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I'll be having the windshield replaced soon and was wondering what would be good "while you're there" things I should consider fixing at the same time?
So far I have:
dashboard replacement or dye (original isn't the same color red as the lower panels due to UV fade). I figure it might be easier w/ the windshield removed.
replace review mirror (original is well past its prime)
If your tach / speedo are original and never refurbished, now would be a good time. Also you should inspect their respective cables if your cars has them?
Are you pulling the windshield yourself? They come out pretty easy. Especially if already broken so you don't have to worry about breaking it. The trim all unscrews except for the strip across the top. Get it out. Take your time. Get the holes fixed if any. Repaint the pinchweld. https://www.ebay.com/p/2104122177?ii...BoCgFwQAvD_BwE. Get the clips with the screws. They are very short #8 screws with #6 size heads. Also make a rough drawing of windshield frame. 2 pics. Inside and outside on a sheet of cardboard. Every screw you remove screw into the cardboard in it's correct location.
The tach and speedo are original but I think they may have been restored in the not so distant past. They look excellent. Both their cables were replaced not long after I got the car a couple years ago. The T-Top trim seems to be in decent enough shape. The glass is already cracked but I plan on having a pro do the replacement. I hadn't thought of the speakers on top of the dash. I rarely play the radio b/c the 454 sounds so good. I'll add the speakers to the list along with the dash pad.
If you're taking the upper dash out then could you do new bulbs in the driver side lower dash? Maybe snip the ends of the vacuum hoses to the headlight switch if they're not tight.
Had my windshield out recently, on my 77. First time it was ever out in the life of the car.
those weatherstrip/weather shields at the bottom outside corners of the windshield. Mine were like toast. Get some on order.
These things, my 2 old ones next to a new one.
Also.
A piller weatherstrips. You will almost certainly need to replace them to get the windshield side reveal mouldings off.
also, between the A piller weatherstrip holders and the side windshield reveal is a foam adhesive strip, I got mine from ZIP. Also 3M Strip-caulk will be needed to reseal the chrome T panel on your roof while your in there.
sanding down and repainting the windshield frame should be a given. I found rust I didn't know I had.
This was a surprise.
After some welding and repainting.
Notice how my stainless T section is off. And those corner sections as mentioned above. Took my corner sections to a pot metal chrome specialist. Had them repaired and re-chromed for half the price of new ones. Resealed the roof. Re weatherstriped my T tops and spent hours getting them aligned perfectly .
while your in there!
sorry if I forgot something. I live in Australia, when I did mine I got hung up over a couple parts I listed above.
One of the previous owners of my 72' did the above cleanup and POR15 on my windshield frame and it looks terrific......very finished look all put together and is so nice that I left my A-pillar trim out that had no chance of fitting from Corvette America and gained about an inch or two of sight line around the pillar. Highly recommended as this area is a hot spot for Corvette hunters and one of the first things they look at.
Yes, definitely time to replace the "A" pillar window weatherstripping, that funky weatherstrip piece below the windshield on both sides (often missing), remove/clean/reseal* all of the stainless steel t-top trim and sand/prime/paint as necessary the windshield framing.
*Just use fibered roofing cement in a caulk gun tube to reseal those pieces. Apply generously just as they did at the factory. It's what was used except the original fiber was asbestos. Since it's a bituminous material gasoline works great to remove the old.
While the windshield is out....
