Modern Windshield

Just my humble opinion , Flush mounted windshields are a cool upgrade for a run of the mill Pantera . For rare pushbuttons , GT5-S Panteras , etc, not so much . But the mod is reversible so there are certainly worse sacrileges . A stock GT5-S is incredibly beautiful . - Jim

quote:

Thinking about installing a modern windshield without the metal trim on my GT5-S.

Over the years, various vendors have offered replacement glue-in windshields. This modification deletes the rubber gasket and the SS trim.

Some of the earlier offerings attempted this with a stock or only slightly larger-sized unit and required you to extend the entire circumferential ledge (lots of welding)for a proper installation.

Wilkinson's current offering fits the stock opening and ledge just fine.

BTW My recent purchase, shipped from Steve to Oregon, with packing, shipping, tax all added in totalled about $1200

Not sure what other vendors are offering. Often, the very same, exact item is sold by multiple vendors.

Larry

If you go stock, beaware of the size. most venders sell a piece of glass that is too small. I know , I just got a "stock size windshield" and it was too small. My installer made it it work but... Be careful of what you get.

The glue in flush windshield completely modernizes the look of the car IMO. I would only do it to a car with blacked out trim.

Personally I think it would suit a GT5-S with the more modern lines of the car, even more so on your black GT5-S.

Julian

quote:

even more so on your black GT5-S.

Ditto

If yours is an actual GT5S, I agree with Jim and don't touch it if you prefer to retain originality and current/future value. But if you don't give a crap about that, then of course go for what you want and change this or that to your own desires. I respect originality and enjoy seeing those examples more like museum pieces to admire; but for enhanced modern appearance and for extra engine performance that matches the appearance of such an exotic car then do your own thing to the body and/or engine. If you do change even the windshield though, if I was an original preferred buyer (or even original admirer), personally I would balk at seeing the change from original even if I could change it back. Yes I agree with others, done on a black car would look great as a "modified" car. My car is black & windshield blends nice and has some black shading to the outside as well:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/...ms/72157635769607434
Hall Ultra Pantera GT5S by JanDaMan, on Flickr

My red car has the original design windshield, and looks kind of bulky to me in comparison. If I ever got into doing additional stuff to this car, I would do the windshield as well. The windshield is a subtle change, but we know from many modified hot rods, etc., such minor changes add up to enhance appearance without being too obvious or looking overdone.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/...ms/72157639169285255
Pantera GT5S by JanDaMan, on Flickr

I never get tired of looking at the cars in your collection Jan.

Wayne,

In your case the only thing to consider is has the rubber flawed the black and would cause you to do some touch-up work around the windshield. Since your car still has the original paint, it may be best to try and keep it un-touched-up.

I have only used original sized windshield a which takes allot of work to repair the perimeter for a flush fit. If the new larger windshield will properly fit the opening and you do not have to make any permanent mods, putting it back is not an issue so do as you please.

Personally I still think your car would look fantasist if the wheels were black also.

Anyway you go is fine as long as you like it.

quote:

Originally posted by tecnosound-Jim Coyne:
I never get tired of looking at the cars in your collection Jan.

Thanks Jim. I like the windshield conversion, but then after done the car wouldn't be stock. Decisions decisions... Since I am already over the edge, such decisions are easy for me.

A few thoughts: first, new stock-type gaskets are available without the slit that allows the OEM trim to insert, and its absurdly simple with a stock gasket to simply leave the trim off. From 5 ft away, the stock trim slits are invisible and both types of gasket give the currently popular blacked-out look at zero cost.

There have been rumors that body flex with an unmodified Pantera have cracked some fully bonded windshields. The mod I mention is adding one of the vendor-developed chassis stiffening kits which also seem to have value in preventing paint cracking in the usual areas, as well as improving handling. Lots of options-

quote:

Originally posted by Bosswrench:
new stock-type gaskets are available without the slit that allows the OEM trim to insert

What's the quality and fitment of these "no trim-gaskets" ?

quote:

Originally posted by Bosswrench:
....There have been rumors that body flex with an unmodified Pantera have cracked some fully bonded windshields. ...

Jack, I'm sure that could happen but my experience is that it must take quite a blow. I hit an unseen drainage dip at about 25 mph hard enough to completely bottom the front suspension and flatten the lip of the front "chin" under the radiator (I had the Hall heavy duty springs and the shocks set in the middle) and break the 1" (hollow) sway bar. My glue in windshield did not break.

In my opinion (as a Mechanical Engineer with no analysis to back it up) the glued in windshield is probably the most effective thing that can be easily done to stiffen the Pantera.

When I was restoring ZONKEY I looked at the various front and rear stiffening kits available then (~2000) and was not impressed that any of them could accomplish much as they were all working at or near the center of the moment of inertia where they would be least effective. And there was no data to support their value. It would have been relatively easy for any of the vendors offering them to provide before and after stiffness measurements. I still have the Hall rear swaybar add on kit that I bought but never installed (it was going to be a bit of a pain) after looking at it more critically and thinking "how could this noticably improve stiffness".