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Early Non-vented Windshield Refurb/color

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by truckee4x4, Dec 23, 2021.

  1. Jan 1, 2022
    Ol Fogie

    Ol Fogie 74 cj5 304, 1943 mb

    Southern...
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    I realize my suggestions might be useless in real life so to speak with me not being there to actually see the job at hand. All I can do is make suggestions you mike like to try. That being said I might suggest that when you start to install the channel, start in the center, spot there first and apply a little upward pressure on the ends of the channel as you progress toward each end.:confused:.
     
  2. Jan 1, 2022
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Last edited: Jan 1, 2022
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  3. Jan 1, 2022
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I used that same stuff (from a canvas awning shop) to put a top on my M38A1, using small screws. It never had a channel, due to the 155mm gun being mounted through the w/s.
     
  4. Jan 3, 2022
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Spent yesterday afternoon stitching in the patch panels along the top of the windshield. I’m pleased with how they came out, and I think it's salvageable. The patches are mostly flat…at least flat enough to be under the arched channel. And like the rest of the Jeep, it may not be perfect but it's better than it was and it should stop falling apart.
    UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_8759.jpg
    UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_8758.jpg


    I clamped the MM38 channel down in the middle, and I can just about bend it enough to tack the corners pretty close to where they should be - but the channel deforms pretty badly. I'm afraid this might need some relief cuts, and fixing those might be above my skill level. I might ponder some more and see if maybe KW would give me a discount on the CJ5 channel if I also order the glass from them.

    What do you guys think is the right approach as far as attaching the channel? The original channel was spot welded on about once every 3" or do. On my tub, where there were spot welds I just did 3/8" or 1/4" holes and rosette welds. Should I just spray with weld thru primer and then drill some holes in the channel and rosette weld it on? Will that be strong enough? Should I also do adhesive of some type? What's the right way to stick it on?
     
    Last edited: Jan 3, 2022
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  5. Jan 3, 2022
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

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    holes and rosettes. the m38 channel has more bow than a cj. if you do use it lay it out and start with one end, the length will help with leverage to straighten the curve. there may be too much curve to get it as flat as a cj.
     
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  6. Jan 3, 2022
    Ol Fogie

    Ol Fogie 74 cj5 304, 1943 mb

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    Looks good to me, after all it is a jeep. Probably looks better than it would from the factory. After you get the channel on there, hit it with a little body filler in the low spots if you are concerned and block sand. After you get some paint on it I bet you will be happy with it.(y).
     
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  7. Jan 4, 2022
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

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    Like I suggested in a prior post, that M38a-1 top channel is similar enough to the CJ5 curve that you have to look hard to tell the difference. Soft tops fit either style interchangably. Matt's NOS channels are great quality.
    I have used 3M Panel Bond along with rosette welding for a top channel. I glued and clamped it first, then the next day did the welding. I scratched the Panel Bond out of the holes to be welded. The panel bond burns, but a damp rag cools the weld quick enough to not really affect the bond. After finishing off the welds, I used more Panel Bond as a seam sealer.
    -Donny
     
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  8. Jan 5, 2022
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Soften it with some red heat here and there?
     
  9. Jan 12, 2022
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Update time. I “rented” the $120 frame channel from KW to eyeball it against the $30 EBay M38A1 channel, and it showed up and…..it’s EXACTLY the same thing. So basically KW has a bunch of M38A1 channels labeled as CJ5 ones on their site - PSA: DO NOT buy this from them thinking it fits a CJ5 as it does not. Thankfully they agreed to full refund with free return shipping.
    AAE561A7-6028-4FBF-AD5A-849599AC6105.jpeg


    Disgruntled by this, and buoyed by Sudafed and DayQuil, I decided to make the $30 M38A1 channel work. So I cleaned it up, made a relief cut in the middle of it, and easily bent it to shape.
    A49CC9E9-EDF8-4C65-9ABD-81899E1F7AC6.jpeg

    Here’s the OEM one side by side:
    E7118A8A-7D29-4C4A-9603-14CA102A3900.jpeg
     
  10. Jan 12, 2022
    Ol Fogie

    Ol Fogie 74 cj5 304, 1943 mb

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    Good Job, :bananatool::bananatool:
     
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  11. Jan 12, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Nice. And good to know. Side note- do you know what the 2 holes on each vertical are for?
     
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  12. Jan 12, 2022
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Thank you!
     
  13. Jan 12, 2022
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    They are to attach the hinge posts (one screw sheared off here in mine)

    F8381679-9DF8-47B8-AC81-2CE5CC76754C.jpeg
     
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  14. Jan 13, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Since they are pretty stout, a lot of old hard tops use them to mount the upper door hinges:
    [​IMG]
     
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  15. Jan 13, 2022
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    9B7E18C1-61CE-406A-B38E-4F8ED96D5E98.jpeg
    good enough for this little Jeep!
     
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  16. Jan 13, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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  17. Jan 13, 2022
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Do you guys think it’s worth pouring some of this inside the frame?

    421EE481-6777-4AB5-8144-234D3461B0EF.jpeg
     
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  18. Jan 13, 2022
    Ol Fogie

    Ol Fogie 74 cj5 304, 1943 mb

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    IMOP. Absolutely, my frame(tube) looked quite well on the outside but inside had no paint/primer/ rust proofing at all from the factory. There was bad rust inside to the point I was afraid to trust it's integrity. That was the main reason I decided to replace the entire unit. The new after market frame I purchased had little to no paint inside either.
    Earlier in this thread you can see that I taped all the bolt/screw holes and simply poured the frame tube 90% full with a slightly thinned primer so to flood it completely, let it sit about 30 minutes and drained off the excess. I would let it sit draining 3-4 minutes on one end then reverse to drain the other way for 3-4 minutes back and forth until I finally left it to drain over night. I then sat it near my wood stove for about a week to dry. Not very visible in there but I sure feel much better about it.
     
  19. Jan 13, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Ah, of course. I happened to notice the other day those bolts are missing on my tux. Probably because they went away when the hard door hinges went away.
     
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  20. Jan 13, 2022
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

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    Mine are just nubs too, and I'm not super confident in getting the hinges out without snapping all the screws.
     
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