[Roadsters] Windshield Frame Straightening Procedure

[Bubba]

Having raced 510's, RX7's and 4 wheel drives, and had the pleasure of 
testing the anti-gravity capabilities of 5-point harnesses, and gone through 
the task of straightening roofs and re-fitting windshields, since the frame 
is a bolt on, replace it if you can afford it.  You will save hours of 
frustration and anxiety.

If you want to or have to try to salvage the frame, work slow, and pull with 
steady force.  Take lots of measurements, and check often.  The real fun 
will come when you have got it back to the proper position.  When you 
release the tension, from pulling, the frame will shift back a bit.  You 
will actually have to go JUST beyond where it needs to be, and when released 
have the frame return to what you really need.

There is no easy way to know how far past you have to go, but it's not 
usually too much.  Pull, release, check.  Pull, release, check.  Pull, 
release, check.  And if things suddenly begin to need substantially more 
force to continue pulling, STOP!  Re-assess, reset, and start pulling again. 
Trying to pull on it may cause a sudden release of the excess pressure, and 
an unintended pull the wrong way, or too far, causing new damage.

Good luck.

Bob Winslade
1966-1600 Missy
1967-1600 Bender
1972-510 4dr Daisy
1972-510 4dr Spare Change

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Harvey" <stebharvey at ameritech.net>
To: <datsun-roadsters at autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 6:39 AM
Subject: [Roadsters] Windshield Frame Straightening Procedure


> Group,
>
>
>
> I will be attempting to straighten my 1970 1600 windshield frame this
> weekend.  I have the body mounted on a rotary fixture and had a friend 
> help
> me rotate the body to a new position. I removed the front and rear pins 
> plus
> adjustable straps that help hold the body in position. I asked my friend 
> to
> just keep the body from moving in either direction until I attach a chain
> hoist. Well, he let go of the body and it rotated 180 degrees or until 
> the
> top of the windshield frame hit my garage floor, BOOM. Ive taken
> measurements from several datum points to try to establish in what 
> direction
> the how severe the distortion is. It looks like the frame is about = off
> center towards the passenger side. My plan is to heat both sides of the
> windshield frame (at the base) and using an old windshield, the  soft top
> and both doors, force the frame back into alignment.  My question is, has
> anyone had to deal with this type of repair and how did you get the
> windshield back into alignment?
>
>
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
> Steve Harvey
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