Repairing or replacing tailgate window glass for a 65 Special wagon?

**elagache** · 03-07-2011, 01:33 PM

Dear Team Buick members,

My trusty 65 Buick Special wagon is getting the body prep work before repainting. Many decades ago, the pad protecting the metal spring that holds the tailgate window in place wore out. As a result the tailgate window has a band of scratched glass in the middle. Here is a photo of the damage:

Biquette_rear_window_scratch.jpg

The fellows at the body shop were not very optimistic about trying to polish out the scratches. Does anyone on Team Buick have a bright idea on how I either I might be able to save the existing window or if not where on earth I might either find a replace tailgate window or have one made?

I'm not certain, but I believe the tailgate is identical with the 65 Sportwagon.

Any leads would be greatly appreciated!!

Cheers, Edouard

**Bob** · 03-07-2011, 06:56 PM

It shares the same rear window as most '64 - '66 Buick Special, Chevelle, Olds F85, and Tempest wagons.

**elagache** · 03-08-2011, 03:08 PM

Thanks Bob for the reply!

Originally Posted by Bob

It shares the same rear window as most '64 - '66 Buick Special, Chevelle, Olds F85, and Tempest wagons.

In my scrounging around, I've located a few. Indeed, it is not as rare as I feared. The first thing to do is have the glass specialists at the body shop take a look and decide if there is anything they can do about the scratches. If not, I'll start checking my leads - working my way out from local suppliers.

Thanks again!

Cheers, Edouard

**autryspal** · 03-09-2011, 03:29 PM

we have a glass polisher that will remove light scratches. you might try your local glass dealer.
We also have replacement glass available for vehicles.
Lafayette Glass Co is located in Lafayette, IN 800-382-7862

Dennis

**elagache** · 03-09-2011, 04:33 PM

Dear Dennis,

Thanks so much for offering me your suggestions.

Originally Posted by autryspal

we have a glass polisher that will remove light scratches. you might try your local glass dealer.
We also have replacement glass available for vehicles.
Lafayette Glass Co is located in Lafayette, IN 800-382-7862

I've gotten a little ahead of myself. I called the body shop and the auto glass specialists that they work with fixed a bull's eye on the windshield, but the manager of the body shop didn't get their pronouncement on the tailgate glass. So he will have to get back to me as to whether or not they can make a fix themselves.

It seems like this particular glass panel isn't as rare as I feared. If it must be replaced, I've gotta at least explore local suppliers first given how fragile such things are. However, given that the car is over 45 years ago, I may have go have glass shipped across the country. *Gulp*!

Thanks again!

Cheers, Edouard

P.S. Lafayette Glass has a website for anyone else needing their services: http://www.lafayetteglass.com/. I've added it to my auto resource bookmarks!

**Alisa64** · 03-11-2011, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by elagache

Dear Team Buick members,

My trusty 65 Buick Special wagon is getting the body prep work before repainting. Many decades ago, the pad protecting the metal spring that holds the tailgate window in place wore out. As a result the tailgate window has a band of scratched glass in the middle. Here is a photo of the damage:

Biquette_rear_window_scratch.jpg

The fellows at the body shop were not very optimistic about trying to polish out the scratches. Does anyone on Team Buick have a bright idea on how I either I might be able to save the existing window or if not where on earth I might either find a replace tailgate window or have one made?

I'm not certain, but I believe the tailgate is identical with the 65 Sportwagon.

Any leads would be greatly appreciated!!

Cheers, Edouard

I had a giant scratch in my windshield that was very similar to that. I called a rock chip repair / removal guy and he came out with a machine that heated and massaged the glass back to 90%. I was amazed. I cost me about $100 but a new windshield was going to be over $300. He said that the tool he used was $2500 so not a tone of people have it. I would recommend calling a rock chip outfit near you and trying to see if they can point you in the right direction.

**elagache** · 03-11-2011, 02:58 PM

Dear Alisa64,

Thanks for your suggestion!

Originally Posted by Alisa64

I had a giant scratch in my windshield that was very similar to that. I called a rock chip repair / removal guy and he came out with a machine that heated and massaged the glass back to 90%. I was amazed.

Actually, I had the glass specialists at the body shop repair a "bull's eye" on the windshield using a technique that sounds similar.

At the moment I think I'll have to wait until the tailgate glass is out of the car before I can do much more on this restoration subtask. They will need to remove the glass to prep the car for painting anyway. Once it is out, it will be much easier to try techniques like this.

Thanks again,

Cheers, Edouard

**jeff0547** · 03-25-2011, 07:39 PM

Here's something to think about. How are you going to keep the new window from getting scratched to match the old?

Enquiring minds want to know.

**elagache** · 03-26-2011, 11:43 AM

Dear Jeff (and Team Buick members),

As it turns out, there are a few places that have this particular piece of glass available. After one wrong lead, I got a recommendation to call Pilkington Classics and ordered a new replacement glass panel from them. Their website is: http://www.pilkington.com/the+americ...cs/default.htm. The glass still hasn't arrived from Ohio yet, so I can't claim success. I'll provide an update when the glass actually arrives in one piece and is successfully installed in the car.

Originally Posted by jeff0547

Here's something to think about. How are you going to keep the new window from getting scratched to match the old?

Enquiring minds want to know.

Well miscellaneous scratches - what can you do? However, that particular scratch down the middle of the panel is caused by a spring that pushes the glass in the center. That spring was covered by some sort of felt pad to protect it from damaging the glass. Over the decades the felt worn out slowly and before we realized what was going on, the glass was damaged.

I never figured out how to remove the glass myself, but managed during one particularly miserable session of "do-to-yourself" to pull a new piece of felt over the spring and glue is securely. So there hasn't been any additional scratching in about a decade or two. However, there is no alternative, periodically the tailgate needs to be taken apart and that spring needs to have a new piece of felt glued on it. While the car is at the body shop, they'll do that work, so I should be good for another 15-20 years or so!

Cheers, Edouard

**DocModisett** · 03-26-2011, 09:51 PM

Yes ,,,, Ed. be very, very care full working on the mechanism that runs the glass up and down in that tailgate,,,, I cut my hand rather badly one time when the heavy spring whacked me .... that mechanism has a spring that the electric motor works against and it is powerfull... if you undo the wrong bolt like I did it will definitly hurt you... be carefull..