How hard is it to take the frame and windshield off a C1?

[firstgear]

Need to take the windshield frame apart and get it rechromed....not knowing anything about it, how difficult is it to take it off and apart?

Am I into too much of a heartache for a novice? or should I find someone else to have the heartache? Comments, suggestions and experiences as well as photo's are appreciated.....

 

[Larry Shermak]

Windshield removal

I took my windshield assembly off my '61, not a pleasant time under the dash! The biggest problem I had was some of the bolts kept turning so I had to drill & cut the studs off. I found out I'm not as young as I used to be... That young man should have taken it apart 30 years ago (Me). It's in the basement now not taken apart any further. Good Luck

 

[C.T.]

If you're careful, taking it off and putting it back are fairly easy with a helper. Disassembly and reassembly, however, can be difficult, and if you're not feeling real confident, I'd let a pro do it, especially with re-chromed parts.
Two cautions on removal - be sure you have all the nuts removed, and don't "rock" the assembly back and forth when lifting it off because you'll break the tabs on the base of the windshield frames.
Good luck,
Cal
57 & 72

 

[vintagecorvette]

I have done a few, It is a difficult task. There are not many glass shops that will spend the time, because is is so time consuming, you can do 4 hondas and a Toyota in the time it takes to do one C1 Corvette. Use baby soap or a loation (something you can easily wash off) when fitting it all back together, it helps the rubber slide into the channels easier. And as the others said becareful not to break the post tabs. Enjoy

 

[firstgear]

If you're careful, taking it off and putting it back are fairly easy with a helper. Disassembly and reassembly, however, can be difficult, and if you're not feeling real confident, I'd let a pro do it, especially with re-chromed parts.
Good luck,
Cal
57 & 72

Good comments.....I have not gotten good vibes about this topic at all, but know it is something that needs to be done as the chrome is pitted and it would be a shame to rechrome everything else, but not touch the windshield frame so that needs to be done as well.....and if I am going to repaint the car...well....I understand what everyone means when they say, in for a buck you are in for a hundred!

 

[studiog]

I took my windshield off about 2 years ago and I thought it was going to be very tough but it turned out to be not too bad. No broken studs. The hardest part is getting yourself in position to work up under the dash. If you're a big person it might be a little tougher. I guess I was lucky I didn't have much trouble with the bolts but I can see that if you did it could be a real challenge. Taking the windshield apart is in my future too.
Good Luck

 

[BarryK]

well....I understand what everyone means when they say, in for a buck you are in for a hundred!

ain't THAT the truth!


my '65 was sent in for a minor paint repair and we ended up redoing the entire bodywork and fiberglass plus an entire complete new paint job.

in for a buck, in for a hundred
OR
in for a buck , in for a thousand
OR even more so...
in for a buck, in for many, many thousands!

 

[firstgear]

ain't THAT the truth!


my '65 was sent in for a minor paint repair and we ended up redoing the entire bodywork and fiberglass plus an entire complete new paint job.

in for a buck, in for a hundred
OR
in for a buck , in for a thousand
OR even more so...
in for a buck, in for many, many thousands!

you put it better....today I was over at the body shop they are touching up some areas in my 1964 StingRay above the striker plate area. Evidently there is caulking in the groove area behind and it had dried out...and rust had gotten in there...so that was being taken care of.....and then of course the other side was just starting to have the same problem...so I told them to go ahead and take care of that.....then I asked them to go over where I had the 1960 being worked on and of course as I am thinking this through I am realizing how and why the slope of car care gets so slippery and it isn't till you have spent your 401K completely that one realizes you can't get your money back out of it.....so we do it for the love of it.....beyond that it might be more fun to sit around and burn hundred dollar bills whlie we are drinking.....

 

[BarryK]

beyond that it might be more fun to sit around and burn hundred dollar bills whlie we are drinking.....

well, I don't drink, and I don't have kids to leave the money to when I die and you can't take it with you so I say enjoy it while you can!

 

[IH2LOSE]

Well i took my winsheild off and did not have much problems with it,But remember my entire underdash area is apart.


Now for your question on how to disasemblel it, I dont know but, by the end of this week end I will have mine apart,I will have to figure out how to put it back together also as it seems none of the local glass shops around me want to touch it, They all will sell me a windsheild but none want to try and figure out how to install the glass into the frame.

I was told there is a local restoration shop (2 minutes from my shop) and he is an elderly fellow who is quailified to do it.

I am going to disasembil what I have and then try and reasembil it prior to doing it with my new glass.
I will keep you posted on my findings

 

[firstgear]

IH2LOSE, where do you live? Any where near northern Ohio? That is where I am at......at a minimum, take lots of pictures!!!!

regards, Herb

 

[IH2LOSE]

IH2LOSE, where do you live? Any where near northern Ohio? That is where I am at......at a minimum, take lots of pictures!!!!

regards, Herb

Well I brought the winsheild in and was going to do it on the dinning room table last night and the wife came in and had a fit,So I had to bring a folding table in out of storage and plan on doing it in the basement saturday night,I will take pictures and make some notes, I have to get the courner peices chromed so I will just be doing a test run of disasembly and the putting it back together with the old windsheild. Ill let you know what I figure out,

PS I am about 40 minutes north of NYC

 

[firstgear]

Well I brought the winsheild in and was going to do it on the dinning room table last night and the wife came in and had a fit,

I read that to my gal and she just laughed....as long as I had lots of blankets and towels down on the table, she said no problem.....gosh I love this gal....only woman I ever met that thinks that the garage size is as important as the kitchen size.....

 

[Gasman]

For us that are not there yet, pics please. i've got side posts, no frame or other chrome and need a windshield.

 

[IH2LOSE]

I read that to my gal and she just laughed....as long as I had lots of blankets and towels down on the table, she said no problem.....gosh I love this gal....only woman I ever met that thinks that the garage size is as important as the kitchen size.....

You know I have said it before, Car people seem to find each other.My wife came from a family of auto mecanics,And since she was young there was always a collector car in her fathers garage,And a restoration project in the works. So to her it is pefectly normal what I do, Her girl freinds and peers dont see it the same way and often try and stir up some trouble,She sets them straight,

 

[IH2LOSE]

For us that are not there yet, pics please. i've got side posts, no frame or other chrome and need a windshield.

I should have it broken down this week end and will take photos I promise

 

[firstgear]

how about those pictures??????

 

[IH2LOSE]

how about those pictures??????

Sorry no pictures yet. I have 2 screws that I have to drill out.Once I get them out I will be able to remove all the trim,

No one wants it apart more then me I have to get the pot metal peices to the chromer

 

[IH2LOSE]

Well I was able to get the end peices off last night,Useing a rubber mallet to loosen the courner peices once I was able to drill out the stripped screws.After that it practly fell apart in my hands to for sure disasembly was easey,I just have to make some drawings of how every thing went.

 

[firstgear]

I know we are waiting for the pictures of the windshield coming out.....but on a side note....how hard is it to get the seats out of a 60? Anything special to do or tricks that make it easy?