Windshield removal and results - Do I have a problem here or what??

[PHXVETTE]

Thanks to all who responded to a previous post regarding windshield removal, I choose to pay $35 to have this guy remove my windshield.

Thought it would be the best bet if I wanted to have any chance at saving the glass.

You can see here his razor blade tool that did most of the work.

 

[PHXVETTE]

Here is another tool, this one you wont find in your toolbox unless you do this for a living.

 

[jim coulter]

If he did a good job, sounds like a good deal.

 

[PHXVETTE]

With the dash out my feeling was we would have an easy time of saving the glass. Also there was a ton of rust falling all over the place.

The guy warned me that he has taken windshields out of other sharks where the window frame was so rusted that he could not put another windshield back in. Would that be the case with my vette. I hope not!

 

[PHXVETTE]

You can see that the top chrome trim was left on during the removal. He mentioned that only the convertible needed the trim removed. Funny though, he started the job by removing all the screws to the trim. Maybe he's right, maybe he's wrong?

You can see some rust there, I was fearing the worst!

 

[jim coulter]

We'll keep our fingers crossed that its o.k. Hope it is anyway..good luck

 

[PHXVETTE]

Whoa!

Its out!

Now lets check the condition of this car. This is a Chicago car, doesn't look like Chicago in the pictures! The car was driven to Phoenix a couple years ago, being a Chicago car I thought I would see more rust than this!

 

[PHXVETTE]

OK,

Since I have your attention, what the hell is this thing covering up.

Mine is rusted all the way through. As you can see its on the driver side cowl. The master cylinder is on the other side of it. Note the arrow. Its a plate with about 5 9/16ths bolts in it. Ideas?

 

[jim coulter]

Doesn't look too bad from the picture. You going to sand and paint it before the new one goes in?

 

[PHXVETTE]

Sh*t, Look at this.

Maybe you cant tell but there is some serious rust. Couldn't take the end chrome piece off because the screws are too rusted. The other side came off (that's where the visor hangs off of) and it is like new underneath!

Will have to wait to get the birds eye view.

 

[PHXVETTE]

Jim,

Yes, I plan to wire brush, sand, pound, putty until the thing looks like new.

I have the complete POR-15 array of restorative goop. Will have a good time making it new.

By the way. This project started out of wanting to put a new radio in the car.

Be careful of what you start, you take one thing apart and it leads to another. Next thing you know your shopping for new piston rings!

Bill

 

[jim coulter]

Yeah, that deffinately looks bad. I can't remember what the plate is for. Had mine off about six months ago, while I was working on the brakes, but cant remember what I found. Seems like I just went "huh" and put it right back on

 

[dmrodco]

Mine was pretty bad however I was able to save it by blasting it and coating it with corroless rust stopper and top coat with body color. The parts to replace the winshield support are starting to become available I think i saw them in mid america. Looks like it would be a big job though. good luck Dewayne

 

[jim coulter]

Yeah I know. Bought a 71 about two years ago, drove it 450 miles home, started going over it,(you know ..wanted everything just right) Now its had new pistons, cam, intake, heads, carbs,front suspension, and was working on the brakes (new s.s. lines) when we started working 7/12, so maybe by spring I can get her going. How do you like the POR stuff? Seen it advertised, but wasn't sure how good it was. Heard good things about it though.

 

[PHXVETTE]

BTW,


There was so much adhesive on the bottom of the window that the dang thing broke.

Will be buying a new window soon.

The dude said to get the side A-pillar seal before he comes back out so that when he puts it back on it will seal with less wind noise. Anybody have a good supplier??

Thanks-

Bill

 

[PHXVETTE]

Jim,

The POR stuff seems good and like you I heard good things about it so I thought I would try it.

Application is somewhat a pain in the ass. Firstly, the dry time here in Phoenix is SLOOOW. Guess what, it drys faster with more moisture in the air. Not good for Phoenix. Secondly its expensive. You have to buy into all the good press before you spend $100/gal. Note, they sell in little 10 ounce? containers so you dont have to buy a bunch.

Putting it on thick means watch out for runs. So don't put it on thick. You have to do a second coat after 3 hrs so you cant just paint it and do something else.

I got bubbles due to some contamination during the prep work on the frame rail under the door. I really don't care what it looks like, but it just was weird because they didn't warn you of that before hand.

Was showing the window guy the floor boards that were painted with POR and used a Ice pick on it to scrape it. The POR seemed to hold up against it. I think the best thing about it is the fact you dont have to grind to bear metal to protect your surfaces. Heck if I had to do that, the floorboards would be paper thin!

Regards,

Bill Hart

 

[jim coulter]

I get most of my parts from Chicago Corvette, Mid-America, and I just got a catalogue from Corvette Central. Can't find my Chicago Corvette book, just went and looked for it, but they seem to have alot of parts.

 

[Chas]

thanks for this thread...im about 1 day away from doing my windshield and was thinking of taking it out myself......now im goning to let a pro do it....mine was rusty on the inside passengerside....not to bad, after i scraped the silicone out the previous owner put in it....i hope a new seal on the shield and a good cleaning before re-installing it should do the trick....thanks again.

 

[PHXVETTE]

VetteDude,

Hey, your welcome!

I felt the same way with so many threads. Maybe post some pics or feedback from your project. I would be very interested.


Good Luck.

Bill

 

[Chas]

i will post some pics as soon as i get them scanned....so old fashion!:eyerole
the interior post covers and headliner(3 pcs that go around the shield) were the worst......the guy put alot of silicone in there....i think it did more to trap the water than prevent it....the inside of them were rusted to the point of no return...so i gotta buy those...im using primer from krylon that converts the remaining rust to paintable primer.....the seam in the passenger upper corner is where i had some damage....mostly surface stuff that cleaned up good....i used a dab of j.b. weld in the seam and painted it.....the inside of that is ready....i have to work in the garage , so im using my heater to warm thing up to paint...by the looks of things you dont have that problem.....9 degrees this morning....no cactus in sight!