Thread: Removing my windshield

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I just bought my first rod and the first project i'd like to do is to change the billet style frameless windshield with a more appropriate 2" chop stock style 32 roadster windshield... I was originally worried about getting the stanchions etc. to fit, but it seems that may be the least of my problems, as i don't really know how to get the current windshield off the car without destroying the paint on the top of the cowl... its just siliconed to the posts with clear silicone, but the bottom of the glass is glued to the body with this seemingly rock hard windshield sealer stuff... has anyone EVER removed one of these windshields or even want to give me some advise on doing it? The body is a fiberglass Kilborne 32. If its gonna destroy the paint, i may just learn to live with the windshield thats on it right now, at least for awhile.

The silicone should be easy you could try heat from a heat gun but you'll have to watch the paint.

Yes, the silicone along the sides is the easy part... this butyl stuff alone the bottom is like a rock though, and i've heard it sticks to paint better than paint sticks to the car...I can just forsee a giant sheet of paint coming off with the butyl glue along the whole base of the glass... I thought about using a wire to "cut" it out, but the way it sits against the ridge on the cowl, that too would likely chew up the paint pretty bad... maybe I should learn to live with the windshield that's already on it... (can you tell I'm trying to talk myself into letting well enough alone? )

if you take an exacto knife, and run the blade along the edge of the silicone / butyl, then you'll at least minimize the paint removal.

Do you have a picture close up of that spot? ....and what does the trim package look like on the new one you want to install? I think the car looks very nice as is.

I can get better pics tomorrow... but if you're familiar with 32 ford cowls, there is a "ridge" or bump that this glass sits just behind, so there's not a "straight shot" under the glass to get a wire ir something under it to cut it out without digging the wire against the paint on the ridge. The windshield i wanted to change to has a chrome frame, and a rubber flap on the bottom, so "some" of the hackjob might be covered by the new frame, but since its a roadster and both sides of the windshield are easily seen, i think any paint flaws would likely be visible... which sorta negates changing the windshield, as i want it to look better, not worse. The windshield on the car now is done very nicely, its just a more "modern" type setup that doesn't look as good as an original style windshield on an otherwise nostalgic themed car. I'm seriously thinking of leaving it alone, at least for the time being. I've had the car 24 hours, and am worried my first "small project" could turn into a winters worth of fixing the aftermath... or worse yet, paying a paint shop to fix it. I'm still torn as to what to do.

Here's the setup I want to change to...I love everything about this car.

If it's Butyl, going to be a booger to get off without messing up the paint. Hopefully some of the pro body guys will jump in here with a solution.,,,,

I see it like a remodeling job. It's gonna have to get a little ugly before it gets better. Butyl ain't coming off without creating at least some minor issues. Just have to get yourself ready for the worst if you tackle it.

I certainly commensurate with you on your choice though. The stock styled sanchions look a little better to me too but what you got don't exactly suck! My advice would be to take your time on making the decision.

Nice Car!

Regards, Kitz

I have the same windshield on my Roadster... If the windshild is installed the same as mine there is a rubber seal at the bottom that has a sealer... When I removed my windshield to repaint the car, I had no trouble getting the glue of of the paint without messing up the paint... However I think you will find that your current windshield frame mounting holes are not in the same location as the factory style frames... The measurments I have taken from mine show that the old holes will not be covered by the stock windshield frame...

Dave Brisco

Well there's a whole new problem i didn't think I'd have... Visually, it looks to me like my holes would be covered by the larger stock style stanchions, but i must admit i have not measured anything, as i don't even have the stock stanchions yet... Dave, can I ask a BIG favor? could you take some close up pics of your windshield, the base where this rubber seal is you speak of, as well and an "across" view from the side to show where your posts are monted in relation to the cowl, and whatever other windshield related pics you could provide? You can e mail them to me directly at joeybsyc@aol.com I'd be SUPER appriciative, as i read elsewhere that your car is a Kilbourne body too, so the setup should be the same. Thanks in advance... if its determined that the post holes won't be covered by stock stanchions I am definitely NOT changing the windshield right now.

Joey,

If the comparisons I made a while back are accurate the stock stansions mount slightly forward of the ridge in the cowl and the stansions like are used on our cars is lined up directly with the cowl ridge. Also there are two bolt holes used to mount the billet stansions and the lower one is only about 1/2 inch from the bottom most part of the stansion which looks to be lower that the stock stansions.

I looked at the photo you posted above and your windshield is lined up identical to the way mine is. Photos of mine will not help you much because I have already removed my windshield when I re-painted the car and remounted it using 3M black silicone and a rubber gasket so it will different from how your described yours being glued in.

I plan to change my windshield out at some point, but I will probably repaint the car or at least the cowl when I make the change. I really like the swept back windshield that Dave Mann is selling over at Roadsters.com.

If will try to shoot a few photos over the next few days to send, in the meantime there are a few shots in my CHR photo gallery that might help.

Dave Brisco

While that bums me out, I'm VERY happy i found this out BEFORE i removed the current windshield to find the holes left behind could not be covered by the stock stanchions. Like I said, just eyeballing it, it looked like the stock ones "should" cover the same footprint of the billet ones, especially since the stockers are bigger overall... but I did have a concern the holes (or at least part of them) would remian exposed... I assume the stock windshield stanchions pretty much have to go in a specific place to allow the frame to sit properly on the cowl... so if you say you checked, i believe you. Probably wouldn't have got the glued-on glass off the cowl without a major incident anyhow.


Now a new thought...I am thinking of trying to make a top header strip for the glass, to sort of "frame" the glass for a slightly less "billet" look. Anyone have any idea where i might be able to find U-shaped aluminum or stainless channel that would slip over the top of the laminated glass windshield?

Joey,
IS it my 'cuper- or do you have only ONE windshield support ( on the passengers side ?..)
looks like from your photos, the drivers side is just glass>
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Joey,

I think there is someone here on CHR that said in an earlier post that they switched out their windshield stansions. They might have more insight into making the switch. This is just a thought, but if you are wanting to get rid of the "billet look" could you mask off the stansions and paint them Black?

Dave Brisco