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I have recently had a soft top installed on my 59' and the tension from the top is pulling the windshield header frame back to the point that the top of the windshield glass is visible. With the convertible top lowered, I able able to flex the windhield header back and forth. The windshield base is firmly connected to the cowling. The windshield is an over the counter LOF not a repro$ peice. Does anyone know of a fix for this or is this normal.
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Re: 1959 Windshield
I maybe wrong, but it sounds as if your windshield posts are broken at what they call the taps. They are very prone to breakage and usually are. -
Re: 1959 Windshield
Jay, I replaced the windshield in my 1960 Corvette this past winter. I have a feeling that your problem is related to the anchor plates in the top corners of the windshield. These anchor plates attach the header bar to the side frame assemblies. These plates are difficult to align. I had to replace the fine thread screws, because they were stripped and unable to tighten. If the side posts are not moving, thats probably the problem. Take your four screws out, use a flashlight to look through screw holes to make sure anchor plate is in place. If the anchor plates are missing, you most probably have to remove entire windshield to replace anchors.Comment
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Re: 1959 Windshield
You've been FASTENERED, read "screwed" by an over-zealous upholsterer! In an effort to make your Corvette look like a flawless Ferarri, he instaled the top with too much tension so no wrinkles would be visible in the fabric and has broken the tabs on the bottom of your windshield posts. When new, the C1 Corvette soft top was full of ill-fitting wrinkles. The fabric was installed on the frame by the manufacturer and then shipped to St. Louis. Assembly workers then installed a completed unit and adjusted the front bow by means of the two adjustments on either side of the side rails. This adjustment was the only one made at St. Louis. I've got pictures of NEW CORVETTES that would frighten any upholsterer! If presented for judging, these new cars would loose a substantial number of points for perceived shoddy workmanship. We need to RESTORE OUR CARS, not improve them!
The fix here is to pull the windshield, disassemble it, and ship the two side posts off for installation of fabricated tabs. Next you need to get a new top and have it installed by a high school shop class. They will probably come closer to original configuration than the pros. You can always get off cheaply by complaining that "gee there are sooo many wrinkles"!
Varooooooooooooooooooooom!
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Re: 1959 Windshield
Jay, et al-----
I was unaware that C1s suffered from this problem. Apparently, but for entirely different reasons, this problem plagued all Corvette roadsters and convertibles during at least the first 30 years of the Corvette's existence. For C2s and C3s this same problem is generated by corrosion-induced weakening of the windshield pillar posts/winshield side frame.
I wonder if C4, and even C5, convertibles will carry forth this "tradition"? I bet they will, though.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 1959 Windshield
All of the prior tips are great, and probably hold the answer to your dilemma. I'm betting on a combination. The top has to be nice and tight, unlike the original, but unless it is tight to an extreme degree, it is not the only problem. The w/s frame on my '62 had the tabs broken, and I learned that breaking them was an installer's trick so he didn't have to remove the frame to replace the windshield. If you found a replacement windshield in place before you bought your LOF, your tabs may well have been broken by a prior craftsman.
In any event, the only fix I'm aware of is to remove the assembly, disassemble, fix what's broke and put it back together. I routed out the tabs and pillars on my car, made plates and screwed 'em in (no mean feat!). I believe Corvette Central offers a repair service on the tabs for a little over $50 a side. I don't know how good they are at lining things up. There will be a possibility that your paint line below the w/s will not line up at the end of the day (but you should be able to elongate the holes in the fiberglass at the tabs to comp for their craftsmanship).
Good Luck,
Bob D.Comment
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