Broken side windshield frame

[Valeria H.]

I took my car into the shop 2 weeks ago to have the convertible frame adjusted. Several days later they called me said one of the side windshild frame pieces was broken. I went in to take a look at the car and saw that the upper portion of the glass was no longer inside the frame (just a 1/4 inch in the center). Both side pieces were sent out to Corvette Central to be retooled. My car is again down to the "skinny" again.
I was told this is a common occurance with C1's.

I trust these guys as they have a great reputation but I can't recall the windshield looking like this. Has anyone had any experience with this?

Valeria

[Bruce B.]

Re: Broken side windshield frame

Valeria,
This is can happen especially when the person adjusting the soft top makes it to tight. I would not call it a common occurence and obviously should not happen.
It also can happen when an old convertible top shrinks.
Then when the front latches are closed the windshield header bar can pull off the windshield.
I have never heard of this snapping the side windshield post tabs.
The Corvette Central repair is excellent, but care should be taken adjusting the top prior to latching it into place.
Bruce B

[Gary C.]

Re: Broken side windshield frame

Valerie, Paul Mazut a fellow NCRS does an excellent repair with quick turn around time. You can send Paul an e-mail from the Members List. Gary....

[Valeria H.]

Re: Broken side windshield frame

Thanks Bruce for the explanation as to why I did not remember the windshield protruding out of the frame before I took the car for the adjustment to the soft top. They did say that the soft top had shrunk since it was installed. I do wish they had told me exactly what had happened!!
Gary, thanks for the suggestion about the repair but the pair of side frames went to Corvette Central 2 weeks ago. I waited a little too long after this occurred to make a post about it.

After this was "found" they tried to steer me towards bying a new soft top as they said the one I had (which was only 2 years old) was tight and difficult to work with.
Do you think it would be in my better interest to buy a new soft top? This car is a real money s_ _k!
Thanks for your advise.
Valeria

[Bruce B.]

Re: Broken side windshield frame

Valeria,
First get the windshield installed then have the soft top frame properly adjusted if possible. Normally the frame is adjusted prior to installing the convertible top so this is sort of a delimma at this point.
But I will continue so you will have some helpful information, I hope.
Then put the top up making sure the frame is fully extended, hook the rear latches but not the front latches. Put the car in a hot garage or outside (if it is warm out) so the sun can heat up the top. If you top is white, put a dark colored cloth over it to absorb the suns heat. Once the top is warmed up, gently try and set the front latches.
If there is any resistence stop.
Try using use a heat gun to heat the top more and see if it is any easier to latch. If not, release the rear latches and hook the front latches. Then be patient and let the top relax. Wait a few days.
Release the front latches and close the rear latches.
If you still can't close the front latches take the car to a good convertible top person and see if they have any recommendations.
Unfortunately these tops do shrink. I usually put the top up whenever the car is in my garage, that way tension on it will help maintain the correct dimensions.
Good luck.

[Richard M.]

Re: Broken side windshield frame

Unfortunately these tops do shrink. I usually put the top up whenever the car is in my garage, that way tension on it will help maintain the correct dimensions.
Good luck.

I agree.....I installed a new top on my '59 in 1992. Whenever my car is at rest in the garage the top goes up. I always get comments about the top on the car. They say it's so nice. When I tell them I did it 18 years ago they're shocked!

The secret is keeping the top up when stored so it always stays stretched, wrinkle free, and comfortable.

Rich

[Valeria H.]

Re: Broken side windshield frame

Thanks Bruce and Richard for all your experience and willingness to share it. My car was at the very best convertible top adjuster in the Charlotte area. This is where the side frame broke. I feel certain of it. He told me after the frame pieces are placed back on the car he would take it out in the sun and try to stretch the top back out.

As with most thing with the car, "I wish I knew" back then when the top was replaced what I've learned today about keeping the soft top up whenever parked.

Valeria

[Richard M.]

Re: Broken side windshield frame

Valeria, Don't despair too badly. It has happened to many of us with these C1's. When I bought may 2 top car in 1986, I got home so excited. My 3 boys were too!(pic of #2 & #3, and the big kid behind the wheel.....me))
I decided that weekend to take the hardtop off and try the soft top. You know where this is going don't you.........

The black top was really in nice condition. No tears, just lots of wrinkles from being in the well so long. So I tried to connect it up. Got the front latches on, then tried the rear, hmmmm about a inch or so away from the latches. I loosened the fronts, then latched the rears. How confident I was..... this old top will stretch out in the sun. Left it in the sun for an hour or so. Later I went to latch the fronts. They latched alright, great but I didn't notice something.......the top didn't go forward.......the windshield frame went rearward!
It pulled away from the glass about a half inch. I remember it well. I almost screamed. I broke my car!

I managed to push the frame back onto the glass, somewhat. It looked ok. Learned my lesson. Used the soft top with fronts latched, and rears just connected but not latched. Was kinda like astro-ventilation when we drove. Except problems when caught in the rain or those chilly nights.

So that winter I fixed the windshield posts with the repair like you're having done now. A few years later I did the new top with the 3 boys "sneakers money"!

Rich

[Brad H.]

Re: Broken side windshield frame

One of the most common problems with these cars is when you take them to someone who adjusts tops or installs tops only, not knowing how week the windshield frames are in these c1, then installing or adjusting the tops way to tight and everything pulls loose, been there done that, kicked ass, when anyone is going to go through this make the people working on the top knows the c1 troubles with the top vs. winshield or they will f/// it up, get the tops adjusted way loose and you can mess with it later on your own. Maybe this is why a lot of owners have the stuff glued so as to not have the glass pull from the frame. Brad

[Valeria H.]

Re: Broken side windshield frame

One of the most common problems with these cars is when you take them to someone who adjusts tops or installs tops only, not knowing how week the windshield frames are in these c1, then installing or adjusting the tops way to tight and everything pulls loose, been there done that, kicked ass, when anyone is going to go through this make the people working on the top knows the c1 troubles with the top vs. winshield or they will f/// it up, get the tops adjusted way loose and you can mess with it later on your own. Maybe this is why a lot of owners have the stuff glued so as to not have the glass pull from the frame. Brad

Brad,
Where would you suggest glue to be placed. As the windshield is out until the side frames return this sounds like the time to glue with the reinstallation. I just ordered a new top today. I'd like not to have to go thru this again. Now, Let me count, how many times have I said that before!
Thanks for the advise. I will follow it.
Valeria

[Bruce B.]

Re: Broken side windshield frame

Brad,
Having installed a number of C1 windshields into the frames and subsequently installing on cars I doubt that any "glue" can hold the windshield assembly under the stress of a improperly adjusted softtop.
If you glue the windshield glass to the rubber seal you risk pulling the seal out of the metal frame. The ST12 recommends applying a non hardening sealer in the rubber seal to prevent leakage between the seal and the glass.
The bottom line is, install the windshield properly into the windshield frame, mount the assembly properly on to the body, adjust the windshield frame correctly to the hardtop (if a hardtop is going to be used) and then adjust the soft top frame to the windshield, side windows and body. Hopefully you can then install the soft top to the frame so it fits properly.
Obviously if the soft top is on the frame already the adjustment of the frame to the windshield , side windows and body is difficult if not impossible.
Bruce B

[John H.]

Re: Broken side windshield frame

Also, some top installers do them "bowstring tight" to avoid "comebacks" for wrinkles, which adds to woes for fit, windshield, and sealing at the header. They didn't leave St. Louis that way.

[Steven B.]

Re: Broken side windshield frame

I saw a very tight installation some years ago to prevent wrinkles. The hooks on the rear bow were both broken from the stress of latching the top. Good top shops aren't necessarily good Corvette top shops.

[Valeria H.]

Re: Broken side windshield frame

Thank you for the information regarding hardtop adjustment first. I am starting anew with a virgin soft top as soon as it arrives. I will discuss all of this with the convertible top installer prior to handing over the new soft top.
Thanks again to the Best of the Best! That would be y'all.
Valeria

[Brad H.]

Re: Broken side windshield frame

I agree with all of you, and D you are looking at a different situation being your windshield is allready installed and now pulling away, frustrating, I had the same exact problem and the guy that did the soft top the second ( another vender) was also a glass guy and he was able to use some kind of glass guy stuff that was non hardening and black to seal my windshield, yes allready in place and it worked without pulling away when top was put up and fastened, I don't know if he was able to get it up past the glass to secure frame of rubber to glass or what but it worked, that was then and now I am going in for correct glass on the whole car, will I have him silicone top and bottom to each other or not, I will talk to him and get his thoughts, some guys do cause they would rather have the the windshield be as one piece until next time vs finding out that oh golly I guess those things really don"t hold toghether, if they had no problems from the factory with these things then we sure did't do our homework just to say oh yeah I did mine the way the book said as the wind comes blowing in the 1/4 gap, will let everyone know what I decided to do on my new install. Also when mine pulled the glass away I was able to get in and push down on the frame putting frame back tight on the glass. Thanks again, Brad.