Hello All!
I've got some significant rust behind the side and top chrome sections surrounding the windshield. As a matter of fact with every nice bump on the highway, I get a sprinkle of rust fragments dropping on my knees. I think my rust is too deep to simply sand out and repair. I think I need to have the windshield pulled and the entire surround replaced. Anyone been through this? Since my 31-year-old windshield is rather tired & pitted, I'll probably replace it at the same time. Any advice would be welcome!! ~ Joe

|QUOTE|fun71 said: Hello All!
I've got some significant rust behind the side and top chrome sections surrounding the windshield. As a matter of fact with every nice bump on the highway, I get a sprinkle of rust fragments dropping on my knees. I think my rust is too deep to simply sand out and repair. I think I need to have the windshield pulled and the entire surround replaced. Anyone been through this? Since my 31-year-old windshield is rather tired & pitted, I'll probably replace it at the same time. Any advice would be welcome!! ~ Joe|/QUOTE|

Joe, Unless you are a skilled metalworker, and welder, I would have a body shop do it for me. I know it will cost a fortune, but if you do your homework, and get a quality repair shop, that deals in corvettes a lot, you will be satisfied with the outcome. Evidently there are a lot of corvettes out there with the same problem. By the way, you have a good lookin vette!! Good luck with the repairs...

Joe, I had my windshield replaced appx. 2 years ago. I didn't have the same problem that you have and I had real little surface rust on the supports. I cleaned them up and primed/painted them. Do you have a lot of rust looking from the outside into the cowl area? This sounds like where the rust is falling from.

Guys,

The rust is not very visible from the outside at all. Follow your fingers up the windshield & you'll feel it all the way up top. It "sprinkles" out more if the tops are off (less rigidity I guess.)

FYI - There's NO WAY that I'd tackle this problem myself. I can change oil, replace wiper & bulbs -- but not this kind of stuff! I have the name of a "vettes only" body shop that I plan to eventually take it to about this. Anyone used A&R Corvette in Brewster, NY for body work before? I have heard very good things from two seperate people. I think this will be late fall project so I can enjoy as much time in the car as possible.

From a value standpoint, think it's worth keeping the original windshield? It's not cracked, but it is well pitted. Personally I'm leaning toward swapping it out for a new one but I don't want to make a bad investment decision.

Thanks! ~ Joe

Joe, the odds of getting your original windshield out in one piece and slim. Unless you are worried about "all original" I would get a new one. If you have the $$, the vendors can get you one with the correct date stamp for your car.
While you are at it, might as well replace the weatherstrip. I'm sure it isn't perfect after 30 years, I know mine wasn't . it isn't a hrad job either.

Chris,

Bad weatherstripping is probably what caused this problem in the first place. I plan on having this done at the same time. I've only been out once in a heavy thunderstorm & I did get water coming in (although it was a lot less than I feared). Were you happy with how yours now looks? No leaks or rattles? ~ Joe

Joe, no leaks or rattles and I did it myself. You can do it, it isn't hard. The only problem would be driving it back from the windshield guy without "A" pillar weatherstrip, not a big deal. I did my whole car except for the hatch window. That will be this winter.

Take a look at this month's issue of Vette. There is an article on exactly what you are having a problem with. They did not see a rust problem from the outside either. After reading the article, I would never try to do the repair myself. Anyhow, the article is on page 28 of October 2002 Vette.
Good luck.

Thanks Glenn -- I will check out the article!

I also just had the windshield and weatherstripping replaced on my 79. Same problem, drive in the rain, have it fall in your lap!
The guy I took it to to replace it showed me what was wrong before he took it out by pressing from the inside of the windshield just at the top where the trim sits and I could see it move a good 1/4". He also said, common problem.

Was worried that the support pillars would be completely rusted out and have to be replaced. Apparently I am very lucky that the previous owner never drove it in the rain as well. (Quite a bitch going into work with a spot on your crotch if you don't have a towel, or anything else handy!)

Anyway, if your windshield is pitted I think you're going to have big trouble getting it out in one piece. The guy who took mine out wanted to do just that, but had only worked for a few minutes when the whole thing started spider-webbing on him and came out in pieces. Before he started he made sure I understood that I assumed all responsibility for the windshield,and would have to pay replacement costs if the windshield did not come out in one piece.

Trust me, you will see the road in a whole different light sitting behind the new windshield after all those years behind the pitted one. I couldn't get over the difference. It was perpetually dreary looking through the old windshield, but the world now has all the colors of the rainbow!

Good news! Mechanic says differential was tight, with little wear, and no metal so just the seals had to be replaced. Also, monospring has given new life to handling, according to him. Unfortunately I can not pick her up until tomorrow.

Will take pics and submit as soon as she is back. I really am anxious to show you all my beauty!

Well, gotta go, hope your repairs are quick and painless (unlike some of mine have been)!

Later,
M Romanowski