Before I break my windshield....

MotorcityCobra · #1 (**permalink**) 08-10-2009, 05:02 PM

Just started to dry fit my windshield today. I would like to better fit the supports at the upper windshield point by moving the brass windshield inserts, but I'm not sure if they are suppose to slide or not. I very tentatively tapped one with no positive results. Do these move, and if so, what's the best method without messing up the inserts (or worse, cracking the glass).

Thanks,

MC

Double Venom · #2 (**permalink**) 08-10-2009, 07:09 PM

MC,
Yes they will slide,,,,, but before you try to move them up or down, take the 'side sills' apart from the windshield. Spray the grooved slide channels with something like WD-40, then using a thick edged flat bladed screw driver tap the screw driver up or down on the inserts.

Thats it....
DV

MotorcityCobra · #3 (**permalink**) 08-12-2009, 02:14 PM

Thanks, DV

Threaded hole was too close and I ended up messing one up (maybe repairable with bottoming tap). Second insert I was a little smarter and put the screw in the hole before hitting it.

Also noted the side arms are bent to different angles (way different angles). Looks like I'll have to measure the car to figure out which one is correct. My luck I'll probably end up bending the good one to the bad one's specs, then I'll have to bend both of them back to where they should be.

Regards,

MC

Double Venom · #4 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009, 04:12 AM

MC,
Very rarely, maybe one in 20 will have the both arms bent correctly. MY solution is to attach the arms to get the proper up/down gap closed up, then paying attention to the 'angle' needed I put that particular arm in a vice with some type of towel around the jaws of the vice. I set the arm in the vice so that the only part exposed is a few inches of the tip of the arm. Now another towel/wrag I grab the tip of the arm with a long pair of vice-grips' (tight but not tight enough to leave clamping marks on the chrome). I then -slowly-bend the tip of the arm to fit.

The arm bends fairly easy so go slow so as not to crack the chrome!

Damaged threaded mounting hole in the brass for the windshield:

If your lucky you can actually tap the piece of brass right out the bottom of the arm, repair the needed hole, then just tap it back in place where it goes. Little nerve wracking, but it's been done many times!

DV

convincor · #5 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009, 05:22 AM

If it comes down to it you can replace the brass inserts with stainless.
http://www.whitbymotorsports.com/UIn...ventoryid=1579

MotorcityCobra · #6 (**permalink**) 08-14-2009, 01:34 PM

Thanks.

Just to clarify, the bend that I was referring to was the bend in the middle of the supports. As received, the windshield would not have fit to the car (one support was bent inboard 3/4 inch too much). I put it into the vise and I seem to have it back to where it should have been.

Now I can proceed with cutting them off and drilling the mounting holes.

Regards,

MC