Removing dash pad to riding with the windshield down??

[kat]

Ok, this question is coming from a thought I am having. We all know how things can snowball when working on these ol Broncos.

So my dash pad has been cracked since I bought it and I'm wanting to remove the pad completely (I like the clean look). So I have seen tech articles on this and I have a feeling this '76 is going to fight me the whole way. Don't know if the windshield has ever been folded down. I don't have any leaks that I can see but I am assuming I will need to buy a seal for it before I even start.
So....Now Im thinking once I get some nice knobs I might want to ride with the windshield down for short spurts into town or creeping down a dirt road at night. So what kind of things do I need to make sure my windshield doesn't crack or bounce on the hood?? Also what do people do about the rear view mirror. Mine is glued to the wind shield. I have a roll bar in place, do they make a drop down/clamp type rear view mirror??

Anything else I need to be concerned about?? If you have any pics of yours with the wind shield down please share. Thank You

 

[SteveL]

Wh sells fancy roll cage mounted mirrors or you cand doi it on the cheap with a pipe clamp from the hardware store and a mirror from autozone. Also check the local laws about driving on the road with it down.

 

[unimogger]

It gets old after you've eaten so many bugs.

 

[73azbronco]

Get some good googles or riding glasses. Maybe goggles

 

[kat]

Well...maybe not on the highway but tooling down a trail

 

[Flying Pigs]

The law has to be the same as a motorcycle. Sunglasses during the day and clear glasses at night. Oh yea, keep your mouth shut cause there is some big bugs out there and none of them are tasty.

 

[thegreatjustino]

Stock on '66-mid year '69 to latch down the windshield.

Seems like it would be easy to adapt to other years.

https://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Windshield_Fold-Down_Latch_Kit/bronco_Windshield_Parts

 

[spap]

Also remember that the side windows do not remove like some of the earlier ones did
So will look kinda weird

 

[DirtDonk]

Only took me to about second gear (or about 25mph) the very first time, before I decided that I never wanted to run around with the windshield down again. Ever!
Was way too obnoxious at any speed over 10 or so.

So yes, for a trail only kind of run, or for the old hunter/gatherer user, it's probably still got a place. But I'm all for sealing up the entire hinge area with silicone and never folding the windshield down again.
Of course, that leaves you open to "what if I need to fold it down" scenarios. But so far I've never had one of those, so it seems a distant possibility for me.

Good luck. But as said, bring goggles.

Paul

 

[Rustytruck]

you need to drill the hood for the hood loop. you need the windshield mount to hook to the hood loop. thats welded on. as far as mirrors check your state law they are different in each state. for the most part you need have to have 2 rear view mirrors and most Broncos have one one each door so you may be covered. make sure you use penetrating oil on the hinge well before you plan to fold the windshield let it soak in for a week or so. be wary that most windshields have not been down so work it down gently. allot of old Broncos have compromises in the sheet metal of the windshield frames or the structure underneath the windshield and rust outs are common. might want to look behind the dash from underneath looking for rust through. Floor boards get wet in the rain? on the old wiper set-up folding the windshield was folding rubber vacuum lines on later Broncos your folding wires to the wiper motor so you have to help them as they go through the dash into the windshield frame. You need removable door window frames or remove the door and get door inserts to complete the look

 

[kat]

you need to drill the hood for the hood loop. you need the windshield mount to hook to the hood loop. thats welded on. as far as mirrors check your state law they are different in each state. for the most part you need have to have 2 rear view mirrors and most Broncos have one one each door so you may be covered. make sure you use penetrating oil on the hinge well before you plan to fold the windshield let it soak in for a week or so. be wary that most windshields have not been down so work it down gently. allot of old Broncos have compromises in the sheet metal of the windshield frames or the structure underneath the windshield and rust outs are common. might want to look behind the dash from underneath looking for rust through. Floor boards get wet in the rain? on the old wiper set-up folding the windshield was folding rubber vacuum lines on later Broncos your folding wires to the wiper motor so you have to help them as they go through the dash into the windshield frame. You need removable door window frames or remove the door and get door inserts to complete the look

Thanks for the tip on looking under dash for rust prior to trying to let windshield down...Im sure my back will just LOVE that. As expected this might be a bigger project than I want to handle JUST to remove the dash pad. And after the comments don't think Im going to go thru the trouble to have it stay down. Once I replace the seal and if there isn't any rust I will leave it alone. She don't see a lot of rain but will maybe run a water hose over the hinge to see if it drips.

 

[Rustytruck]

look at the current post on old blue on the last couple of pages.

 

[kat]

look at the current post on old blue on the last couple of pages.

I went back 7 pages and can't see anything that says 'old blue' or about a dash pad...

 

[Rustytruck]

https://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=236070&page=6

 

[kat]

https://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=236070&page=6

Thanks man. Damn, Im going to have nightmares if mine is that bad of shape. Which I don't think it is but you never know I guess. Weather is starting to cool down a little around here so won't be long until I tackle this. going to be optimistic and order a seal and some nice knobs in the next couple of days.

 

[jckkys]

Driving with the windshield down is fun. It's as simple as that. The law in Az. says windshields are needed on commissioned roads. Off road it's OK. You'll find it under Title 28 of the Az. Revised Statutes 28-95701. The law leaves a few loopholes. First it simply says a vehicle must be equipped with a windshield, not weather it's up or down. I just put it up if a cop tells me to. I drove windshield down often in my M38 Jeep, and was stopped a couple times. The top speed seemed to be about 40MPH before wind got too obnoxious. My '68/'77 has all the '68 no wind shield features so I can always go topless, windshield down, and door window frame-less.

 

[HuffDaddy]

Hey Paul. My 66' wagon has one dash knob broken off and the other is seized. (It must be frozen pretty good since the original owner cut the new dash pad to go around it). I was determined to make this thing 100% functional even though I have no roll bar and most likely won't ever even take the top off, let alone fold down front windshield. After reading your reply here, I am tempted to glue-in that missing knob for looks and be done with the whole idea. Would you try to talk down off the ledge one way or the other? I try to be "fearless" but I pride myself in have common sense (which compensates for my tiny brain.) Any and all opinions welcomed. Thanks!

 

[DirtDonk]

Sent you a PM. For your intended use (or non-use in this case) I would think that "gluing" would work. But using some industrial strength epoxy like a JB Weld product or similar.
In fact, on YouTube the "Project Farm" guy tested different epoxies recently. I think JB held up to testing pretty well, but there were others that worked too.
Check out the video and you might find something you like.

The issue is holding it at that angle until whatever you use cures.

And speaking of that, if you're equipped in your garage, a small hole drilled and tapped to accept a threaded stud that you can then thread the knob back on would work too. It would not work to remove the stuck side of the bolt, but it would hold the knob in place and no curing time required. Just Locktite it and go.

Might be worth looking in to since you're not going to lower the windshield. And if you did you could always just break it back off and just drill out the stud far enough to clear. From there you can fix things with the frame folded down for access.
But until that time, you can enjoy the look and vintage feel of '66 knobs.

Good luck.

Paul

 

[BGBronco]

Not sure about the laws or if the police would really even care .... But that windshield is there for a purpose!

 

[Nothing Special]

In MN at least it's like Flying Pigs said earlier, the law doesn't require a windshield, but it does require your eyes be protected. So if no windshield, glasses or goggles are required.

Although I did hear from some flatfender Jeep guys who run without windshields a lot that in some states while windshields aren't required, windshield WIPERS are %)! So as long as you still have the windshield with the wipers on attached to the Bronco you should be good there!