What's the latest w windshields: Pilkington or Crinamex?

[DeadheadNM]

Last week a local distributor handed my glass guy a windshield w Pilkington stickers on it but the glass was embossed with the name "Crinamex" not Pilkington. My glass guy balked at that as the glass he believed to be thinner and called Pilkington in OH and had a Pilkington embossed windshield shipped, which was installed yesterday without any issue.

A local forum member has had continued leaks with a Crinamex windshield after two attempts to set the glass that he attributes to the glass itself. Another board member several weeks ago ordered a Pilkington windshield also from the Ohio warehouse and was told only eight more like that were left. Maybe production has shifted to Crinamex (Mexico)? A Pilkington rep today told me he didn't know.

My question is, what brand glass have y'all installed recently and have you had any leakage or fitment issues with the glass? Anyone else used Crinamex w success?

[DeadheadNM]

Pilkington

[toolboxchev]

Would be interesting to know whether or not Pilkington is still around.

[davepl]

When I had my Chinese glass installed last year I asked the old installer his opinion. He mostly grunted but said Pilkington used to be great but not anymore.

He didn't quantify what he felt had changed, though.

[Classic Heartbeat]

Pilkington is still around, but i have been told by my representative that they are starting to import some of their glass too. Sucks because they were the last of the good windshields.

[toolboxchev]

Originally Posted by davepl

When I had my Chinese glass installed last year I asked the old installer his opinion. He mostly grunted but said Pilkington used to be great but not anymore.

He didn't quantify what he felt had changed, though.

What brand did you receive from Summit?

[davepl]

Originally Posted by toolboxchev

what brand did you receive from summit?

OER, and I'm happy with the glass and the tint.

[CheyenneSuper72]

I have ordered 3 recently trying to get my windshield/trim/rubber issue lined out. First one was a FY. Those are complete junk. It’s quite a bit thinner than the oem glass. Second one that showed up was a vitro same issue. Glass is thin and it appears that the curvature isn’t quite right. Last glass ordered was PGW. It has not showed up yet so I don’t know how that will play out. I tried multiple times to get Pilkington but I was told that they no longer make this particular glass? Anyone know where there is a stash of OEM glass? ��

[mike16]

Uh OH! when they say they dont know , either theirs a merger going on or somebody has relinquished the market to a lower cost manufacturer. May be a good time to send a message to vendors. S'crap is S'crap in any language. S'crapola?

[CheyenneSuper72]

This is the issue I am having with mine.....precision rubber swears that this seal is exactly like oem. It is not. I have a side by side which I will post. Gasket is thinner than the original. Top corners are slightly elevated more than the rest of the trim and the gap between the windshield and seal is not as it should be. I have tried multiple gaskets and 2 different windshields. 40 year glass man has been helping me install and remove. Here are some pictures for reference.

[CheyenneSuper72]

Here are some side by side of a new precision seal with the trim deep trim groove vs the oem gasket from gm without the chrome trim groove.

[CheyenneSuper72]

More pictures.

[CheyenneSuper72]

We have installed the windshield several different ways and either the bottom doesn’t lay flat against the windshield or the corners and top edge don’t fit very well. We did install the glass with a aftermarket seal with no trim and it fit decent. Trim is oem GM. Laid 2 sets side by side and they were identical. I don’t think it’s the trim. It has to be an issue with the gasket. Anyone have any input on this?

[Redneck Rydes]

I have a Fuyao shaded windshield,fits great and no leaks.

[CheyenneSuper72]

Redneck, does your truck have the chrome trim? Can you post pictures if so?

[Redneck Rydes]

Originally Posted by CheyenneSuper72

Redneck, does your truck have the chrome trim? Can you post pictures if so?

No Chrome trim,it might not be a brand name like Pilkington,but all the windshields I have seen are usually all offshore,this one was $100.I was driving on the interstate the other day and a rock flew up,I saw it coming,I was waiting to see where it was going to crack,and nothing,I was impressed.When I worked at GM,we used PPG glass,closed up.I have a 2014 GMC 3500 has 40,000 miles on it and the windshield looks like I am looking through a screen door,it is so pitted.The original windshield in my 1978 C10 is like brand new with over 150,000 miles on it.

[3757chevy]

I had my '67 done in March and my '72 K5 done last March, both in the parking lot in front of the store where I work. Both PGW . No problems and Norm said the pickup's went in pretty easily.

[Barnfind46]

I had my glass installed about ten years ago but this thread got me to thinking. What if any markings were on my glass? I looked and it said PPG. So I wonder if PPG still makes windshields for our trucks?

[DeadheadNM]

Good info here - thanks for posting. It's convinced me to hoard a spare domestic windshield

[CheyenneSuper72]

We have installed several windshields of various manufacturers without the trim. They all have went pretty easy. They even line up better than you would expect for aftermarket parts.....when the trim is involved it seems like all the problems show up. If anyone has any suggestions on what to do to make them fit perfect please post in this thread. I have 1 nos gm windshield rubber without the trim but I would really like to use the trim on this truck if I can make it work.

[hotwls13]

Just had this installed on Friday. No stainless though. We will see how it goes. Looks to be a solid install though. They used the precision seal. FY FuYao windshield with tint at top.

[DeadheadNM]

I spoke w Curt at Pilkington Classics Auto Glass (https://www.pilkington.com/en/us/aut...ngton-classics) and he shows 20 Pilkington windshields currently in stock and available. He says these are also made in Mexico but at a different facility and are embossed w "Pilkington" and not w Vitro Crinamex.

@CheyenneSuper72: My glass has been installed by the same auto glass guy who is knowledgeable with 67-72 windshields and using OEM trim has never been an issue. Is it possible the trim is either bent, doesn't match the gasket groove (67-70 gasket w 71-72 trim), or could the trim be used reproduction pieces?

@ Dave: Andy from MCR is en route to collect my 72s. I toured the facilities - very nice.

[CheyenneSuper72]

I cannot get anyone at Pilkington classics to give me any information. They act like they don’t know where they are made. I doubt that 2 different sets of gm trim with the same issue are both bent. Laid side by side they are exactly the same. I even tried some aftermarket trim which was complete junk. I am using the 67-70 deep groove rubber and matching trim. The later model shallow trim is harder to work with from what the glass man tells me. I have had 2 different guys install this glass. Same issues with both installers. Measured the windshield frame....it is symmetrical.

[CheyenneSuper72]

Just got off the phone with a guy at Pilkington. $95 for the glass and $150 freight. He claims that glass shops can get these exact same windshields through the suppliers but I cannot seem to get one. Anyone order a glass and get a Pilkington lately? He also claims they still manufacture that particular windshield. DW 685 is the part number. The 5 different glass shops that I have tried to get one at have always turned up different manufacturers.

[Traviz02]

The fesler flush mount glass I just got that’s made by pilkington was made in Mexico