Thread: Removing my windshield

Tweet

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

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!

You have done a marvelous job with the new windshield. I am really surprised that you were able to do it without a repaint of the cowl area. The car looks really great. Ya done good, Bunkie!!!!

I really like the commercial headlights better than the little ones too. Nice ride.

Thanks for the compliments guys... it really means alot... I'll be honest, I didn't know if it could be done without any paint work or major screw ups either, but i wanted it so bad i finally just decided what the heck, i'd give it a try and if i got in a bind i'd just get the sucker painted. I also had a tremendous amount of help from my buddy Brad, who has a killer 34 roadster himself and was one of the few people who truly believed it could be done without paintwork...He's responsible for me finally getting the courage to just do it, and helped me through every step of the way. This is the first rod I've ever owned, and have always been a musclecar guy, completely stock restored ones at that, so this is all new territory to me. I've wanted a deuce since I was a kid, and have a pretty clear vision of what I want it to look like. Its just about there, but my next potentially disasaterous project is going to be the attempt to install flush fit mounting tabs for a Bop Top. The interior panels all seem to be glued into place and removing the side panels to gain access to the inside rear 1/4 panel area is gonna be tough without ruining the uphulstery. The windshield project has given me new confidence that it can be done though, as hopefully I'll be as successful with that project. The first step is to raise 2500.00 for the roof itself, and another 185.00 for the flush mount kit. Any way you cut it its alot of coin, but i think it will complete the look I'm going for. Thanks again for all the support and compliments. This is my favorite hotrod website! -Joe

joey,.
Follow your dream. ! Great work.
The added bonus for ' us ' was following along, even when it looked tough going,.. but you conquered unknown.
Thanks for sharing, especially the before & now photographs,
WTG,..
- 41 -