M38A1 windshield frame: CJ5 frame fit correctly?

Hi all, been a while since I've posted.. been busy with all sorts of non-jeep stuff (I know, pretty boring..).

I finally had some help and took the hardtop off my M38A1, mfg date 9/52, so I could inspect the mounting points and windshield frame/hinges. Well, when I did, the windshield frame developed (already had..) a front-to-back wobble, so I put the PB blaster to the latches and folded it down.

The main idea was to figure out how bad the seals were and look at the hinges: well, the seals are in good shape for being original, they're awfully stiff and so could stand to be replaced. The hinges, however, have almost disappeared There's also some distinct rot on the lower mating surface on the outside edges, enough that theres a gap between the tub and windshield frame, and it won't latch solid: For the moment, I stuffed a bunch of weatherstripping in as a buffer, but it just keeps coming back.

It looks like cutting out the old metal and welding in new won't be all that easy given the placement and way they stamped it, so I decided to price a new windshield frame: mine needs new seals and glass, anyway. I found the following at kaiserwillys:

http://www.kaiserwillys.com/product...placement-windsheild-frames-parts-accessories

Question is: thats for an early CJ5, and it *looks* like it would work, but can I keep my split windshield, and are there any issues that I should be aware of before going this route?
The split windshield looks to be almost entirely the gaskets/seals at work, doesn't appear to be a metal runner in the middle at all? I'm not concerned about the defroster as much, my M38A1 doesn't have one anyway. My current frame DOES have provisions for a defroster though.

Ideas? Advice? Thanks!

 

Afaik you can put the split glass in the cj frame. Many early cj's came with the split glass. I suspect leftovers from the m-38a1's. I believe it's just the seal and glass that's different. I know the safari windshield used a metalmstrip between the two pieces of glass but all the a1's I've seen was just a rubber seal. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable chimes in

 

Well last night I decided to do a bit more inspection, so i took the seal off and started taking the hinges off: pretty committed now, they're not going back on

I had to drill out all of the phillips head screws on the top hinges, and didn't finish taking the lower ones off, they'll need to be drilled out, too.

Looks like the rot is not as bad as I'd originally thought, but there is some metal to replace where the upper hinges mount. I might give it a go, since the rest of the frame is in fairly usable shape. The slop I was experiencing appears to be entirely in the hinges themselves.. too bad the whole hinge kit is $175! Wow..

I also found some really old reeses peanut butter cups inside the frame that some mice had stashed for winter

 

The slop is in the hinges?? Usually there is very little wear on the hinges. People just don't move the windshield that much. OR do you mean the screw points on the windshield frame that the hinges attach too? Or the cowling the hinges attach too? Picts would help........

 

Yeah, the pins are extremely loose in the outside of the hing.. EXTREMELY loose, the rust and pitting is some of the worst I've seen on anything.





Anyone want a peanut butter cup?

 

Those are the worst rusted hinges I have ever seen. The look like they have been on the ocean floor for 100 years. I think I would keep them (museum quality).

 

As I say to my rust-farmer friends: "welcome to northern NY."

Honestly, thats the worst rusted part of the whole jeep. A bit curious.

 

Oh. Now I understand why the hinges are bad. Seems the w/s frame rots off before the hinges get that bad..........

Another option is to swap to a post 75 frame and use a post 75 top. But it might be cheaper to just get some used hinges......