windshield frame refinishing question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: corryton tn
windshield frame refinishing question
What is the proper way to refinish the windshield frame? I need to do a little welding to get rid of some rust, but after that what? Has anyone just used por 15? Or just normal primer? I have no experience with this so any information would be helpful.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,959
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From: North Bend Ohio
The drivers side top corner of mine is gone. I plan to use POR 15 to completely incase every metal part of my 'Vette body and frame. I figure I'll have to spend $500 to $800 on paint to do this but it will get done. I don't want to do this again.
BigBlockk
Later.....
BigBlockk
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 161
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From: Grand Island NY
I used Por 15 on the outside, then painted with semi gloss. After reading a lot of threads, the best way to do it is top coat with semi gloss before the Por 15 has dried. The Por 15 is so hard and shinny that the top coat doesn’t stick and can be removed easily. I also sprayed the inside of the frame with Por 15 using a undercoating gun that I got from Eastwood. I used a small diameter plastic tube and squirted in all the holes in the frame, so its also protected.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: corryton tn
If the paint has trouble sticking to the por 15 would the windshield adhesive also have trouble sticking? Also I think por 15 is not suppose to be exposed to the sun? would it really be exposed under all the trim?
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
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what is the purpose of the top-coat? We spray POR-15 straight with my neighbors gun (no thinner or anything) and the peices we did look great! Look just as good as powdercoating. Why would anyone want a topcoat? More protection?
Bry
Bry
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,195
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From: Connecticut, USA
Look at the frame to see where you have to repair it. If it's not into the fneder areas you're ok. Sometimes you have to cut into the fender,remove thenose or get at it from a stripped out dash area. If the only problem is the upper corners and top piece you need a welder and some stock. I removed the rust in the corners and rounded the hole. gorund it to clean metal and fabricated some .040" sheet metal and welded it in. Finish grind with a die grinder and 4.5" grinder, metal prep with POR15 metal ready,paint with POR15 black and top coat it with a good semi-gloss paint, I like Eastwoods for top coats. It should come out looking like it was never rusted.
Gary
Gary
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
I use an oxy/acetylene torch with bronze rod for fixing the windshield frame. Clean all rust off with a grinder openning any holes until you have good metal. I then cut patches and braze them in with golden rod.
After everything is welded/brazed in, grind smooth again and finish with whatever you want.
After everything is welded/brazed in, grind smooth again and finish with whatever you want.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
I did the same as Gary, except I used Krylon semiflat black for topcoat.
Originally Posted by gtr1999
Look at the frame to see where you have to repair it. If it's not into the fneder areas you're ok. Sometimes you have to cut into the fender,remove thenose or get at it from a stripped out dash area. If the only problem is the upper corners and top piece you need a welder and some stock. I removed the rust in the corners and rounded the hole. gorund it to clean metal and fabricated some .040" sheet metal and welded it in. Finish grind with a die grinder and 4.5" grinder, metal prep with POR15 metal ready,paint with POR15 black and top coat it with a good semi-gloss paint, I like Eastwoods for top coats. It should come out looking like it was never rusted.
Gary
Gary
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
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From: I can walk to MA
Originally Posted by Bryan8412_2
what is the purpose of the top-coat? We spray POR-15 straight with my neighbors gun (no thinner or anything) and the peices we did look great! Look just as good as powdercoating. Why would anyone want a topcoat? More protection?
Bry
Bry
2 - the POR15 is so hard and smooth, you want a porous topcoat to stick the WS to.
I used silver POR - topcoat with black. This way, there is good contrast, and you get full coverage.
