<VV> Lower windshield panel replacement

[Sethracer at aol.com]

In a message dated 6/29/2006 11:50:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time,  
jryall at juno.com writes:

Even  though the replacement panel is wider to
cover rust in that area, it won't  cover in this instance.  Is it
reasonable to replace the top of the  dash?  I have a car that I'm parting
out from which I could grab the  top.  I was thinking I could join the
dash top under the pad so the  seam would not be visible once the pad is
in place. 

This car is not  going to be a show car.  Just fix it up and drive.

Does anyone  have any comments or ideas about this repair?

John  Ryall



John - I am going through a similar repair (less than yours) on my 65 Corsa  
race car. It has some rust holes on the dash side of the window mount. The 
only  repair panel I had was an original GM outer panel. It didn't have the 
extended  inner portion that the Clarks panel has - I installed that one on a 
Convertible  with the same problem a few years ago. Instead of replacing the panel 
on this  current car, I just added more "Meat" to the leftover structure. I 
know that  yours is likely too far gone for that - I've seen lots of eastern 
cars over the  years. All I can suggest is that you make sure that the area 
outside the  windshield seal has no path through to the inside floor. The very 
bottom of that  channel will drain into the car if perforated. As soon as you move 
up the panel  toward the front, the drainage is into the front cowl area and 
not of much  concern. Also you want to make sure that drains, in approximately 
the same  position as the originals, are located at each outer lower corner. 
I am sure  there are several good coating to "slather" on before painting, but 
aside from  POR15, I don't know any. - Seth