and told me the old glass gets brittle. I bought a new windshield and ten years later IT is cracked. Go figure.

Bumpers can be removed without dropping the gas tank ( a real pain), but it isn't easy and it is difficult to reach the bolts. I don't remember any special tools, just tedium.

Since I've never done this before I've read the FSM and other manuals about windshield installation, is it that hard to install the glass or am I better off having a glass company do it even if there is no warranty against glass breakage? I just don't want any leaks later on.

Thanks,

Mark