1956 to 1962 Windshield Frame Disassembly and Assembly Procedure - Online

[Richard M.]

When I got involved in the CRC glass seal issue, I had to take a previously done, newly restored 1961 windshield frame apart to replace the rubber with the new type. It had ugly wrinkles and a few other issues I didn't like. Since I had my camera handy, I wrote up a procedure with photos of taking it apart and putting it back together. I plan to turn this into a PDF in the future when I get feedback and the final revisions done.

Please take a look and send me comments and/or suggestions. I'd appreciate any further "tricks" and "secrets" anyone has.

Note it does not show details of actually removing it from the car, like where each nut and bolt is and what covers them up. It's more tuned to the actual frame assembly and details of it's disassembly and repair.

Thanks,
Rich
p.s. due to my ISP filesize and photo insertion limitations, I had to make it in 2 parts. Maybe just as well for now.

Part1 - Disassembly

Part2 - Assembly

[Roger W.]

Re: 1956 to 1962 Windshield Frame Disassembly and Assembly Procedure - Online

Wow Rich, What a good instruction Manual. You pretty much point out all of the pit falls.

[John F.]

Re: 1956 to 1962 Windshield Frame Disassembly and Assembly Procedure - Online

Very good "read" Rich. I have never done it, but feel I could follow your directions.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1956 to 1962 Windshield Frame Disassembly and Assembly Procedure - Online

Thanks Roger,

It took me most of the morning to compose, 5AM to about Noon. Actually about the same amount of total time it actually took over 2 days to remove, disassemble and then reassemble the real thing. I took about 100 pictures so that slowed me down a few minutes.

I guess you could say I "did it twice".

Rich

[Rob M.]

Re: 1956 to 1962 Windshield Frame Disassembly and Assembly Procedure - Online

great instruction, I'm surely going to dig it up when I'm going to do my 1954 car because the procedure must have a lot of similarities!!! Thanks for taking the time to document and publishing this info!

[Richard M.]

Re: 1956 to 1962 Windshield Frame Disassembly and Assembly Procedure - Online

Rob,

Here's a PDF version that Dave Zuberer converted for me last night. I see it's 40 pages. I didn't think it was that long.

Rich
p.s. Thanks again Dave!

[Dennis C.]

Re: 1956 to 1962 Windshield Frame Disassembly and Assembly Procedure - Online

Rich,

Well done! All of the photos are a great bonus.

Regards,

Dennis

[Jill J.]

Re: 1956 to 1962 Windshield Frame Disassembly and Assembly Procedure - Online

Hi Rich.

Thanks so much for posting this information on the windshield assembly - it worked like a charm! I appreciate the detailed description, along with the pictorial. It is very much appreciated!

Jill Jahn, 59140

[Richard M.]

Re: 1956 to 1962 Windshield Frame Disassembly and Assembly Procedure - Online

Hi Rich.

Thanks so much for posting this information on the windshield assembly - it worked like a charm! I appreciate the detailed description, along with the pictorial. It is very much appreciated!

Jill Jahn, 59140

Hi Jill, Glad it helped. Looks good all done.

One extra note before you install the assembly back on the car. Make sure that the 4 bottom post studs(IIRC 5/16-18) are secure in the windshield posts so they do not thread further into the posts and contact the edge of the glass through the rubber. Good idea to use some blue locktite if they're loose in the posts. You don't want them to thread further in when the nuts are tightened up. As you know it's tough to see them under the dash ends when tightening. If they thread further in it could crack the glass.

Also, don't tighten the underdash T-Bolt nuts too much, just snug is good. Those are size #12-20 thread.

Rich

PS For those wondering, the links in Post#1 are old and now broken. They were on my Comcast free website which Comcast took away years ago. Dave converted to pdf and can be downloaded from Post#6.

[Rick C.]

Re: 1956 to 1962 Windshield Frame Disassembly and Assembly Procedure - Online

Rich, Thank you, Thank you for this and the other procedures you've put together and posted on the DB. I'll be going through this task in the next few months.
Rick

[Jill J.]

Re: 1956 to 1962 Windshield Frame Disassembly and Assembly Procedure - Online

Hi Jill, Glad it helped. Looks good all done.

One extra note before you install the assembly back on the car. Make sure that the 4 bottom post studs(IIRC 5/16-18) are secure in the windshield posts so they do not thread further into the posts and contact the edge of the glass through the rubber. Good idea to use some blue locktite if they're loose in the posts. You don't want them to thread further in when the nuts are tightened up. As you know it's tough to see them under the dash ends when tightening. If they thread further in it could crack the glass.

Also, don't tighten the underdash T-Bolt nuts too much, just snug is good. Those are size #12-20 thread.

Rich

PS For those wondering, the links in Post#1 are old and now broken. They were on my Comcast free website which Comcast took away years ago. Dave converted to pdf and can be downloaded from Post#6.

Hi Rich.

Thanks for the extra tips you've provided on the fasteners and t-bolts. I'll be installing my dash pad next. Wish me luck on that.

Jill, 59140

[Richard M.]

Re: 1956 to 1962 Windshield Frame Disassembly and Assembly Procedure - Online

Hi Rich.

Thanks for the extra tips you've provided on the fasteners and t-bolts. I'll be installing my dash pad next. Wish me luck on that.

Jill, 59140

Do you have the dashpad procedure? If not it's in the Sticky, post#1.....

1958 to 1962 Dashpad Installation Procedure 6-10--17 96ppi.pdf

Rich

[Jill J.]

Re: 1956 to 1962 Windshield Frame Disassembly and Assembly Procedure - Online

Do you have the dashpad procedure? If not it's in the Sticky, post#1.....

1958 to 1962 Dashpad Installation Procedure 6-10--17 96ppi.pdf

Rich

Hi Rich.

Yes, thanks. I printed those out a while back when I printed the windshield frame assembly instructions. I started the dashpad installation procedures yesterday. Got about half way through and ran out of daylight. So did a few more things today. I buffed out the chrome trim around the Corvette insert in the passenger side then removed the welds and the trim. Also sandblasted the Corvette insert bracket and painted it. Now, I just need to reassemble the pieces to make the insert complete. I'll finish the dashpad next weekend. So far, all of your detailed instructions are on point (just like all the others). They are so helpful and take the 'head-scratching' away (thank goodness). 😎 I've attached a few pictures to show you my progress on the dashpad so far - it's coming along nicely.

Jill, 59140

[Richard M.]

Re: 1956 to 1962 Windshield Frame Disassembly and Assembly Procedure - Online

Hi Rich.

Yes, thanks. I printed those out a while back when I printed the windshield frame assembly instructions. I started the dashpad installation procedures yesterday. Got about half way through and ran out of daylight. So did a few more things today. I buffed out the chrome trim around the Corvette insert in the passenger side then removed the welds and the trim. Also sandblasted the Corvette insert bracket and painted it. Now, I just need to reassemble the pieces to make the insert complete. I'll finish the dashpad next weekend. So far, all of your detailed instructions are on point (just like all the others). They are so helpful and take the 'head-scratching' away (thank goodness).  I've attached a few pictures to show you my progress on the dashpad so far - it's coming along nicely.

Jill, 59140

Jill, Very Nice. Excellent progress.

Please remember to check a couple of things jic....

Test fit the speaker screen between the pad and the fiberglass dash. Originally(58,59) went under the dash but the reproduction thinner pads can make the screen appear too low. I've always set it between the dash and pad.

Also ensure the foam along the entire front edge or the pad is smooth with no raised areas or the windshield frame rubber could be raised and/or wrinkled there. Once it's glued down into the w/s frame gutter you're committed.

Rich
PS Love that Turquoise.

[Jill J.]

Re: 1956 to 1962 Windshield Frame Disassembly and Assembly Procedure - Online

Jill, Very Nice. Excellent progress.

Please remember to check a couple of things jic....

Test fit the speaker screen between the pad and the fiberglass dash. Originally(58,59) went under the dash but the reproduction thinner pads can make the screen appear too low. I've always set it between the dash and pad.

Also ensure the foam along the entire front edge or the pad is smooth with no raised areas or the windshield frame rubber could be raised and/or wrinkled there. Once it's glued down into the w/s frame gutter you're committed.

Rich
PS Love that Turquoise.

Thanks Rich. Still working on my dashpad. Installed the Corvette insert and grab bar along with the speaker screen and the gauge cluster today. Still need to cut/install the defrost bezels Afterwards I think I'll be ready to glue it down in the front near the cowl. As a side note, one thing we did when installing the Corvette insert, is we took a round plastic lid from an oatmeal container and cut it in half and used each half as the 'protective guard for the sharp ends of the insert preventing any cuts or tears to the vinyl. Once we were done getting the insert secured in the back,we pulled out the plastic lid halves. It worked like a charm.

Question...once the top is glued down near the cowl, do I need to trim the bottom of the dashpad (this is the part that is the vinyl overhang). Does it need to be glued down as well? Or does it fit behind the trim pieces?

Another question...on my windshield weatherstrip, we have dry fitted it to the bottom trim of the windshield. It appears that the middle screw holes don't quite line up, causing the weatherstripping to have an excess of rubber between the middle screw and the next screw. Is this common or are we going about this incorrectly? Should we place the weatherstripping in the channel on the car near the cowl vent and then install the Windshield?

Here are a few pictures of my progress this weekend.

Any advice you can provide will be helpful. Thanks Rich.

Jill, 59140