Hadez

I am having the windshield replaced due to a long crack in it that can't be fixed. Any tricks or tips to removing all the trim on a 69 vette that I should be aware of? The shop is coming tomorrow and I want to remove the trim myself before they arrive.

Looks relatively simple but wanted to make sure there were no special tips I should know about before I start taking it apart.

Also anything I should watch for while they replace the windshield?

Sully1882

here ya go, I'm going through the same thing with my 72

http://www.speakeasy.org/~pws/Corvette.htm

hth,

Sully

Sully1882

the weakest link in our cars is the metal birdcage and especially the windshield frame. If your windshield has never been out I would highly advise you take the time to remove everything, remove the windshield, sand and clean the windshield frame and note if everything is ok and hopefully if there is any rust it is just surface stuff. Spray it with an etching primer and then a paint or sealing product to make sure it is sealed and protected.

I hope that for your sake when the old windshield comes out there is no rust. Many guys here will tell you that all C3s have some rust on the windshield frame. Hope you aren't opening up a can of worms.

hth,

Sully

pws69

I wouldn't let anyone do it that has never done C3's before!

Sully1882

depth of the setting of the new windshield is the major key. If it is set too deep the revel molding will have a big space between it and the windshield and allow for more chance of water into the windshield frame area and the birdcage.

Sully

Alan 71

Hi k,
The sequence for taking the stainless steel trim off is:
a-pillar weather strip retainer
a-pillar stainless trim
windshield header stainless trim (the long thin piece)
It's pretty much critical that the windshield be spaced a certain distance from the windshield frame to insure that the ss trim goes back on without gaps between the trim and the surface of the new glass.
I can hardly imagine anyone doing present day windshield installation taking the time to prep the windshield frame properly unless they're in the restoration business too.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

Hi Suly,
You were posting while I was typing, thus the 'echo'.

Sully1882

Hi Allen,

it was simply an echo of an echo b/c everything I know about this is from you and the other guys here on the forum. Without the help from here I would be in knee deep and sinking further. As always thank you for all of your help.

Sully

Hadez

Thanks guys for the tips...sounds like it should be straight forward. I should not have any rust issues as the car was completely rebuilt 10 years ago by Chris McDonald. See pic of the birdcage below.



I will mark on the frame where the windshield currently sits to have the new one installed in the same place.

As far as having somebody who has worked on vettes before only do my windshield replacement, lets just say I have had enough experience with so called vette experts claiming to be knowledgable. One of the last guys who worked on my ride during the LS swap, body redo, etc. reinstalled the convert top completely wrong creating so much tension on the top & frame of the windshield the windshield frame actually would move about 0.5" when fully clamped down. Spending an hour myself on it fixed that with little trouble and little previous knowledge on how to properly reinstall a convert top.

pws69

Do it yourself, then. You just need a helper to drop the glass in for the "dry fit", then the final install. If you follow the article that Sully posted, you shouldn't have trouble. Considering you are taking it out (assuming it is in right!), you can observe the things that are pointed out as needing attention.

Hadez

All went very good. No surprises and I guess you could say I got luck as the installer was a car guy and had just done a C3 about a month ago. The frame was perfect. Not rust and nice & clean. New windshield is exactly where it orginally was. Probably one of the easiest R&R things I have done lately on my ride.

Thanks for the tips

kdf1986

It sounds like you were fortunate to have every thing go so smooth. I looked at the posting from Sully and thought about how much work this will take.

I have a 72 with a vertical crack along the driver side door pillar. I need to have the windshield replaced and have been thinking about doing this myself.

Maybe I will use your method and do all the prep work myself, and then call a glass company to come in and do the final sealing and positioning.

I really want to see the birdcage when the windshield comes out. That is one reason I dont want to drop the car off at a glass shop.

From your post it looks like things could go smoothly. Thanks for the update.

kdf

Hadez

here are a few pics from the day

MMJ

The link to the article that Sully posted no longer works. Does anybody have a new link?

Killingsworth 73

bump - I'm wanting to pull mine off for powdercoating

pws69

Sorry about that! When Speakeasy was swallowed up by Megapath, they "broke" our private sections. I was told earlier this year "we are working on it", but never heard another thing! I will try to remember to bother them again and find out if they have something set up - obviously, they never restored that one!! Typical stuff - wait until Comcast/Time Warner break all their users AND raise the prices!!

Hadez

I love the body colored matched look (in my case black) but the lighter/thinner pieces of trim will warp a little under the powder coat heat process but was nothing a little elbow grease could not take care off

pws69

Followup:
Megapath has resolved their issues. You can now view this presentation here:
http://users.speakeasy.net/~pws/Corvette.htm

A8skyhawk

Anyone have another link to that article by any chance? Should have saved it when I had the opportunity...

sjstub

So...What's MegaPath? Thats what I get when connecting to this site

pws69

Gee, it worked fine when he posted it 6 YEARS ago......

speakeasy.org is long gone - but attached is a PDF version of that web site.