Repairing metal under windshield on '66

[Twilight Fenrir]

Well, I've been working on this for awhile now, and after bouncing back and forth between weather it was possible or not, I went ahead and got started on it's repair.

I've got the new panel cut out, and am in the final process of cleaning up the metal to patch-panel adhesive it into place... And, I noticed something I hadn't before, so I want to check before putting it in and calling the glass guy...

Basically, the metal underneath the bottom of my windshield is almost completely rusted away. After looking it over, I made a flat template that seemed to make things work. However, while cleaning away the rust, I discovered that the part I'm replacing appears to have been atatched to the top of the firewall with spot-welding. And I'm questioning weather it was truely just a flat piece of metal, or if there is supposed to be a ledge. I thought the tables at the opposite ends held the glass in place.

So, basically, my question is: Is the metal under the windshield just smooth, or is there a ledge? It would really suck if I went through all this work and I can't use it... Here's some shots... (Sorry, they're kinda big)

Orriginal before work:




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And, here's what I'm planning to do. I'm going to run 14 strips of 1/8" Steel across the gap, just thick enough to rest on the firewall, and catch under both the upper, and lower edge. After that, I'm going to patch-panel adhesive and rivet a piece of 22ga. steel ontop of it. Then grind, make pretty, and POR-15 the heck out of it. If there's supposed to be a ledge there though... I'm pretty much screwed. Unless I can just run some small bolts through the steel strips to catch the glass, but if the angle is way off.....

(The metal you see /is/ clean, I used an angle-grinder, so it's a little scorched. All rust has been removed from the bonding surfaces, and everything not being glued is already POR-15'd)



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[bluecab]

Looks like a decent solution. I may have a similar situation, but I am stymied by the trim at the base of the windshield, can't figure out how to get it off. Most of the damage in my car seems to have been caused by leaking windows.
How will you install the windshield when the repair is done? It can be done with adhesive or sticky strips there is a 1/4 in rubber spacer behind the windshield on mine, so I'm not sure what the best way would be to get a watertight installation.
I'll be following this thread for sure!

[Twilight Fenrir]

Looks like a decent solution. I may have a similar situation, but I am stymied by the trim at the base of the windshield, can't figure out how to get it off. Most of the damage in my car seems to have been caused by leaking windows.
How will you install the windshield when the repair is done? It can be done with adhesive or sticky strips there is a 1/4 in rubber spacer behind the windshield on mine, so I'm not sure what the best way would be to get a watertight installation.
I'll be following this thread for sure!

Wish I could help you with the trim... no idea, I didn't remove mine. It was in the back seat when I bought it, along with all the other exterior trim

I'm going to have a glass shop do it. I need the windshield anyway, I drove it home the day I bought it without one... And, the rear window is out as well, POR_15'd the sill, and will have him install that at the same time. But I do have the glass for that thankfully.

I don't know anything about a rubber spacer... like I said, mine was stripped down when I bought it...

Hopefully someone who is more knowledgable will chime in... I'm all set to put my reinforcing strips in... Just waiting for a confirmation that I'm not royally screwing myself over

[Twilight Fenrir]

Well... I got impatient... it's done.

[Twilight Fenrir]

Blammo!



As for the bottom windshield trim, I am about to put mine on. There are these funny little clips that keep it in place, and the clips themselves attatch to the metal under the windshield... If you remove the screws keeping them in place, the windshield /should/ come out.

My original screw holes were covered in my repairing. I had marked where they were.... but, I painted over the marks XD I'l figure it out.

[Twilight Fenrir]

Alright, just finished with the trim, it's rather straightforward to get it off...

First, you have to remove your windshield wiper arms, then the cowl. The cowl is wedged under the trim, but it's not attatched there. After you remove the cowl, you'll have access to the screws that keep the lower windshield trim in. Just remove, and remove.

[bluecab]

I know this is an old thread, but I'm repairing the lower windshield/dash on my '66 and have a few questions.
At first I thought there was a large section of the lower windshield that would contact the lower area that was rusty, I have measured as best I can and it looks like just a small band along the bottom edge is what contacts the lower dash area.
Can anybody that has an assembled car tell me how far UP from the bottom of the glass the adhesive comes?
Can you post a few close-ups of the area?
Is there really a gap at the front of the dashboard where it drops away?
I should have taken measurements and photos before I disassembled this, but I did nor know it was going to need this much reconstruction.
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[bluecab]

Anybody?

Can anybody that has an assembled car tell me how far UP from the bottom of the glass the adhesive comes?
Can you post a few close-ups of the area?

[Doc Hubler]

Ok, this is not a good picture to start with, but maybe it will help for now. I'll try and get a better picture in a day or two. You can look at this and maybe get an idea. These cars always rust out in this windshield area, especially corners and driver's side apparently, for cars left outside without replacing the crappy old sealer they used at the factory. Somethings do improve with time and that is one product that is much better. The one problem I see from your picture is that what metal you've replaced is very wavy, and I don't see how you will get a good seal. Not trying to be critical, but you want to be sure you get this right.

[Doc Hubler]

It almost looks like there is a small ledge where the bottom of the windshield rests. Not a real thick band of sealer at the bottom. Your gaps between dash and windshield are about right I think, looking at radio grille area. On my car, that black is going to be repainted the proper satin color. I was fortunate because although it looked as though my car was rusted badly in that area, once it was all apart and examined, it really was fine. Same for rear window area. Good luck, you have a major job there!