So I have been restoring a hard top the past few months and it's come time to install it on my 73' but there's only one problem. As you can see in the picture there is a custom roof rack bar welded to the windshield hinges. I have never had a problem with these in the past because I have always been running a soft top. I can't take the hinges off without grinding and ruining them. But I would still like to keep the bars on the windshield for the parts of the year I run without the hardtop. So my question is, is there anyone with a spare windshield frame lying around in Utah? That way I could just swap them out. Or does anyone have any other suggestions? Thanks
Windshield frame problems
- Thread starter 73fjguy
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Cut through the bar and put a sleeve inside of it. That way you remove a couple of bolts an take it off.
Could you just buy a 2nd set of hinges? Are your hinges welded to the windshield frame?
I have a couple sets for sale.
I have a couple sets for sale.
how would you remove the windshield hinges to swap windshield frames?
- Thread starter
- #5
The bolts on the hinge are welded together on the top part of the hinge and then completely covered with glass, if I was to replace the windshield I would take off the bottom hinge bolts and take the whole thing off, I'm going to need a new set of windshield hinges so how much are you selling those hinges for? I think I'm just going to grind the hell out of the top hinge and weld the bar on to another spare set of hinges properly so they can be swapped out easily
Link to For Sale thread:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/sale-parts/454169-78-74-hinges.html
$40 for the pair + shipping. Very interested in trades listed in the above thread. Thanks
https://forum.ih8mud.com/sale-parts/454169-78-74-hinges.html
$40 for the pair + shipping. Very interested in trades listed in the above thread. Thanks
second set of hinges sounds right , but be warned them screws/bolts will want to fight you all the way to crazy..
I've always had to use an impact driver (the kind you hit with a hammer) to get windshield hinge screws out.
The hinges I have are from a '74 and a '78. The '74 hinges are welded so they won't allow the windshield to be folded down. The '78 windshield frames have the wiper motor and wipers on the bottom of the frame, so the hinges are a little different to allow the windshield to be folded down and clear the motor. I noticed you have no windshield hold-down hardware on your hood. If you never lower your windshield to your hood, the '74 hinges being "fixed" and the '78 hinge difference won't matter.
Hi, I am ase master auto tech , my experience with rusty bolts for 15+ yrs , is to heat the bolts until they glow red hot ,then soak them with water until they stop steaming, I did this on my 74 and the screws came out with just a #3 matco screwdriver
If you add the necessary brackets and hold-downs from '73 to your hood, and you plan to fold the windshield down to the hood, then you would want hinges from a year that had the wipers at the top of the windshield frame (? up to '74). If you never plan to add the hood hardware and fold the hood, then any hinges should work.
Email with pics sent. Thanks
Email with pics sent. Thanks
