Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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OH, THE PRESSURE!!!!!


Thanks Charlie and Richard, this build has been especially fun because of being able to share it and document it. Like I said, it's been about 5 years since I've undertaken one of these, so I am a little rusty, but am getting more comfortable every time I work on it. I had my welding glove on fire yesterday, but we won't talk about that.


I really enjoy the support and encouragement each of you has given on this build. It is much appreciated.


Don

Well, my steering stuff won't show up from Speedway until tomorrow, so tonight after work I decided to work on the windshield some more. I knew I wanted to use that top half of the Dodge (?) windshield I bought on ebay, but I just didn't know how I was going to mount it to the body. I want it laid back pretty far, and I think I want it not touching the body at the bottom, but rather to look like it is cranked out a little for ventilation.

My first thoughts were to take some flat stock and form some lower windshield mounts like the stock Model T units, but after a few tries with cardboard, none of them looked quite right. Then I hit on the idea of taking the stock Dodge (?) posts and cutting them down and using them. The only fear I had was that they were cast iron and wouldn't weld real well to steel. So I cut one in half, and it turned out to be steel, so that made my decision easy, I could use them.

The only thing that puzzled me was how to afix them to the body so that they would be strong, I for sure don't want my windshield coming unglued at 70 MPH. My head is the first thing in line to take that hit.
Finally I came up with welding 1/4 inch flat stock to the chopped down Dodge (?) posts and through bolting those through the outside edges of the dash. To make them strong, I plan on welding some steel plate to the 1 x 1 box tubing that will run from side to side under the lower edge of the dash, and running the bolts through those plates. This will be steel to steel, and much stronger than going through fiberglass. I am also going to weld a gusset back from each plate about 3 inches, and will use this to further strengthen the lower windshield mounting points. I figure I can drill some holes in the gussets for detail, and use the gussets to mount my 2 peep mirrors.

Still more to figure out, but here are some pictures of the first mock up. The windshield isn't really in it's final resting place, but I had to put it where it would stay with only some blue tape holding it in place.


Thanks for looking,



Don

One more picture.