[tbirdtbird]

"are on the body on the windshield post" this seems contradictory or maybe I need more coffee.

still unsure of exactly where your problem is

You have the lower stanchions which bolt onto the strut coming up from the cowl section. The lower stanchion is trapezoidal shaped and about 5" high by about 3" wide at the bottom. It is attached by 2 special hex head bolts with flat bade screwdriver slots. This piece has a stub of threaded rod protruding out maybe 1.5" to which bolts the bottom of the upper stanchion, which is a way more uniform shaped piece about 1.5" wide by maybe 10" tall (depends on the car). These threads are often trashed and I have had to drill them out and weld in new. Can't think of where any rivets are.
The other stub of threaded rod sticking out is on the windshield itself, but I do not think this is what you are referring to. These stubs stick into the top holes in the upper stanchion.