45 Year Old Birdcage - Windshield Install

[jackfit]

Windshield Damage from 48 State Trip

I took a rock to the windshield last summer outside of Park City UT, on my trip. Found a local glass shop to perform the task of taking out my old windshield and putting new one back in birdcage.

It is an insurance claim , so I had to use a shop to have all materials paid for . Plus, I am not able to do the glass bit, Glass shop does removal and install and I made a deal to have me remove the trim and to put back the trim, as the glass shop did not want to be responsible for damage to trim.

They came out to my house and within a few moments, we had the glass out and started to clean up the birdcage of sealants.

I had the windshield replaced 36 years ago by a local shop in New Hampshire. He used the right materials, as they were still soft, my windshield never leaked. Top and trim leaked, but was cured by my third latch.

They did a good job, (35 years ago) as you can see from the pictures of my clips and birdcage. Clips look like new, look at the screws, shinny, no rust anywhere except on top corners and just surface rust. I will not need any clips at all.

Any tips on rust and rust proofing before glass install?

You can see the original Milano Maroon paint

My trim came off without problems, a little bending of the lower trim , but go on will be easier I hope. It is a two person job and I found a good tread on how to do it.

Seats are out to to be covered, can't wait , after 45 years on the same foam and springs.


Jack

 

[67vet]

Jack - looks like she has been sealed up very nicely for 45 years. A little light cleanup on the surface rust and some more "Boeing" type primer.
Well anyway it sure looks like aircraft primer to me.
Remember to air hose all the sanding dust off. All those little flakes of metal would like to corrode some.

New seat foam in the seats will make it nice for long trips again.

Roger

 

[jackfit]

Dash is painted Seats have come home

I worked all day on prep and taping. I had a paint shop mix up some dash paint. My vinyl repair was so so, but the paint job came out great.

Seats came back from Larry Woods , forum member, he did the upholstery, new foam, bottom springs , painted the backs

They look great and I fit without any problems with top up.

I just put them in the car to see what they look like, still have to put windshield in, now that dash is done, should take place this week.

Lots of work to do on trim yet.

Dash before

Dash ready for paint

Dash after repair & paint

New seats Opps I should put them in the car

In Car to see how they looked

 

[jackfit]

windshield install and trim update

Here are some pictures of my windshield / dash / trim install.

As you know , my windshield was broken by a rock on my trip. Pictured below is the back side of my trim. It shows the strip caulk that was used to seal water out under trim.

My car never leaked from the windshield and my birdcage as seen in other photos is almost rust free.

I believe the good use of the strip caulk kept out the water . The good use of soft bedding material that was still soft when rubber gasket was removed kept the water from passing from glass outside of cage to inside of cage in the pinch weld area.

Back of trim as removed, notice placement of black strip caulk , if it was not on trim , in was stuck on birdcage. Once continuous ribbon around all of the outside part of trim.

Notice the condition of my original clips, no rust, still green with a "p" in the center of pin

glass guys come tomorrow to put in glass, I will do the trim later

Jack

Back of trim just taken off

Good idea to mark where clips are with trial fit

ready for windshield

 

[Toms007]

Looking good there, Jack! Thanks for posting the progress.

 

[67vet]

With new seats you might want to do the trip again.
Looks great.

Roger

 

[jackfit]

Windshield Installed

I had the glass shop order the glass and all they are doing is putting the glass in the gasket and installing the window into the frame.

Brian, from Safelite, used the rope method, he laid down a bead of the 3M Bedding material that I supplied, and we picked up windshield and put it in. Two people are needed, the rope worked without any problems, he used just glass cleaner to lube channel.

The corners are difficult and take some work to get the window in the right position. I think the problem is that our cars have settled and the birdcage is not the same as it was 46 years ago. The glass is the same size.

He then put a rubber sealant between the glass and rubber.

It took no more then an hour for us to get the window in.

It took me about 3 hours to get the trim on. The new gasket is bigger then the old shrunken one , so the clips worked but I still need to work on the ends of the lower trim. I also did bend the trim a bit on my first disassemble a few months ago.

Unfortunately, that knowledge is gained at the cost of bent trim , once you have it off, you can see how easy it is to do next time.

It was raining today so it was a good day to test for leaks...

No Leaks , not from glass or top

The 3rd latch also helps, but I could not find any water in the car on the edges of glass, or kick panels .

Pictures

 

[jackfit]

Interior Done and I had to go for a ride today

I could not stay in so here are the pictures of the car interior done, plus a short ride to Walkers Point , Kennebunkport, ME

Car Two years ago

Car today plus 30,000 miles since last summer

ME in the Fall 2 pm today

 

[Corybant007]

Really fun to follow the project. Thanks for posting it and bravo on an great job! Beautiful pics - car and scenery.

 

[Rockdaddy]

Great thread, its great to see your beauty driven, I know you get a lot of thumbs up where ever you go.
I will be happy to be able to do half of what you have done.
If only I could get home to enjoy mine.
Great driving.
Rocky

 

[catbert]

Looks great Jack!

 

[jackfit]

Feels like a new car

Looks great Jack!

Thanks , it has been fun posting my pictures and adventures. The nice things about my car are, reliable, comfortable, looks nice, original engine and most stuff

And most of all

I just enjoy driving it. I never worry about dirt, paint, general wear and tear. If you drive your car, you redo stuff every five years (rugs etc)

The rest of the restoration that I have done, will last me my driving life for the most part. And if something breaks, it can be fixed.

I am very lucky to live where I do, so taking the car out every day is not a problem, (theft, vandals ) etc.

No matter what year corvette you own, you can not buy time, and the time you spend looking at your car and worrying about scratches,

You could be driving and driving my car is what I really love to do, I just can't drive it as fast as before, and it is not the car's fault.

Have a great fall and I am out the door, going for a ride,

Jack

 

[jackfit]

Driving to the gym rehab of knee

I am off to the gym to start rehabbing my knee. It has been raining out and I thought it would be good to test my windshield installation for leaks. Lots of rain, but , would I let that stop me?

Glad to report no leaks. Replacing the windshield was not as difficult as I had imagined. With help and patience, you can do it. the rope trick is not hard, less is better with bedding material and start with interior trim, in taking it off and work your way to the front trim. (Convertibles only).

Maine a few hours later at FT Williams Park

It looks like the fall is going to be wonderful for rides, so start your engines and get out for a ride

Jack