1936 Windshield picture & advise needed

[roll of the dices]

Hi everyone,

The windshield I have ('36 ford truck) for my project has the side screws so deeply rusted that I haven't been able to remove them.
I tried a wire brush, WD40, PB Blaster, diet coke bath, heat and the screws are not even moving or coming loose. I am thinking of tapping, drilling them and maybe remove them this way.

Anybody has any advise on how to remove these stubborn screws, other than the mentioned above?

There are some repairs that I will need to do to the frame itself, to remove some rusted through areas on it.

Anybody has a picture of how the windshield comes together? I see the frame itself is two halves that meet in the middle and attaches with the 4 screws...are the 2 halves separate and a 3 piece in the middle, inside of the frame, that joins it with the 4 screws? or does one half actually goes inside the other and bolts on the middle?

Sorry, I've never seen one apart and could use a visual before starting to cut or trim for repair. It was hard to find so I don't to risk it :-)

Thank you in advance

[Brian]

Yes, there are the two halves, top and bottom. Each side has an insert, about 2" long that has 4 drilled and tapped holes in it, that fits up inside the hollow sections in the two frame halves, and the screws screw into said holes and hold frame together and in alignment. Possibly your best method would be to carefully drill the countersunk screw heads off, which should then enable you to separate the two halves. Then you can remove the two inserts and deal with the remaining stubs that are left of the screws.

[blucar]

Several months ago I disassembled a '36 windshield frame using a combination of PB Blaster and heat from an electric heat gun (Harbor Freight).. I took my time letting the PB soak for awhile, then I would apply heat for a few minutes, more PB. My last trick was to put the correct size of a screw driver, hammer head (Harbor Freight) into the slot, gently taping it with a small hammer. Acts like an impact wrench..
After a couple of days of painstaking heat, PB, and light hammering, the frame came apart..
The effort helped to loosen the steel block that holds the screws and slides into the frame..

[roll of the dices]

Brian, thank you for the description. That's what I was thinking but wasn't sure.

Blucar, I will try the PB and heat before cutting the screw...I am in no rush, so that my help.

Than you both

[blucar]

Originally Posted by roll of the dices

Brian, thank you for the description. That's what I was thinking but wasn't sure.

Blucar, I will try the PB and heat before cutting the screw...I am in no rush, so that my help.

Than you both

The screws that secure the two halves of the frame together are special fine thread, cone shaped head. Drilling the screws out requires a large drill bit to remove the head, the rest of the screw is about #8..
Getting the screws out is only half of the problem because the securing block is usually rusted in place.. That is why patience, heat and PB Blaster works so well..
As a general rule I always insert a screw driver into the slot, ect., of a screw, smacking the head of the screw driver before I attempt to remove the screw. Amazing how quickly the screw comes loose..

[325w]

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If you have plenty of time soak each end in a bucket of vinegar first. Three are four days per end. This will help dissolve the rust. Then the heat and blaster.