Like many early C3s, my upper corner moldings (the ones the corners of the convertible top connect to) have significant wear and the chrome was blistering. So after many years of turning a blind eye to it, I picked up a new pair. I figured these should not be too difficult to change out. Like most projects, this has turned into a larger job than originally anticipated.

Anyway, after taking off the upper windshield reveal molding and the header molding it became apparent that the two screws that go through the front of the upper windshield frame and into the corner moldings will not back out completely before hitting the edge of the top of the windshield. The windshield is the original, but it looks like it was taken out at some point many years ago and then resealed with the frame. Has anyone else encountered this problem and if so, what did you do to remedy the situation.

Thanks
Rich

 

I took my windshield out so I could do the job correctly.

 

I found the same issue with my '68. I thought I would be able to sneak the screws out past the edge, but nicked the corner of the glass in the process. The next day I came out to the garage to find that the windshield cracked vertically all the way to the base starting where I nicked the edge of it the day before. Fortunately, my windshield had been replaced at some point before so it was not the original.

If you have the original windshield, I would take the time to cut it loose from the seal and remove it. Clean the windshield frame thoroughly of all the old sealing material, replace the corner moldings as you set out to do, and reset your windshield using new windshield adhesive ribbon. That way you're sure everything will be sealed properly. Hopefully you won't find what many C3 owners do, which is a windshield frame that has begun to rust through in places.

 

Check out my photo album for what I found on my 69 in the windshield corners and how I corrected it.

 

I cracked my original windshiled trying to get at those screws.

Be careful

 

I learned that laminated glass that is that old has become VERY brittle. The OLD glass guy that I talked to said he would feel lucky if he got 1 in 3 out in 1 piece.
Regards,
Alan

PS: Of course I could do better. Cracked my 71 at about the 3/4 way out point.

 

I have owned this car since 1989, but a previous owner must have had a leaking issue at some point and someone recaulked around the windshield and did it pretty heavily. There was some minor chipping on the edge of the windshield from this previous repair, but it is hidden under the windshield reveal molding and the chips have never cracked. I have gotten the corner moldings out by taking a Dremel tool with a cut off wheel and cutting the heads off of two of the screws and by using a small pair of needle nose vise grips to get the other screws out. These corner moldings have been out before because not all of the four screw heads were the same.

My problem is how to go forward. I really do not want to disturb that original windshield. Even though whoever resealed this thing years ago must have been named Bubba, the windshield does not leak. Is there a need for the two screws in the front of the corner moldings. They are secured with two screws in the back of the molding into the back of the windshield frame, plus another screw from the visor, going through the top of the interior A pillar moldings, through the corner molding and into the windshield frame. Plus there is another screw that goes through the A pillar weatherstrip, the weatherstrip molding, the corner molding and into the side of the windshield frame. Are these screws adequate without re-attaching the front two screws? I normally would not even think about this but I really do not want to try to remove the original windshield.

Thanks for all of the responses so far.

Rich