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1969 Jeep Cj5 Windshield - Confused.

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by John Gedde, May 29, 2020.

  1. May 29, 2020
    John Gedde

    John Gedde Been around the block once or twice...

    Middle Island, NY
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    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
     
  2. May 29, 2020
    Buildflycrash

    Buildflycrash More or Less in Line. 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Gulf Breeze FL...
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    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.
     
  3. May 29, 2020
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    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.

    [​IMG]

    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.

    [​IMG]

    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.
     
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  4. May 29, 2020
    John Gedde

    John Gedde Been around the block once or twice...

    Middle Island, NY
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    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
     
  5. May 29, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    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.
     
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  6. May 29, 2020
    John Gedde

    John Gedde Been around the block once or twice...

    Middle Island, NY
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    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
     
  7. May 29, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    That only applies if you have no windshield now. If you have a frame and bad glass now, just replace the glass and enjoy.
     
  8. May 29, 2020
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    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.
     
    Last edited: May 29, 2020
  9. May 29, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    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.
     
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  10. May 29, 2020
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    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.
     
  11. May 29, 2020
    iharding

    iharding Quitter

    Tacoma, WA
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    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.
     
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  12. May 29, 2020
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I completely agree. Having both kinds, the curved-top windshield is words better in every day use.
     
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  13. May 29, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    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.
     
  14. May 29, 2020
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    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.
     
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  15. May 29, 2020
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    yep I would use a local glass shop . over mail order
     
  16. May 29, 2020
    John Gedde

    John Gedde Been around the block once or twice...

    Middle Island, NY
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    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
     
  17. May 29, 2020
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Laminated is MUCH easier to shape than tempered, and will be far less expensive. So yes, glass shops do laminated.
     
  18. May 29, 2020
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    laminated on front glass And make sure they get the etching on the windshield.
    Crash photos should show why.
     
  19. May 29, 2020
    iharding

    iharding Quitter

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  20. May 30, 2020
    Twin2

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