Windshield frame wows!!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Dansville Michigan
Windshield frame wows!!
My windshield cracked and I had a company come replace it. After they had put the window in they said they wouldn't warranty the thing because the frame was rusty. 
Well, in the process, and I wasn't there when this was being done, but the son and wife were, the installer punched holes in the top of my dash with his nice new window removal tool. So now it got kinda messy. :shocked: 
. So now they have to pay for a new dash. Has anyone done any repairs to their windshield frames? Pics would be a great help so I might see what I'm in for. I'm going to see if this window breaks and if it does, then I'll do the frame. 
Well, in the process, and I wasn't there when this was being done, but the son and wife were, the installer punched holes in the top of my dash with his nice new window removal tool. So now it got kinda messy. :shocked: . So now they have to pay for a new dash. Has anyone done any repairs to their windshield frames? Pics would be a great help so I might see what I'm in for. I'm going to see if this window breaks and if it does, then I'll do the frame.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Reynoldsburg OH
Had the same thing happen to me on my 70. Its not fun and you will probably have to replace at least the whole top of the frame and the two top corners. Then you have to worry about lining it up correctly, because the body will flex once you cut the old one out. It will cost some money too. The best thing is to have someone who is experienced do it. If it gets screwed up then nothing will fit right. Luckly mine worked out OK. Good Luck 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 3
From: Clinton IL
Well, not to scare you, but check out my site:
www.mcspeed.homestead.com
Click on the 69 Vette tab, the 71 Vette tab, then go check out my buddies site www.tropiczoneracing.com
On all three of these cars I have extracted the ENTIRE windshield frame/bird cage. There should be plenty of pics to see what it all looks like inside.
Chances are your problems go beyond the basic windshield frame.
Good luck.
www.mcspeed.homestead.com
Click on the 69 Vette tab, the 71 Vette tab, then go check out my buddies site www.tropiczoneracing.com
On all three of these cars I have extracted the ENTIRE windshield frame/bird cage. There should be plenty of pics to see what it all looks like inside.
Chances are your problems go beyond the basic windshield frame.
Good luck.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Orangepark Fl
first u kill the rust with osho i think thats the name of it can get it at ace hardware let it set a ay or 2 then u sand down the rust as much as u can then clean really good with metel prep fiberglass rustouts if any then use rustalumim on it which it will keep it from rusting again
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Dansville Michigan
Thanks for the info everyone. Anyway I look at it, it's gonna take a bit of work. So I'll wait and see how this window works. Maybe I can have them remove it and reinstall it after I get it finished.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,245
Likes: 210
From: Detroit MI
Get the w/s frame replaced. I have the name of the guy who did mine, and he did an excellent job. PM me if you want his name and number. He's in Rochester, MI, so not too far from you, but worth the drive.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 42,487
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Originally Posted by 69Myway
Well, not to scare you, but check out my site:
www.mcspeed.homestead.com
Click on the 69 Vette tab, the 71 Vette tab, then go check out my buddies site www.tropiczoneracing.com
On all three of these cars I have extracted the ENTIRE windshield frame/bird cage. There should be plenty of pics to see what it all looks like inside.
Chances are your problems go beyond the basic windshield frame.
Good luck.
www.mcspeed.homestead.com
Click on the 69 Vette tab, the 71 Vette tab, then go check out my buddies site www.tropiczoneracing.com
On all three of these cars I have extracted the ENTIRE windshield frame/bird cage. There should be plenty of pics to see what it all looks like inside.
Chances are your problems go beyond the basic windshield frame.
Good luck.
What did you use to locate all of the birdcage pieces prior to welding? Did you have any sort of factory dimensions to work from?
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 420
Likes: 1
From: Lapeer MI
I read a Corvette restoration book where it stated you must take care of a rusted windsheild frame as it provides much needed stiffness to the cage. They then proceeded to cut fiberglass and the rusted metal away. They patched up the metal and reattached the fiberglass and it looks great. I don't know how much stiffness the windshield actually adds but they said it was important. Good luck.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 3
From: Clinton IL
Originally Posted by ddecart
That's impressive Chris!
What did you use to locate all of the birdcage pieces prior to welding? Did you have any sort of factory dimensions to work from?
What did you use to locate all of the birdcage pieces prior to welding? Did you have any sort of factory dimensions to work from?
In two cases we used donor car birdcages. It was fairly easy in the 71 coupe, but much more difficult in the 71 convertible...since the donor came from a later model coupe. The coupe cage had to be cut down and changed for the convertible option.
On all three cases I made a bar from the striker to the a pillar mount custom built to each car. This maintained the distance across to keep it all in check during the cutting.
This was VERY tricky on my 69 as I pieced the cage back with new inserts and replacement parts. However, I was able to bolt the cross brace back in and cross measure before welding.
What I have learned from this experience is many of you out there are riding around on totally rotted out lower cages,....and you don't even know it. I am now able to identify this kind of problem and have seen some high dollar cars with serious problems lurking under the surface.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Originally Posted by 69Myway
SNIP ...
What I have learned from this experience is many of you out there are riding around on totally rotted out lower cages,....and you don't even know it. I am now able to identify this kind of problem and have seen some high dollar cars with serious problems lurking under the surface.
What I have learned from this experience is many of you out there are riding around on totally rotted out lower cages,....and you don't even know it. I am now able to identify this kind of problem and have seen some high dollar cars with serious problems lurking under the surface.
If the WS frame is rotted, the rocker channels are not far behind.
Look in the kickpanel area for evidence of this.
I replaced the entire top section of my WS frame. I had a donor
car side-by-side, plus I measured all the dimensions three times.
If the body stays bolted down to the chassis, I wouldn't worry too
much about keeping it 'aligned'. Take good measurements before,
and reproduce these in the end.
The most critical dimensions will be the leangth from the top edge of the
WS frame to the back of the Ttop cross bar, and the length from the
bottom corner to the top corner.
Be assured, that there will probably be rust at the lower corners, where
the fender mounts rivet into the WS frame. The best way to get these
is to saw off the top corners of the fenders.
I can't get at my archived posts here, but I had lots of pics on this procedure. When then archived posts become searchable - go take a look.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
I wish you well with that repair (if it is needed). It is time-consuming and expensive. But once done it will not have to be done again. Based on the apparent incompetence of the windshield installer, however, I would get a second opinion. It may simply be surface rust that just needs a coating re-finishing such as POR-15.
You have done members a service by posting your concern. Prospective C3 buyers should take heed. And examine candidate vehicles very closely. At the extreme this is what they might find. Pretty scary!
You have done members a service by posting your concern. Prospective C3 buyers should take heed. And examine candidate vehicles very closely. At the extreme this is what they might find. Pretty scary!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Wow - Paul, your brother really let the 79 go down the tubes in the last year.
J/K
Here are a few pics to ponder - for those interested in WS frame rot/repair.
Look here - pics that start with "windshield" for my rotted 75.
http://webpages.charter.net/davekimtysam/images/
Look here for some repair pics
http://webpages.charter.net/davekimtysam/images/70/wsf/
Also, visit my (outdated) web page for pics of rot and repairs:
75 for rot/rust pictures
70 for repairs
http://NHvette.com
J/K
Here are a few pics to ponder - for those interested in WS frame rot/repair.
Look here - pics that start with "windshield" for my rotted 75.
http://webpages.charter.net/davekimtysam/images/
Look here for some repair pics
http://webpages.charter.net/davekimtysam/images/70/wsf/
Also, visit my (outdated) web page for pics of rot and repairs:
75 for rot/rust pictures
70 for repairs
http://NHvette.com
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 3
From: Clinton IL
Originally Posted by L71Maynard
Ok, so what is the best way to identify a problem in the birdcage/windshield? I would love to see if I have this issue without pulling the dash.
Thanks,
Dave
Thanks,
Dave
It can be observed from pulling the trim on the outside, running a business card (after the car has been wet) along the edge to see if it comes back orange (rust), observing from under the dash in each upper corner, pulling the kick panel and looking at the body to frame mount area, going under the car and looking between the frame rail and body rocker location, etc. etc. etc.
