1969 Jeep Cj5 Windshield - Confused.

I need a Windshield for my '69 Dauntless CJ5. I'm very confused and am not at all sure when I buy one, it'll be right. Here's the source of my confusion... Looking in the factory parts manual, there are numerous windshields listed. Top wiper, bottom wipers, stationary windshield, ventilated windshield, 13", 14" tall, etc. Whatever stationary vs Ventilated means I have no idea. Defroster?

I know for sure I need the 13" windshield for a bottom wiper application with a defroster. Asking vendors the height of the windshield has yielded either "we don't know" or, get this, 15" tall!

If I go ahead and order a windshield for the '69-'75 application, does anyone know what I'll actually get?

Help!

Thanks,
John

 

Get the one with bottom wipers. Even if it's not correct for the year (i think it is) I think they are easier to set up and run.

 

I recall reading on the forum that '69 was a transition year. Early ones had the lower wipers with the flat-topped glass like my '68. The standoffs to to hood are attached to the windshield above the glass and there are two footman loops down the center line of the hood. A tall one to clip the hood to the windshield when working on the engine, and a short one to tie the windshield to the hood when the windshield is down.



My '71 has the later windshield. The top of the glass is curved and it's much easier to see out of. The hood for this windshield will have three footman loops. A tall pair to the sides of the center line for the windshield to rest on when it's down, and a short one on the center line to tie the windshield down. The wiper/defroster portions of both windshields are the same, just the tops are different.



The footman layout on your hood should tell you which one the Jeep had. If you're not going for 100% originality, I'd do the newer up to '75 one because the visibility is so much better. I'm not sure anybody reproduces the one with the flat top glass and lower wipers anyway.

 

My windshield frame is like the Jeep in the forefront of your first photo. I only have footman loops down the centerline of my hood. I also have those two handle looking things at the top of the windshield frame above the glass including the latch right in the middle. I need the flattop glass.

To be clear, I only need to order the glass. My windshield frame is fine. So, I'm guessing from how you describe things, I really need '68 glass?

Thanks
John

 

This is right. There was a year or so ca 1969 when the new bottom wipers were used with the old rectangular glass. By rectangular I mean flat across the top, not arch topped. With the wipers on the bottom, they can make the glass area a bit larger across the top edge, so the edge of the glass curves up to fill this space.

If you have no windshield now, get the one that has the arch top glass and bottom wipers. It's better. If you have a windshield now and need glass, get the glass that matches what you have, arched top or not. Unless your restoration requires the smaller glass with the bottom mounted wipers.

A ventilated windshield hinges the glass so it can pivot forward at the bottom and let air come in across the cowl. These are scarce and highly sought after. Plus their glass is slightly smaller overall and they use two piece glass with a divider down the middle, which can at times block your vision. Cool though.

 

OK. So I need the smaller flattop glass and I have bottom mounted wipers... Is that an issue? You said: "Unless your restoration requires the smaller glass with the bottom mounted wipers." I already have the original windshield frame.

John

 

That only applies if you have no windshield now. If you have a frame and bad glass now, just replace the glass and enjoy.

 

Yes, that is correct. I'm not sure, but I think all the flat-top glass is the same (expect for the ventilated windshield). Another option is to have a glass shop cut a new windshield to match your old one since it's flat glass.

 

If you were planning to do this yourself, maybe you could check with your local glass shop for a price out the door. Should not be expensive. This should be a really easy job for them, and you avoid a lot of risk.

 

I think you'd find in real life that our 'binocular' (two-eyed) vision makes the vertical divider a non-issue.

The vented w/shield IS restricted by the secondary inner frame making the top of the glass lower than the plain w/s. Okay for short people.

 

My 1969 came with the rare and undesirable bottom-wiper-flat-top windshield frame. I got rid of it and paid extra for the arch top. I drive in town and got tired of having to look for reflections of traffic lights on the hood.

 

I completely agree. Having both kinds, the curved-top windshield is words better in every day use.

 

If I had my choice, I would chose the later windshield with the curved top. 20 or 30 years ago I might have looked around for a good used replacement windshield, but today maybe not. It seems like good used OEM '70-75 windshields are kind of scarce now. The reproduction/replacement frames have a poor reputation for quality.

I'd guess the bottom mounted electric wipers provide much of the upgrade component. And plenty of early owners are suffering along with both top mounted wipers and the smaller glass.

 

I’m going from memory here but I’m pretty sure the ‘68-‘early’69 bottom mount wiper flat top glass is dimensionally different than top mount wiper glass. At one time I had pictures and dimensions of the 3 in question. Waaayyyyyy back when we had pictures of all this stuff in the body section I had posted pictures and dimensions of all 3 types since I was in possession of all 3. I’m pretty sure the glass height was different. I recall there was a lot of debate about this and the pics resolved it.

Best bet is to go to a local glass shop and have it cut and installed if possible. That’s what I’ve done for the last several of mine.

 

yep I would use a local glass shop . over mail order

 

You fella have sold me on having new glass made. The original windshield glass on my '69 was laminated I found out when I cracked it trying to get it out. Do custom glass shops make laminated glass or will I need to just make do with tempered?

Thanks again!
John

 

Laminated is MUCH easier to shape than tempered, and will be far less expensive. So yes, glass shops do laminated.

 

laminated on front glass And make sure they get the etching on the windshield.
Crash photos should show why.

 

1955-1983 jeep cj5 cj7 cj3 cj6 windshield frame - auto parts - by...

They don't come up that often but here's one!

 

I would say . this one's worth a look , if local