Windshield woes
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 422
Likes: 3
From: Oxford MI
Windshield woes
Now that I have my windshield out and can clearly see the condition of the frame I am bummed. This does not look like a job for me. Top left corner has holes, bottom of upright on both sides have holes. I need an expert. Any recommendations for North Oakland county Michigan?
Racer
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 339
Likes: 54
From: Fayetteville NC
Now that I have my windshield out and can clearly see the condition of the frame I am bummed. This does not look like a job for me. Top left corner has holes, bottom of upright on both sides have holes. I need an expert. Any recommendations for North Oakland county Michigan?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 802
Likes: 1
The Body shop that's working my 72 found the same issues after taking out the windshield. They sanded off the rust and treated the frame with a rust inhibitor. They used the fine fiberglass cloth, hardener and molded it to the frame. After some sanding and primer, you can barely tell it was done.
Steve L
73 coupe since new
Race Director
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 10,805
Likes: 706
From: Feverish All Over
If the amount of metal that's rusted away is miinimal it's not a bad idea - but if lot's of it is gone, you have a basic structural issue and it should be repaired with metal.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 5,877
Likes: 1
From: Park Ridge IL
Do you have any pictures?
Paragon is in MI....they have the parts ans offer services.
I rebuilt my windshield frame from pairs of sides, corners, and the upper. If you can weld or have connections with someone that can, it's not that hard.
Paragon is in MI....they have the parts ans offer services.
I rebuilt my windshield frame from pairs of sides, corners, and the upper. If you can weld or have connections with someone that can, it's not that hard.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 32
From: Damascus MD
rust
Pictures would help a lot.
You can also use POR15 putty depending on the size of the holes.
It has an excellent tensile strength and is easy to use.
Without pictures it is really touch to make recommendations.
Welding is really not that big a deal depending on the extent of the rust.
Bill
You can also use POR15 putty depending on the size of the holes.
It has an excellent tensile strength and is easy to use.
Without pictures it is really touch to make recommendations.
Welding is really not that big a deal depending on the extent of the rust.
Bill
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,009
Likes: 240
From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
I would wire wheel or sand that rust to get a better idea of how badly the metal is rotted first, sometimes it can look a lot worse than it is. Anywhere you find holes, that needs to be fixed properly with metal.
Consider this: in the event of a roll-over, your windshield frame will help support the car. If it has rust damage, and that damage is "fixed" with anything other than welded-in metal, it might not help support the car anymore.
Consider this: in the event of a roll-over, your windshield frame will help support the car. If it has rust damage, and that damage is "fixed" with anything other than welded-in metal, it might not help support the car anymore.
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
You could try Master Works in Madison Heights. They are a Corvette restoration and repair specialist.
It's South Oakland County, not North, but it is not too far away.
http://www.mwauto.com/index.php
It's South Oakland County, not North, but it is not too far away.
http://www.mwauto.com/index.php
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,112
From: Crossville TN
As mentioned, use a wire brush [wheel] on a power drill to clean off all the surface rust. Make sure you mask off the backside of the windshield frame to keep debris out of the interior. Also, quickly blow off stuff that lands on the paint; the rust debris will scratch the he!! out of your paint if you try to wipe it off.
Once done, you can see bare metal and make a good assessment of what needs to be repaired. If you have much rot, you really need to have metal stock pieced-in to maintain structural strength of the windshield frame.
There are "to-your-door" welding operators who can fix that damage at your home. It's a little more expensive, but well worth it in your case. Call around and get estimates, including travel costs.
Once done, you can see bare metal and make a good assessment of what needs to be repaired. If you have much rot, you really need to have metal stock pieced-in to maintain structural strength of the windshield frame.
There are "to-your-door" welding operators who can fix that damage at your home. It's a little more expensive, but well worth it in your case. Call around and get estimates, including travel costs.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 3
From: Greensboro NC
Don't be bummed most vettes have some version of the rust you have some just have not discovered it yet.
Drivers upper corner should be replaced the rest looks salvageable with grinder and treatment. It doesn't appear structural as the strength is on the back side channels not the front sheet metal.
Drivers upper corner should be replaced the rest looks salvageable with grinder and treatment. It doesn't appear structural as the strength is on the back side channels not the front sheet metal.