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While I've got the Midget's windshield off...

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M

MGNoir

Jedi Hopeful
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... I'm wondering about touching up a bit of paint.

The PO or someone along the ownership line had the car painted, and it must have been a cheap job because (amongst other things), they didn't remove the windshield first. That means there's sort of a ridge/edge on the paint where it met the rubber between windshield frame and body. It's flaking off there because of the paint "edge" and revealing bits of the original green.

Overall the paint job is bad with orange peel and cracks in a few spots, plus the flaking mentioned above. The car needs to be stripped and repainted no question, but this isn't going to happen in the foreseeable future.

So down to the question. What's the thinking on cleaning up that area where the new black paint went up against the old windshield rubber and touching it up with some new paint?

My thinking is to lightly sand down the paint along the windshield edge, mask it off, then touch it up with some matching aerosol. Probably just 1/2" at most would be visible once the windshield is back on.
 
I suppose my real question here is, how effective is hand spraying with the right aerosol for small, "it doesn't have to be perfect" touchups?
 
When you go to reinstall windshield, it's possible to cut 2 slots in the shims so that you can get bolts started and then install the shims. This job then becomes a single person job to reinstall the windshield. Order new rubber for the base while you have it off of the car. I took the screws out,lube up well for a couple of days in advance, they are PosiDrive screws BTW, and slid out the end cap and it was really easy to slide the windshield bubber in and out rather than fighting it and trying to slide into the little slot.
 
Jim, I went ahead and ordered all new rubbers for everything. I had it out to replace a cracked windshield. And RE: the shims - I assume that's the oval piece of metal with two holes in it that matches up to the two holes in the posts - the piece of metal that fell down inside on the drivers side when I pulled out the bolts :smirk: Guessing I can fish that out.
 
I tape those shims to the windshield post, don't tape over the holes.
And do not remove or add shims as each car/windshield is slightly different, thus the shims. Usually 2 or 3 per side.
 
I cut the slots in case I find that it needs adjustment after I get those darned bolts installed.
 
I'm having trouble getting the windshield assembly back on the car w/new gasket. I read previously that this could be a tough job. I've got a bolt thru on one side; having trouble pulling the opposite side down. Do I ratchet strap both sides at same time or do one side at a time? I have a string in place for the front lip- do I pull the front lip outward after bolts are in place or as widshield becomes snug to cowl? Help please- getting frustrated.
 
I did one side at a time. Used two ratchet straps - the first went across the front of the windshield on the hood (with a blanket) each end was attached to a 2x4 that I ran across the bottom of the car. the second also started on the 2x4 and I then took a little bolt, put it in the bolt hole on the window frame and pulled it down. (standard disclaimer) it took more pulling than I thought it should or that the window should take. I also cut the side out of the shims so I could slide them in later. I did it myself but a helper would have been better.

I think another issue was tilting the frame backwards and forwards to align the holes frontwards and backwards. I also didn't worry about the rubber lip till the window was all in place. Let me know if you have other questions.
 
What I did was make a lever out of 1/4" steel bar that I bent into an "L" with the short part being about 1" long and the long part about 6" long.
I put the windshield on, put the short end of the lever into the bottom hole, lever the windshield down and put in the top bolt.
Then repeat for the other side.
It still isn't easy but this makes it possible for one person to do it.
BillM
 
I could even see making the lever one end of the ratchet strap (or attachable to it)
 
Even with a new seal, the job is a one man thing, 20 minutes tops.
You only need two tools....a LARGE phillips screwdriver, just under the size of the bottom hole, together with a smaller one.
Here's how to proceed....

1. Set the windshield in place, verify seals are sitting "right".
2. The bottom hole is a pass-thru, the top hole is threaded in the frame.
3. Press down on the windshield just enough to get the screwdriver into the bottom hole. The trick is to first use the smaller screwdriver. Lever the windshield down and hold it with your hand (yes, this works). THEN insert the larger screwdriver.
4. Lever the windshield down and get the top bolt threaded. Do not tighten but get it well started.
5. Jump to the other side.
6. Press down on windshield just enough to get screwdriver into bottom hole. Again, use the smaller screwdriver first if necessary.
7. Lever down the windshield and install the top threaded bolt.
8. Remove screwdriver and verify positioning of all seals.
9. At this point you will NOT be able to get the bottom bolt in.
10. Return to first side. Insert screwdriver. Make sure top bolt is loose.
11. Again lever the windshield down, this time pulling it down PAST where you think it should be. Hold it there with one hand while you tighten the top bolt
with your other hand. You can now install the bottom bolt.
12. Repeat on other side.
13. Now go back and loosen all bolts just enough so you can adjust the angle of the windshield as needed. (Again check all seals).
14. Close each door and observe the angle of the windshield to the vent frame. Adjust angle of windshield as needed to run consistent with door window frame.
15. Tighten all bolts and again check positioning of all seals. If the seals need adjusted, you will have to loosen windshield....but no big deal, you know how to do it.
16. Have a cold one.

Paul
 
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