I've been working on the windshield SS trim restoration.....a very slow process I might add. As I look at the two corners pieces, I'm not clear on how they are installed.
I understand the the gasket goes on the windshield, and the upper and lower SS trim pieces are installed in the rubber gasket before the windshield in installed on the car.
So once the windshield, with the 4 pieces of SS trim is installed in the gasket, and installed on the body (using the rope method),there are 4 screws that attach the four trim pieces to the body. The two corner pieces when installed hide these 2 screws on each side
I need some direction as to HOW these corner pieces are installed and HOW do I deal with the two tabs on the back of the corner pieces?
It appears to me that I must simultaneously connect the corner to the upper stainless trim, and the lower stainless trim, and then push the two tabs on the back of the corner into the rubber gasket.One of the corner pieces I have has a perfect set of tabs and the other piece ....... not so much.
I believe it is safe to assume that these corners are interchangeable, left or right.
So please educate me and correct any assumptions I've made, and explain how the corners are installed correctly.
Thanks
John
I'll be watching this since I damaged both my corner pieces during the installation.
That is exactly what I'm trying to avoid!
It's been many years since I installed mine, but if I remember correctly, they are just firmly (but gently) pushed in. I seem to remember pinching the corners a bit at each end so they wouldn't come back over the big pieces. A little lube on the "tabs" couldn't hurt.
I did por-15 the back tabs before I installed. They are just plain steel, being the reason so many have them rotted away. I was lucky.
It's best to add some grease or soapy water to the tabs or tangs that go into the rubber.
I think the procedure is to slide the upper corner on and then hook the top of the lower part and try to massage and snap over the bottom. That after aligning the tangs into the rubber.
Also I believe that the lower trim has a loop that you install a tiny screw into the rubber to hold it back. That not seen after you install the corner cover.
Last part. Before even installing the rubber with the stainless on it. Or pulling the rope if you have the glass sitting there. Make sure your trim is centered both the bottom and the top. If not centered it would make the corner installs even more difficult and also mot allow the glass to seat correctly centered.
My Ranchero had no "screw tabs" on the four trim pieces. The Edsel did (lower trim only). I fully assembled the stainless on the Ranchero before roping it in. The corner pieces seem to be side specific. I could not get the Ranchero corners to lay down, swapped them side to side and they were happy. The tabs on the Ranchero were in perfect condition.
Hey John.we haven't seen pics of your Ranchero project for ages! hint-hint.
UPDATE on this topic.
I spoke with Jerry Miller, of Jerry's Classic Cars and Parts, who I consider to be a '57 Ford expert, about installing the windshield corner pieces.
I asked him the same question I asked here regarding the #6 screws into the body and getting the corner pieces installed, such that the corner piece hides the screws.
His answer was that they do not use the screws.They simply install the corners, and the other pieces of stainless trim in the gasket, BEFORE the windshield is installed.
He did emphasize that the corners need good tabs to get them to stay in place.
Rich......I got the hint. As of late I've been taking my car apart in preparation for the trip to the paint booth, as well as tending to a lot of minor details that I put off for another day, so there is really nothing new to see at this point.
There are two rancheros at a local yard. I happen to pull the corners so you guys can see.
did the ones you pulled have the back tabs? Just curious.
Yeah the corners had the back tabs.
Abe.........Do you have the corners? Condition? Will you sell them? I need one, but I'll buy both.
Let me know please,
Thanks
John
I have to see. The tangs might be broken in them.
I might come up with a fix for people with this with the broken tangs
I just checked the one set I got and see the tangs are broken on one side.
I made a simple drawing and rough pattern. Transferred it to CAD. Then checked again. Then I ordered to cut a couple in stainless steel same thickness as the originals.
I guess people might have to get crafty at removing the old rusty steel and gluing a new part in.
Will report back when I get the sample. I'll do a set and see.
Good thinking. So how did you bracket out from under lip of SS corner piece ? Doesn't look like it was cut out.
He didn't. If you look closely, the old bracket is still on the moulding. The blue is, I'm assuming, the new piece.
Must be. I looked at mine and bottom of bracket is contoured to fit radius in SS corner piece, that will be hard to duplicity, especially with SS. Thinking if repro bracket has flat bottom it will not fit tight against WS gasket?
I have not removed it yet. Might try tonight and report back. Baby steps. Also won't have the cut test pieces for about a week.
Got my laser cut part back. I would have to install one. I sliced the old one out and bent up and installed the new one.
It would just have to see if I can install one.
Quote from: abe_lugo on 2025-09-02 20:58Got my laser cut part back. I would have to install one. I sliced the old one out and bent up and installed the new one.
It would just have to see if I can install one.
How did you install the new tabs? I ask bc trying to install them under both edges of the stainless seems like a exercise in futility.
It seems positioning the clip/tab against one side, for reference, and panel bonding it onto the stainless would be fairly strait forward. I am curious bc I may have to do something on my corners, once I locate them.
Terry
The stainless clip I made is just bendy enough to bend the edge and clip into the original stainless trim. I think in my next ideation I'll make it a little larger in the ends. And yes it might get some epoxy between the two to hold it in.
I light hammered the tabs out and the tang edge over
I have to modify my art anyhow.
Also it takes some finesse wit the Dremel to cut out old steel clip and dislodge it from the trim without disturbing the trim outer surface.