Fitment of window frames to windshield?

[1buckeyefan1]

So I'm getting to the point of re-fitting my doors and the body lines + initial gaps aren't bad..except for where the window frames meet the windshield. For some reason the passenger is in and the driver side is out. These are different, oem doors that came off another bronco. I checked the body bushings underneath the floor pans and they're both right at 3" (2" BL + bushing)

I've messed around with shims, loosening the passenger side body bolts, and jacking it up, etc.

If it were just one side, I'd be convinced the door frame is simply bent and id bend it back. But since it's both sides, I'm guessing the body didn't go back on straight? But the doors match the panels pretty well.

Anyone been here? I don't want to bend the frames to match the windshield unless it's the right thing to do.

For reference, the a & b pillars are original, as is the windshield hinge.

 

[Dne007]

I know this probably won't answer your question, but on my passenger side, I skinned it and the new window frame was new, but had nuts welded in place~ (removable~not), but this did allow me to adjust the frame to be "adjusted".




My drivers door is new with the new frame. It's a bolt in affair which surprised me, and I did have to elongate the front holes to bring it in to capeesh with the windshield frame.

I don't know if one can just "tweek" the frame without breaking/fracturing it? as you only need a "tad", but a significant tad.


I suppose if all is in check in your case, one could drive out a few spot welds as in my first pic, pull the frames into check and re-weld? Don't do what I suggest until others with more experience chime in. I'll be watching

 

[Oldtimer]

Are both diagonal measurements of windshield frame the same?

 

[1buckeyefan1]

Are both diagonal measurements of windshield frame the same?

Can you suggest which points of reference to measure from?

 

[Oldtimer]

 

[1buckeyefan1]

View attachment 896212

Yep, both measure 22" from top to bottom.

I'm still stumped. I'm tempted to bend them in the direction they need to go. Slightly worried about breaking the weld on the passenger side, but could weld it back up if so. Just curious if this is common to have to move the frames when you swap doors like this?

 

[Dne007]

Have you discovered anything yet? Just curious of the history of the doors? and will you be using a hard top or canvass, or nothing?

 

[Pops68]

I think Oldtimer meant to measure the windshield diagonally, not top to bottom.......top drivers to bottom passenger and top passenger to bottom drivers side. That should show if it is 'square' or not

 

[Oldtimer]

 

[m_m70]

from wat I can see it looks like the frames match up ok at the bottom. also the frames are off by about the same from 90*. I would bend them to where they need to be. or maybe drill out the spot welds and re-weld in the right place. just my 2 cents....

 

[1buckeyefan1]

View attachment 896263

I think Oldtimer meant to measure the windshield diagonally, not top to bottom.......top drivers to bottom passenger and top passenger to bottom drivers side. That should show if it is 'square' or not

Ah! that makes more sense. I didnt want to question old-timers first post, but I wondered as I was measuring

I'll measure tomorrow to ensure the windshield frame is still square.

 

[1buckeyefan1]

from wat I can see it looks like the frames match up ok at the bottom. also the frames are off by about the same from 90*. I would bend them to where they need to be. or maybe drill out the spot welds and re-weld in the right place. just my 2 cents....

that's kind of where i'm settling in at.. without knowing much about the doors, they were pretty solid, original donors, but I bought them off a bronco already.

Have you discovered anything yet? Just curious of the history of the doors? and will you be using a hard top or canvass, or nothing?

I don't have much history.. they were in original paint and very solid w/ internals. I blasted them and epoxy primed them and they've been hanging on my wall the last few years until I got back to things. No hard top, Rampage soft top, but mostly a bikini top.

I was sorta hoping someone else had come across this and said "hey, just bend them back" or "your body is twisted"... but i don't think the bottom would align as well as it is and just the tops off by a few degrees if that were the case.

View attachment 896263

Hmm, this could be part of my problem. The windshield frame appears to be original, with pretty solid welds...but it's about an inch longer in the direction of my gap.

Now what? Do I try to tie a ratchet strap from corner to corner to bend it back square? Not terrible excited about cutting the windshield frame apart to bend/weld it back square. Is this common? It came to me with decent fitting doors, windshield and soft top. Can't fathom how the PO got it this far out of square?

 

[Dne007]

How could it be so far off?? When standing away from it, is it noticeably unsquare? perhaps a portapower placed in the correct corners could push it back to spec, then make sure the glass fits.

 

[1buckeyefan1]

How could it be so far off?? When standing away from it, is it noticeably unsquare? perhaps a portapower placed in the correct corners could push it back to spec, then make sure the glass fits.

Nah, it's definitely not noticable..I'm going to pull out my old and new windshields and see if they will fit. Had it not been for the doors (and oldtimer) I wouldnt have thought to measure it. Technically it's not a square, so it's hard to see unless you measure.

 

[Oldtimer]

Don't know what is involved in pulling windshield frame (or if it is even possible), . . .
But I would pull it, lay it on a table to see if it was flat, and then figure out how to push/pull it "square".
As I recall the frame is 2-3 inches narrower at the top, so the corners will never be 90 degrees (square).

 

[1buckeyefan1]

Yep, the frame is out of whack. It's pretty noticable once you put the windshield in. Unsure how the old one remotely fit well.

 

[Dne007]

I've had such great success with my portapower as shown in the pics below~ very versatile for fixin things. I'm not saying you run out and buy one, perhaps borrow, but not everyone has one. However, I'd hate to see you have to remove the windshield frame, may as well buy an new frame like I did. Mine was just rusted out. Just have to use ingenuity to reverse its damage.

 

[1buckeyefan1]

We'll, I had success in bringing it back to symmetry, but crushed part of my drip edge in the process. I suppose it's progress.

 

[Dne007]

Way to go!! You've got this!!!

 

[1buckeyefan1]

Thanks guys... I think I've got it licked. the doors line up now.. my drip rails are a little messed up now though. I tried slowly bending them back and the passenger side cracked. welded it up and it's decent, but odds are I'll want to re-weld some new ones on. If anyone knows where to find replacement drip rails, I'd love to find a set.