Soft ray glass Guru, help! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

JPSAUTO · 07-10-2008, 01:57 PM

My 69CST has the soft ray glass option, question is about the windshield, did it come with the darker band at the top or was it tinted the same as the door and rear glass?

OhioDan · 07-10-2008, 04:38 PM

Mine is tinted like all the rest of the glass, but there's a darker band at the top.

JPSAUTO · 07-10-2008, 05:03 PM

Is you windshield factory or a replacement?

OhioDan · 07-11-2008, 04:31 AM

Replacement. Could have ordered clear, tinted, with the band, or dark tinted. Local glass shop installed it. Major glass shops in the area wouldn't touch it, and the one that tried, had the gasket so messed up, I told them to take it out and get off the property.

JPSAUTO · 07-16-2008, 12:48 PM

Anyone have an original that can give me an answer?

DrtyJack75 · 07-16-2008, 01:04 PM

I guess this really doesnt answer your question but Ive been having a HECK of a time getting a new glass put in my 67....but the aftermarket one they brought the 3rd time they were out had that tent across the top but my original glass or what I believe to be the original one was clear

I have the 4th appt on Tuesday evening so we'll see what comes this time...

**special-K** · 07-16-2008, 01:53 PM

Factory SoftRay windshield were tinted/shaded.Shaded is refering to the dark band at the top.

JPSAUTO · 07-17-2008, 05:47 AM

Thanks

**oldgold70c10** · 07-18-2008, 12:53 AM

My '70 had stock soft ray windshield and it didn't have the dark band across the top. I know of another '70 with factory soft ray glass and it doesn't have the dark band either. Was 1970 an odd year?

**special-K** · 07-18-2008, 06:46 AM

Did those trucks have a/c?

**oldgold70c10** · 07-24-2008, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

Did those trucks have a/c?

Both non-air trucks. Maybe a connection?

**special-K** · 07-25-2008, 06:53 AM

That`s what I`m thinking.Most of what I know (or think I know) is from what I`ve observed.That is,until this highly educational site came along.I`ll have to pay attention to this,now.I can`t recall which truck had what that I`ve owned.My`72 Blazer at my mom`s is a non-a/c truck with tinted glass.I`ll hjave to check that next time I`m up there.Most of what you see are non-a/c with clear and a/c with tint.Tint comes with air option.Look and see if air trucks have original Soft Ray shaded and non-a/c w/original Soft Ray are not shaded.Alot of replaced windshields these days.Maybe someone has some "book" knowledge.

Longhorn Man · 07-25-2008, 04:49 PM

I know 3 of my trucks had original front glass, one was a fairly highly optioned truck with A/C... the other two were lower level trucks... none had the shaded part on top. I have never seen anything as far as factory lit showing it, nor vintage photos.
I have always been under the impression it was not avalible.

**john** · 07-25-2008, 05:55 PM

Heres a pic from a factory brochure. I thought the a/c trucks had the shaded tinted windshields, but who knows after so many years.

Longhorn Man · 07-25-2008, 07:00 PM

very interesting... thank you!
A factory photo pretty much proves it to me.

**special-K** · 07-25-2008, 07:41 PM

A shaded windshield may not be specified in literature,just supplied with a/c.

**Classic Bowties** · 07-25-2008, 07:50 PM

Just went out and took a look in the yard and found four pickups, two blazers and a burb that are all retaining factory option A11 SoftRay Safety Flo-Lite windshields, all of them are only tinted (soft green like side glass) and do not have a shaded band across the top. Two of the pickups, both of the blazers and the burb are factory a/c equipped. I also have two factory SoftRay windshields that have been put away for future projects and they are both tinted only with no shading at the top.

One more quick note, while just checking all the windshieds I noticed a 72 cheyenne/20 super - bbc/air truck that came factory with A11 SoftRay of which side and rear cab glass is all there and marked as softray, but windshield is labled as E-Z-EYE Safety Flo-Lite and looks to be of the same tint as side glass with no shading at the top and it looks like a factory type windshield. Anyone know anything about this type windshield, maybe an early oe replacement or?

**Classic Bowties** · 08-16-2008, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Classic Bowties

One more quick note, while just checking all the windshieds I noticed a 72 cheyenne/20 super - bbc/air truck that came factory with A11 SoftRay of which side and rear cab glass is all there and marked as softray, but windshield is labled as E-Z-EYE Safety Flo-Lite and looks to be of the same tint as side glass with no shading at the top and it looks like a factory type windshield. Anyone know anything about this type windshield, maybe an early oe replacement or?

Anyone?

70GMCer · 08-16-2008, 06:51 AM

Don't know about the truck tinting or shading, but have always been told, (& what I remember seeing), that the only way of getting tinted glass in early GM cars, was if you had the AC option. Even GM cars from way back, I remember some having the shade on top of the windshield, and others did not have it. But they all had ac that had the tinted glass. Maybe the shading was another box checked on the order sheet with the tinting option, but still had the same RPO number for regular tinting. imo

LUV2XCLR8 · 08-16-2008, 06:55 AM

Hard to tell from this pic. (Best I got on File) I got this windsheild at
a local glass shop (4WD) & they came and installed it in my garage.
It is the factory green tinted to match my other glass w/ the band.

**Classic Bowties** · 08-16-2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70GMCer

Don't know about the truck tinting or shading, but have always been told, (& what I remember seeing), that the only way of getting tinted glass in early GM cars, was if you had the AC option.

I currently have a few trucks and a burb here that left factory with softray glass and NO air conditioning.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUV2XCLR8

Hard to tell from this pic. (Best I got on File) I got this windsheild at
a local glass shop (4WD) & they came and installed it in my garage.
It is the factory green tinted to match my other glass w/ the band.

Thanks for sharing but was trying for info on oem type glass options from back in the day, I think its the aftermarket/reproduction windshields that have caused the confusion on whats correct to be original.

powerbench · 08-16-2008, 12:46 PM

The windsheild i just pulled out of my 70( i think it the original) was an E-Z Eye tinted windsheild with the Tinted band on the top.All the other glass was soft-ray tinted.The truck has no A/C. Is the E-Z Eye window just what they called there Top stripe tinted window , and soft ray , was what they called a non banded version...ie(E-Z on your eyes ,by having a dark band)?

**Classic Bowties** · 08-16-2008, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerbench

The windsheild i just pulled out of my 70( i think it the original) was an E-Z Eye tinted windsheild with the Tinted band on the top.All the other glass was soft-ray tinted.The truck has no A/C. Is the E-Z Eye window just what they called there Top stripe tinted window , and soft ray , was what they called a non banded version...ie(E-Z on your eyes ,by having a dark band)?

Thanks for the reply this is what I am trying to sort out. I am 100% sure that the E-Z-Eye in the 72 that I mentioned above is tinted a soft green (matches side and rear softray glass) and has no shading at the top?

**truckster** · 08-16-2008, 06:38 PM

The factory glass was available clear or tinted, but after a certain year the tinted was mandatory with A/C (can't remember the year). The shaded windshield was also optional. Some of the confusion on the markings comes from the fact that GM didn't produce their own glass. The OEM glass was produced by PPG and by Libbey-Owens-Ford (LOF).

stope4 · 08-16-2008, 09:36 PM

From what I remember the original tinted windsheilds (soft ray) did not have the top darker ban. My first 71 had the original soft ray windsheild that broke when removing it. The replacement had the darker band and I was told I couldn't get tinted windsheild without the band. Wish they would make one today where the darker ban didn't look so darn dark. It almost looks black.

07-10-2008, 01:57 PM	#1
JPSAUTO Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 158	Soft ray glass Guru, help! My 69CST has the soft ray glass option, question is about the windshield, did it come with the darker band at the top or was it tinted the same as the door and rear glass? Attached Images

07-10-2008, 04:38 PM	#2
OhioDan Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New Carlisle, Ohio,USA Posts: 1,404	Re: Soft ray glass Guru, help! Mine is tinted like all the rest of the glass, but there's a darker band at the top. Attached Images __________________ LIFE AIN'T EASY WHEN YER FAT AND GREASY! GMC= Got More Class! 1970 GMC LWB, Fleetside, 350/4spd, Flowmaster "40's", 2002 GMC 16" Rallies, cowl hood,and added a bunch of options that weren't there when I started.

07-10-2008, 05:03 PM	#3
JPSAUTO Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 158	Re: Soft ray glass Guru, help! Is you windshield factory or a replacement?

07-11-2008, 04:31 AM	#4
OhioDan Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New Carlisle, Ohio,USA Posts: 1,404	Re: Soft ray glass Guru, help! Replacement. Could have ordered clear, tinted, with the band, or dark tinted. Local glass shop installed it. Major glass shops in the area wouldn't touch it, and the one that tried, had the gasket so messed up, I told them to take it out and get off the property. __________________ LIFE AIN'T EASY WHEN YER FAT AND GREASY! GMC= Got More Class! 1970 GMC LWB, Fleetside, 350/4spd, Flowmaster "40's", 2002 GMC 16" Rallies, cowl hood,and added a bunch of options that weren't there when I started.

07-16-2008, 12:48 PM	#5
JPSAUTO Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 158	Re: Soft ray glass Guru, help! Anyone have an original that can give me an answer?

07-16-2008, 01:04 PM	#6
DrtyJack75 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Sacramento, CA Posts: 417	Re: Soft ray glass Guru, help! I guess this really doesnt answer your question but Ive been having a HECK of a time getting a new glass put in my 67....but the aftermarket one they brought the 3rd time they were out had that tent across the top but my original glass or what I believe to be the original one was clear I have the 4th appt on Tuesday evening so we'll see what comes this time...

07-16-2008, 01:53 PM	#7
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Soft ray glass Guru, help! Factory SoftRay windshield were tinted/shaded.Shaded is refering to the dark band at the top. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

07-17-2008, 05:47 AM	#8
JPSAUTO Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 158	Re: Soft ray glass Guru, help! Thanks

07-18-2008, 12:53 AM	#9
oldgold70c10 Who's got steelies? Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Morrison, Oklahoma Posts: 1,025	Re: Soft ray glass Guru, help! My '70 had stock soft ray windshield and it didn't have the dark band across the top. I know of another '70 with factory soft ray glass and it doesn't have the dark band either. Was 1970 an odd year? __________________ 1969 C10 LWB W/ 250 I6 & 3spd 1970 C10 with '67 small window cab, 68 front end, blue; 305/TH350, 3.08 limited slip rear end, manual brakes, power steering; & 4-wheel drums-My daily driver. 1975 Chevelle Malibu Classic Coupe 350/th350 mint green 1970 C20 Suburban 350/700R4 4.10 gearing green & white 1978 Big 10 Silverado 350/th350, working ac, 2 tone blue-My summer daily driver 1983 GMC 1500 Sierra 305/SM465 2.73 rear end How to add a trip odometer to your 67-72 stock speedometer How to rebuild your Q-Jet My Truck Page My Youtube Channel

07-18-2008, 06:46 AM	#10
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Soft ray glass Guru, help! Did those trucks have a/c? __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

07-25-2008, 06:53 AM	#12
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Soft ray glass Guru, help! That`s what I`m thinking.Most of what I know (or think I know) is from what I`ve observed.That is,until this highly educational site came along.I`ll have to pay attention to this,now.I can`t recall which truck had what that I`ve owned.My`72 Blazer at my mom`s is a non-a/c truck with tinted glass.I`ll hjave to check that next time I`m up there.Most of what you see are non-a/c with clear and a/c with tint.Tint comes with air option.Look and see if air trucks have original Soft Ray shaded and non-a/c w/original Soft Ray are not shaded.Alot of replaced windshields these days.Maybe someone has some "book" knowledge. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ Last edited by special-K; 07-25-2008 at 06:54 AM.

07-25-2008, 04:49 PM	#13
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Soft ray glass Guru, help! I know 3 of my trucks had original front glass, one was a fairly highly optioned truck with A/C... the other two were lower level trucks... none had the shaded part on top. I have never seen anything as far as factory lit showing it, nor vintage photos. I have always been under the impression it was not avalible.

07-25-2008, 05:55 PM	#14
john member #16 Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Yuba City Ca. Posts: 3,618	Re: Soft ray glass Guru, help! Heres a pic from a factory brochure. I thought the a/c trucks had the shaded tinted windshields, but who knows after so many years. Attached Images __________________ john http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showgroups.php board vendors http://www.flickr.com/photos/1745471...7602865984234/

07-25-2008, 07:00 PM	#15
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Soft ray glass Guru, help! very interesting... thank you! A factory photo pretty much proves it to me.

07-25-2008, 07:41 PM	#16
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Soft ray glass Guru, help! A shaded windshield may not be specified in literature,just supplied with a/c. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~



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07-25-2008, 07:50 PM	#17
Classic Bowties Always on the hunt... Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Portland, OR. Posts: 5,747	Re: Soft ray glass Guru, help! Just went out and took a look in the yard and found four pickups, two blazers and a burb that are all retaining factory option A11 SoftRay Safety Flo-Lite windshields, all of them are only tinted (soft green like side glass) and do not have a shaded band across the top. Two of the pickups, both of the blazers and the burb are factory a/c equipped. I also have two factory SoftRay windshields that have been put away for future projects and they are both tinted only with no shading at the top. One more quick note, while just checking all the windshieds I noticed a 72 cheyenne/20 super - bbc/air truck that came factory with A11 SoftRay of which side and rear cab glass is all there and marked as softray, but windshield is labled as E-Z-EYE Safety Flo-Lite and looks to be of the same tint as side glass with no shading at the top and it looks like a factory type windshield. Anyone know anything about this type windshield, maybe an early oe replacement or?

08-16-2008, 06:51 AM	#19
70GMCer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Joppa, Maryland Posts: 4,408	Re: Soft ray glass Guru, help! Don't know about the truck tinting or shading, but have always been told, (& what I remember seeing), that the only way of getting tinted glass in early GM cars, was if you had the AC option. Even GM cars from way back, I remember some having the shade on top of the windshield, and others did not have it. But they all had ac that had the tinted glass. Maybe the shading was another box checked on the order sheet with the tinting option, but still had the same RPO number for regular tinting. imo __________________ 1997 GMC Sierra Ext 1965 Mustang

08-16-2008, 06:55 AM	#20
LUV2XCLR8 The LuvShack Garage Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Maple Grove, TN (West Side) Posts: 30,468	Re: Soft ray glass Guru, help! Hard to tell from this pic. (Best I got on File) I got this windsheild at a local glass shop (4WD) & they came and installed it in my garage. It is the factory green tinted to match my other glass w/ the band. Attached Images __________________ Owner/Op: "TN Classic Transport Carriers" The Toy: "Square Vette" 72 Hybrid Blazer Toy Barn: "LuvShack" 40 x 60 x 20 Shop Tow Piggy:"Maddy" 88 Silverado 3500 Hauler: "Feathers" 14 Aluma 8218T

08-16-2008, 12:46 PM	#22
powerbench Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Surrey B.C Posts: 432	Re: Soft ray glass Guru, help! The windsheild i just pulled out of my 70( i think it the original) was an E-Z Eye tinted windsheild with the Tinted band on the top.All the other glass was soft-ray tinted.The truck has no A/C. Is the E-Z Eye window just what they called there Top stripe tinted window , and soft ray , was what they called a non banded version...ie(E-Z on your eyes ,by having a dark band)?

08-16-2008, 06:38 PM	#24
truckster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 7,976	Re: Soft ray glass Guru, help! The factory glass was available clear or tinted, but after a certain year the tinted was mandatory with A/C (can't remember the year). The shaded windshield was also optional. Some of the confusion on the markings comes from the fact that GM didn't produce their own glass. The OEM glass was produced by PPG and by Libbey-Owens-Ford (LOF).

08-16-2008, 09:36 PM	#25
stope4 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 434	Re: Soft ray glass Guru, help! From what I remember the original tinted windsheilds (soft ray) did not have the top darker ban. My first 71 had the original soft ray windsheild that broke when removing it. The replacement had the darker band and I was told I couldn't get tinted windsheild without the band. Wish they would make one today where the darker ban didn't look so darn dark. It almost looks black.

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