windshield crack 87 silverado

Hey all,
Needing some info on changing a windshield on my 87 silverado 1/2 ton. I was on the way home the other night and a passing car kicked up a rock, chipped it, and by morning was cracked straight up in front of my view. I have changed windshields in plenty of semi trucks but never in a small vehicle. It don't look too difficult but don't want to screw it up all the same. Also it has the antenna for the radio in the glass.

Well, I imagine there is a difference from semi-trucks and a light duty pick-up. Don't semi's have flat windshields? Don't know if I've ever seen any that are not flat. Anyways, I can tell you that I work @ a body shop and we have glass guys come out to remove windshields, rear glass, and some quarter panel glasses all the time. Any windows that are not bolted in we have them come out to remove/install. I can also tell you that from talking to these guys, they take pride in their work and speak like it's not a job for just anybody. I personally still wonder just how "difficult" thier job really is for them to recieve the gratification they do. Anyways, from talking to them, and seeing vehicles come and go, I can tell you that I have learned that once you remove a curved windshield, it will most likely crack when you go to intall it. Therefor they always install new windshields and trash the old, even if it didn't crack upon removal. Why this is, I don't really know. So if you were planning on picking one up from a wrecking yard, Iwouldn't recomend it. If you are planning on installing a new windshield, all you need to do really is besure to remove as much of the old sealantas possible on your truck. Keep it as smooth as possible and thouroughly clean it. Not sure the chemical the glass guys use but I would say laquer thinner will get it as clean as you need it. Then, get a hold of some windshield sealant and lay a nice smooth bead around the truck about 1/2 an inch to 3/4 of an inch thick. Not sure what auto parts stores carry for windshield sealer/adhesive but they might have a decent product to use. However, if semi trucks are not bolted in, then you probably know exactly what to use.

You might want to try some windshield crack fixer. I found some at Menards (it was on sale/clearance, $5)... lots of places probably have it. If you want to try that, do it quick. If dirt gets into the crack it'll have air bubbles in it, although even then it's hard to see the crack. I used some on my windshield about 3 months after it was cracked and it is almost good as new.

It actually has a rubber seal around the glass and not the glue in type of fit. With the crack repair it has another crack where a piece of **** hit the glass hit on the passenger side and started to spider . I had the glass chip guy at work fix that chip but he said the cracks it made were permanent. With the new one it is about 8in long and nobody says it can be fixed. Thanks for the help so far!!!