70-72 windshield header stainless trim removal

[Jack H.]

Re: 70-72 windshield header stainless trim removal

Yeah, Pat, that's the 'surprise' I made comment to. Plus, depending on how bad it is and how long it's been that way, the news can be EVEN WORSE!!!!

Once water has sucessfully invaded the windshield surround section of the bird cage, it generally travels. Where can it go?

Well, on coupes, it can travel backwards and invade the center T-bar and begin the process of rusting that structural component from the inside out...

On both coupes and convertibles, it can/does migrate to the upper/outer corners of the winshield surround to follow the 'pipeline' down the forward birdcage members to puddle onto the lower rail portions of both the birdcage and the frame. This can REALLY aggrivate the repair task!

I know of one Shark that had a REALLY bad case! When the body was pulled, BOTH the RH and LH lower frame rails of the birdcage fell apart and the body started to fold up tip to tail! At the same time, the RH frame rail fell apart in two pieces and the LH frame rail fell apart in three pieces. What'd kept this car together was the drive line and the basic body fiberglass!!!!!

So, once you discover 'rot' on the upper portion of the birdcage at the windshield surround, it's my suggestion that you delve deeper... Consider lifting the body and visually inspecting the bird cage's frame rails as well as the condition of the mating surfaces of the frame below.

I know owners simply don't want to hear this kind of news, but do they do themselves any favors by NOT taking the extra steps to fully assess the health of related structural members????

[Paul O.]

Re: 70-72 windshield header stainless trim removal

On some what of the same subject does anyone have photos detailing the trim mounting fasteners location? I am helping one of our chapter members restore his 71 convertible and he has misplaced his detailed photos and has replaced the top and rt side rails and left corner. Any photos showing there location would be of great help. It has been a long time since I was under the trim. Paul 18046

[David B.]

Re: 70-72 windshield header stainless trim removal

Hello Patrick - I went through the same thing with a 71 convertible. I had to replace the top section , 1 corner and 1 side post. To make matters worse the windshield had to be removed to fix the problem. My problem now is I did not take everything off myself and have no notes or photos for reference now that I am ready to put everything back together. Do you have any more photos showing how everything fits together and where the different clips are supposed to go. Any help from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Dave

[Patrick H.]

Re: 70-72 windshield header stainless trim removal

Hello Patrick - I went through the same thing with a 71 convertible. I had to replace the top section , 1 corner and 1 side post. To make matters worse the windshield had to be removed to fix the problem. My problem now is I did not take everything off myself and have no notes or photos for reference now that I am ready to put everything back together. Do you have any more photos showing how everything fits together and where the different clips are supposed to go. Any help from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Dave

Dave,

I'm out of town until Sunday.
Send me an e-mail, and later next week when I see the car I can get more pictures.

Patrick

[Patrick H.]

Re: 70-72 windshield header stainless trim removal

Yeah, Pat, that's the 'surprise' I made comment to. Plus, depending on how bad it is and how long it's been that way, the news can be EVEN WORSE!!!!

Once water has sucessfully invaded the windshield surround section of the bird cage, it generally travels. Where can it go?

Well, on coupes, it can travel backwards and invade the center T-bar and begin the process of rusting that structural component from the inside out...

On both coupes and convertibles, it can/does migrate to the upper/outer corners of the winshield surround to follow the 'pipeline' down the forward birdcage members to puddle onto the lower rail portions of both the birdcage and the frame. This can REALLY aggrivate the repair task!

I know of one Shark that had a REALLY bad case! When the body was pulled, BOTH the RH and LH lower frame rails of the birdcage fell apart and the body started to fold up tip to tail! At the same time, the RH frame rail fell apart in two pieces and the LH frame rail fell apart in three pieces. What'd kept this car together was the drive line and the basic body fiberglass!!!!!

So, once you discover 'rot' on the upper portion of the birdcage at the windshield surround, it's my suggestion that you delve deeper... Consider lifting the body and visually inspecting the bird cage's frame rails as well as the condition of the mating surfaces of the frame below.

I know owners simply don't want to hear this kind of news, but do they do themselves any favors by NOT taking the extra steps to fully assess the health of related structural members????

Jack,

All interior trim is removed, and thankfully the only rust I see at all is the spot highlighted in the picture above. So, I don't anticipate any surprises. When I get the car onto the lift soon, I'll check the birdcage from below.

Patrick