Thread: Removing my windshield

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fourty1, Both posts are there, not just the passenger side. Its an optical illusion from the angle i took the pic i guess.

Dave, I tried to find the thread about switching stanchions, but can't find it... any chance someone could link me to the thread? Are you saying someone did it without needing paint work? I'm confused... As for painting the ones I have black, i think polished aluminum looks better than black if i do have to keep them. Some big '32 lights and a So Cal headlight bar should help change the look even if i can't change the windshield.

An update to this project for anyone who cares...

I finally got the cajones to have-at this windshield project I have been accumating parts for... so far so good, got the old one off without TOO much trouble, although i have no skin left on my thumbs from removing all the leftover black windshield urethane sealer! My buddy came over and helped cut the glass away from the cowl with a guitar string, then cut the clear silicone along the sides of the billet posts. when the glass was cut it lifted right up out of the slots of the posts, and left about 1/2" thick bead of rock hard urethane on the cowl. We took off the posts, then bought 2 plastic paint scrapers from the hardware store and carefully scraped the urethane off the cowl... of course you couldn't get it all off this way, so it also took a ton of rubbing by hand with a few rags and some 3M Finesse-it compound. A few hours later, this is where i am.

We're going to test fit the new frame and stanchions tomorrow... wish me luck!

Congratulations ...

A little sweat and work has gone a long way ...
Photos of your progress appreciated ... keep us informed please

Well, another day of sweat and determination... took the windshield off and on a dozen times, passenger side went on like a breeze, driver's side fought a bit... I was told by someone that its easier to thread studs into the backside of the stanchions and attach them with nuts on the backside, but my local hardware store didn't have all-thread with fine threads in the diameters i needed, so i just used bolts... still had to buy new ones, as the ones supplied were not long enough to go through the metal plate under my cowl... in any case, i quickly understood why the suggestion of using studs instead of bolts was a good one, although I managed to finally get the holes opened up enough to let the bolts go in at the engles they needed...

I also had 2 sets of studs for the windshield, and 2 pairs of swivel cones... all wew a bit different from each other, and i used the "trial and error" method to figure out which combination of stuff worked the best... It IS true the every manufacturer of repro stuff makes it a little different... this can actually be a GOOD thing on occassion though, because when one part doesnt fit right there is always something else to try before hacking up the poor fitting part to try to make it work. There are a gazillion adjustments that can be made, even after the stanchions are in place, but the overall height" of where the frame rides along the cowl can't be adjusted once the stanchions are in place, so thats gotta be right on the money before you mess with anything else. I did this buy loosely bolting everything together and holding the whole works up to the car. (with help from at least one buddy) Once a nice even gap is established between the bottom of the frame and the cowl ridge, we marked where the stanchions should go, then took the whole assembly off and drilled the holes. I used Vintique stanchions and they fit the body profile really nice, and so did the Mr. Roadster frame as far as that goes. the upper posts fit ok (also Vintique) but the pass side needed the hole opened up a little to allow it to move in toward the frame and keep a nice gap. After mounting the stanchions to the body where we had marked for them, we then reassembled everything to check that the fit was still there... then marked everything AGAIN, took off the stanchions and removed the marking tape, then bolted it all up for the last time. Right now my frame is at the glass shop having the windshield installed, should be done by tuesday, but could be ready as early as friday... I'm not holding my breath. Oh, and by the way, ALL holed and marks left from the old billet posts were completely covered by the stock 2" chopped stanchions. That was my biggest worry from the beginning, and i got a ton of conflicting info in regards to if this project could be done to a painted car without having to fill any holes or touch up and paint... I'm here to say it can be. Here's some pics from today.

a few more pics...

Here's a good pic to show the old holes that i was worried about covering vs. where the new holes are. No problem hiding them.

I think your project is comming along and looking good...

However I do have a though... Did you, or are you planning to fill the old holes with fiberglass... Not wanting to be a ney-sayer, but I would be a little concerned about the overlapping holes. The windshild is under lots of stress at highway speeds and while the old bottom hole might not present a problem, but I don't think I would trust the old upper bolt hole without a fiberglass patch of some kind. I think you could patch the old hole/holes and keep the work under the stansion base if you were carefull.

Someone else chime in here if I am being perinoid... Just something I think you should consider...

Dave Brisco

There is a metal plate glassed into the body on the backside to strengthen that area, plus the fiberglass itself is VERY thick in this area..I'm as big of a naysayer as anyone but i feel 100% confident that the 2 extra holes under the stanchions are not going to hurt a thing. I DID put a bit of black silicone in the holes to keep water out... kinda funny I guess, considering its a topless roadster.

By the way... do I have my mirrors on correctly, or is the right one on the left? (upside down) They looked good either way, been trying to figure out which way they'e supposed to go.

joey,
Keep the faith, dude !.
You are one Fearless Flyer,..( In a POSITIVE way ).
Your post are re-assuring regarding your determination to change/ update the look you want, regardless of how it came finished.
More power for your restless-ness..
- 41 -

Been away from the forum for a while. Nice to see you have eventually taken the plunge and removed the winsheild. I have to say i am surprised to see no damage at all when you removed it.
It's looking very much nicer with your new windsheild. Well done.
Mel
I like seeing the mirrors the other way up( or down i should say).

I'm with Mel, the mirrors look more "roddy" hanging down from their mounting stalks. Glad (land surprised) you're able to hide the old mounting holes

Cool... I like em that way better too... but was afraid if i did you guys would all tell me they were upside down... I agree they look more "roddy"... is that a word? If not, it should be.

Well, its DONE! Took me a week and 3 trips back and fourth from the glass shop until they finally got it right, but today i installed the frame with glass in it, and made side seals to match the bottom seal, and finshed it all off. I haven't installed the center rear view mirror, and am debating just leaving it off, as I think it looks better without it... I can always get a suction cup one for trips and such. Anyhow, here are the pics... This was by far the single most important change I made to my car to achieve the "look" I was after. Until I can come up with the scratch for a Sid Chaver's Bop Top, I'm pretty much done with the exterior modifications I wanted to make.

Here's a cool comparison photo of how the car was when I got it, compared to how it looks now with the changes I've made...I think it looks alot better, but of course that's just my opinion!