boat196

Need advice on removal of the windsheild and roof molding. It looks like the windsheild molding has to be removed first. I've looked at the AIM but I'm still not sure. Thanks for any advice.

Bob

RxForPain

What year is your car?

boat196

1970

Alan 71

Boat,
I believe the sequence needs to be... first the left and right windshield pillar pieces, then the long, thin piece across the top of the windshield,(right at the glass), and last the T shaped piece that runs front to rear on a coupe or left to right above the windshield on a convertible.
Regards,
Alan

68/70Vette

The long trim piece that runs along the upper horizontal surface of the windshield, needs a special tool for removal. There are a series of clips/tabs on the underside of the trim piece that the tool is used to release the clips.

The little tabs are soft steel and will be rusted. They may break. You can buy new clips, so start looking for someone who sells them. They are riveted on.

70Yellowbird

If you have a coupe, do not try to remove the chrome pieces at the upper corners of your windshield ... the ones with the hole in them to receive the t-top pin. They are fastened down by screws that are at the edge of the windshield. If you must remove them, remove the windshield first. The windshield is easily cracked if you try to use a screwdriver to remove the screws.

Good luck.

Alan 71

68/70 is right about the clips above the windshield, they're easy to break. They're fastened with TINY screws originally not rivets. They are very very short, counter-sunk, cross headed. If you work too hard getting them out your screw driver shaft will put a chip in the edge of the windshield and a crack will soon follow.
Regards,
Alan

BenUK

Hi Alan, and sorry to resurrect this old thread.

My windshield is now out of my '76 and I'm cleaning up the birdcage. There are no holes in that upper section to hold these clips apart from two at each end.



Do you know whether screws were used in all C3 years, or just early cars? Is there any other way the clips could be retained if there are no holes for screws or rivets?

My birdcage is original and unrestored, judging by the original colour paint overspray in some places. There are definitely no holes!

Alan 71

Hi Ben,
Since the trim is the same on the later cars I'd THINK the clips would have to be there to hold it on. Did you get ANY clue as to how your trim piece was being held in place as you took it off?
Perhaps a 76 person will speak up.
Regards,
Alan

PS: I will respond to your birdcage question. Clue.... think paint the color of baby poop... really!

BenUK

There was too much dirt and windscreen adhesive under the moulding to see where the clips were installed. But the clips were definitely holding the thin trim in place - it wouldn't come away from the header until I opened the clips with a screwdriver.



Were the clips perhaps retained by the large T-shaped T-top trim piece? Maybe the front lip of that T-top trim and the thin windshield trim were both clipped together but the clips weren't attached to the birdcage. Possible?

malo68

I have a 76 as well and my header also has no holes but yet there were several clips across the top. Do you think they could have been adhered on? I just replaced my header and have the same question. I bought a clip and screw set but this question was bugging me too.

Alan 71

Hi M68,
Do you mean there were clips with out screws that had been glued on in some way, or do you mean the strip itself was glued on.
Regards,
Alan

malo68

Hi Alan, here is a pic of my header that I took about two weeks ago. You can see that the clips are still in position at the top of the windshield, yet, no holes. I do believe my windshield was replaced as the sealer was so soft I was able to remove the windshield by just slicing behind the windshield with a utility knife and pushing it out by hand. It was still gooey. Underneath the t-top molding was the disintegrated spongey matter that must have absorbed any water like crazy if it got in there. Check out the broken clips, rust and crud inside.


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timd02

I did not find any holes for the clips either on my 75 coupe. I am not sure if I should drill and attach them or try and use some sort of adhesive. What did you all do in this situation?

1Fordman

The 68 had 10 of those clips to hold the trim piece and they were held to the header bar by flat head countersunk phillips head screws.

Alan 71

Hi Tim,
This will get the thread to the top again. If Ben doesn't see it why don't you PM him to ask what he did or plans to do about attaching his clips.
Regards,
Alan

PS: on my 71 the clips really were held on by tiny flat head screws

BenUK

Eek - I hope nobody's depending on my opinion.

The clips seem to be retained by the main T-top centre trim piece. The clips attach to the leading edge of that trim and once the trim is fixed the clips can't escape. They're not attached to the windshield frame at all, but I don't think they need to be. Mine hadn't moved in 33 years.