Every time i put the hardtop on my windshield pulls away from its frame
I have tried to adjust the latches to they just barely clasp without rattle
The windshield is new bought on ebay
probably a mistake not buying from a well known supplier
is it possible my windshield is not correct width or height

all comments appreciated,,, even the ones telling me to buy from respected supplier

Thx
Steve

 

I have never seen this happen on a '58 - '62 Corvette. I replaced the windshield on my '61 several years ago and I found it a bit difficult to get it properly situated in the frame. Did you follow the instructions in the ST-12?
My only guess is that the windshield you purchased is not the correct shape and may be too narrow.

Art Bruns

 

yes,,, i had very good instructions and it went together nicely,, even putting it back on the car it went smoothly
I have been using the hardtop because my convertible top is not installed yet
I thought it might be to narrow,, but no way of telling for sure

 

I suppose you might have a mismatched windshield but is the windshield pulling away from the frame or could the frame be pulling away from the windshield? In other words, are you sure your frame is structurally sound?

 

Yes the windshield frame is in good condition and it seems it pulls away from the glass when I do up the latches
not immediately... but over a short period of time

when i bought the car a year and a half ago,,, the windshield was cracked in the curve on the passenger side and had to be replaced

If i could find a 61-62 close enough it would be nice to fit my hard top on a different car... although it would be tough to believe its the top

 

Did the hardtop fit OK before you replaced the windshield?
I have seen this happen with soft tops but never with a hard top.

 

When i purchased the car both tops were missing,,,, although the soft top frame was still in place
do you happen to know the remedy for the soft top pulling the frame off the glass
I would think the solution might be the same

 

How are you putting the top on ?

Look down on the windshield header and you will notice that the passenger side pin hole for the top is slotted and the driver's side is not. Don't laugh you'd be surprised how many owners don't realize this.

You should always latch the driver's side first as this 'indexes' the top and then the passenger side and then tighten the rear bolts JUST ENOUGH for the weather stripping to meet the deck lid. Do not tighten those bolts down like there is no tomorrow. If that doesn't work then you need to look hard at your windshield install.

There are rubber gaskets under each end of the windshield at the bottom just forward of the door. Removing 1 or 2 of those could tilt the windshield back to make the H/T latch easier but then you have to deal with the door post alignment and fit of the lower windshield frame to the cowl area. Its all a compromise. I have heard of glass being made too 'short' for the frame as well. Perhaps somebody can give you some measurements off an original piece.

How does the soft top fit/latch ?
If you put the H/T on and wind up the windows all the way up how do they fit ?
Were the tabs on the windshield pillars strengthened when you had the frame off (see picture)?
If so then the frame won't have any 'give' like it did with broken tabs....

 

Starting with a good windshield assembly, normally the procedure is to fit the hardtop on the car by moving the windshield and possibly the deck lid so everything fits correctly. Then adjust the side windows to fit the hardtop. Since the 61 and 62 hardtops have different side brackets then earlier hard tops some messing around is sometimes needed.
When done fitting the hardtop then adjust the soft top frame to fit the windshield , side windows and where the rear bow meets the deck lid.
Then have the soft top installed on the frame, not to tight , not to loose. Correct installation of the soft top is very important as it can shrink over time and create problems.
My 62 is a hardtop only so I don't have the soft top shrinkage problems.
My 57 has a soft top and I always leave the top up to keep it's shape, except when we go out driving the car. I never store it down.
Bruce B

 

Thank you for all the replies
I did not notice the oval hole for the latch pin on passenger side,,, but i know it now
the tabs were ok(but probably weak)
when i pull the windshield again i will have the tabs repaired
I only installed 1 rubber gasket on each side
It would nice to know the actual measurement of the glass ,, maybe the width some place in the middle or where the pillars end just before the start of the curve

I did not have a method of installing the hard top,,, but i think i always snapped the latches last,,, i also tightened the deck lid bolts along with the side bolts pretty tight
when i remove the windshield again to check the tabs... i will the follow your method to fasten the hardtop

 

I to have a problem when I use my soft top it will pull the glass up at the lower front edge. Windscreen posts are tight and tabs are good.

 

Your top skin is installed too tight; when they're installed "bowstring tight", they either pull the top header off the glass or the glass out of the bottom seal.

 

Thanks John I wandered if that was the case I fitted the top with referance to Als video and the pull the top very tight.

 

I have the same problem. I installed a new AGM windshield, and noticed the the frame was pulling away from the glass at the top. So I took it apart again and used urethane all around the glass/weatherstrip junction. Now, I cannot install the hardtop. If I line up the pins on the windshield header, the pins under the HT side windows are about one forward of their holes. Hardtop fit just fine before the new windshield was installed. If I get ambitious I will try a Pilkington windshield. In the meantime I can use only the soft top.
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