I have removed almost all of the windshield and T-Top stainless and chrome trim from my '70 to get at the birdcage structure, except for the 2 chrome pieces at the upper corners of the windshield ... they're the pieces with the hole in them to receive the pin from each T-Top panel. I have all of the screws removed but the chrome pieces won't budge. I don't want to break them by prying too hard. I tried using a heat gun ... thinking that there may be some windshield adhesive underneath ... but no luck yet.

Any advice?

 

Each piece has two (one??) screws still holding it to the birdcage. Unfortunately, the screws are not accessible since they are under the windshield glass. You've got to remove the glass to get the screws out!!!! This is a good time to start asking if you'd like to have a new windshield. New windshield glass is not all that expensive. Maybe your present glass has a little sand blast pitting that make you feel better about replacing it.

Some people have been able to remove the windshield without breaking it. Most people have reported that they ended up breaking it in an attempt to remove it in one piece.

 

The mystery is solved! Thank you very much for the info.

 

I took my windshield out recently and if there's not too much rust on the glass side of the corner pieces, you might be able to get the screws out without removing the glass. I couldn't even see the screws on mine since they melded into the rusted background. The window glass came out very easily though, since at least a third of the glass wasn't even making contact with the sealant. After the glass was out, I used a chisel to get enough of the corrosion off around the bolts to get a grip on the bolt head and get them to turn. I would not have been able to get them out with the glass in.

As far as removing the glass... some suggest pushing a small metal cable (like a guitar string) through, between the glass and the body, and "sawing" at the sealant to separate the glass from the body. I didn't need to do that with mine. I simply got a grip on the sealant from INSIDE the car by scraping at it with a small, flat chisel. Once I got enough hanging down to grab onto, I continued to work around the window pulling the sealant down with my right hand from inside the car, and helping to push it through from the outside of the car with my left hand. The sealant is a black, sticky, thick goo. Once the sealant was pushed out, there was a gap of between 1/4 and 1/2 inch revealed, so it was relatively easy to keep pushing the sealant through from the top and pulling down from the bottom. Make sense?

I don't know if this would work with your window since mine was never installed very well in the first place, and since I'm a girl and have smaller hands to work in those tight places.

Good luck!

 

I have so very little rust on my birdcage that I 'almost' don't need to do anything ... but, I'm a details guy, so I will get even the smallest amount of rust out of there, and at least protected w/ primer. I'd rather take care of the rust now than regret it later, because once it starts ...

I've seen the 'wire saw' technique, and may try that, but I was amazed at how soft and pliable the adhesive got while using the heat gun. I wonder if a combination of the two would speed things up a bit.

 

I was pulling those pieces off of mine to clean the frame and replace with new ones that I have. I couldn't get to the screws in front but was able to break them to remove the sections. I just wonder how important they are. It seems like the top screws are more than enough to hold them in place.

I'm probably going to test it without putting in the front screws. If I feel that they are needed then I'm having the galss pulled out. Am going to paint soon anyway so don't necessarily mind replacing the glass if I need to.

 

I think the two front screws are there to help keep the casting pulled down tightly into the sealer under it. Chevrolet didn't put anything on a car that wasn't needed. 25 cents x 4 per car x 25000 cars = $25,000.00
Regards,
Alan

PS: More than one person has cracked the windshield with the edge of the screw driver shaft trying to get them out with the windshield in place.

 

Your right. I'm going to have to remove the windshield. The car's not mobile right now and I don't want to pay a glass guy twice so I have to find the best way to remove the glass. I'll pay a pro to put it back in so it's right and doesn't leak.