Questions about driving the coupe in gel coat.

[Namrups]

I have made the discission to register and drive the car in gel coat for the first year or so before paint. This means I need to have a windshield. I really don't want to permanently install the windshield only to have to try to remove it without breaking when it comes time for paint. Has anyone else run into this issue? If so how did you get around it. I have thought of using a foam gasket with clips to hold the windshield in. Not sure if NY would approve of that or not. Maybe painting the body lip black then if I have to install the windshield permanently I could seal around the windshield with sealant and just paint up to that edge. I really would hate to break it trying to get it removed and then the cleanup of the old sealant would also be a chore.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Scott,
Red duct tape. Seriously. I had one a couple of years ago that had been driven for several months and 4,000 miles before it came to me for body and paint. Run the cheap FFR supplied 1/4” foam around the body flange, drop the glass in and tape it up. Here’s a photo of how it looked when I got it; zoom in and you’ll see it.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=181005&d=1677792099

Jeff


181005

[Blitzboy54]

Big winner chicken dinner. I knew Jeff would have the answer.

Scott, put the tape on after you take the DMV photos.

[edwardb]

Couple of comments FWIW. I know the build Jeff posted very well. Using tape as shown is certainly an option. I would be curious though how your windshield fits. Mine, and others I've seen posted about, required some pressure to the ends because the curve didn't exactly match the curve of the opening. Made for some interesting straps and blocks to hold it in place for a couple days as the urethane adhesive cured. Wondering if the tape method would hold it down in place if necessary. My second point is that gluing it in place and later removing for paint is an option that should not be considered. I was unlucky enough to take a rock off my windshield which required it to be replaced. It was a bear to get back out. It broke but mainly I think because it was already broken from the rock strike. It may be possible to remove an unbroken windshield without breaking. But it's a risk and I waited months to get a replacement. They're not cheap either. Also, as you probably know, the windshield requires a black border to be painted on (called a frit) and that for sure will be damaged. Although you could wait until final installation to apply. But bottom line I wouldn't consider a temporary glue-in. Another option not mentioned, and I'll just throw it out there, is to do the final installation now and then mask and paint around when the time comes. Done all the time with DD's when getting a full body paint. If you did that, I (1) would not recommend using the rubber trim around the edges, which I'd probably recommend against in any case, and (2) there is a portion of the body under the lower edge of the windshield that's exposed if you put the dash under it. Some put the dash over this section, which I seem to recall from your build. Then it would probably be hidden. In any case, that area obviously wouldn't be accessible with the windshield permanently in place so finish in some way ahead of time if necessary.

The other wildcard to this discussion is whether your local inspection/regulations for title and licensing would allow a temporary installation like tape. The Coupe Jeff pictured is located in Indiana which has a relatively simple process. Some states, and perhaps yours, are much more aggressive. Something to check.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[David Williamson]

I ran mine with the windshield taped in place for one Summer, it stayed in place no issues. I just used high strength tape.
David W

[Namrups]

Couple of comments FWIW. I know the build Jeff posted very well. Using tape as shown is certainly an option. I would be curious though how your windshield fits. Mine, and others I've seen posted about, required some pressure to the ends because the curve didn't exactly match the curve of the opening. Made for some interesting straps and blocks to hold it in place for a couple days as the urethane adhesive cured. Wondering if the tape method would hold it down in place if necessary. My second point is that gluing it in place and later removing for paint is an option that should not be considered. I was unlucky enough to take a rock off my windshield which required it to be replaced. It was a bear to get back out. It broke but mainly I think because it was already broken from the rock strike. It may be possible to remove an unbroken windshield without breaking. But it's a risk and I waited months to get a replacement. They're not cheap either. Also, as you probably know, the windshield requires a black border to be painted on (called a frit) and that for sure will be damaged. Although you could wait until final installation to apply. But bottom line I wouldn't consider a temporary glue-in. Another option not mentioned, and I'll just throw it out there, is to do the final installation now and then mask and paint around when the time comes. Done all the time with DD's when getting a full body paint. If you did that, I (1) would not recommend using the rubber trim around the edges, which I'd probably recommend against in any case, and (2) there is a portion of the body under the lower edge of the windshield that's exposed if you put the dash under it. Some put the dash over this section, which I seem to recall from your build. Then it would probably be hidden. In any case, that area obviously wouldn't be accessible with the windshield permanently in place so finish in some way ahead of time if necessary.

The other wildcard to this discussion is whether your local inspection/regulations for title and licensing would allow a temporary installation like tape. The Coupe Jeff pictured is located in Indiana which has a relatively simple process. Some states, and perhaps yours, are much more aggressive. Something to check.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Thanks for the response Paul. My thought process has been the same as yours with the same questions and concerns. I have not talked to NY State yet but I really don't think they will go for tape. I thought of temporary clips like they do with race cars but don't think that will fly either. If I go the permanent installation route, when it comes time to remove the body to complete the underside, what kind of issues do you envision then? I also thought about using a cheap foam tape instead of the urethane sealant and then the tape on top. That would be easier to remove with less stress on the windshield. Maybe I should just move to Montana!! :p

[Namrups]

I ran mine with the windshield taped in place for one Summer, it stayed in place no issues. I just used high strength tape.
David W

That would be the simplest solution if allowed.

[edwardb]

Thanks for the response Paul. My thought process has been the same as yours with the same questions and concerns. I have not talked to NY State yet but I really don't think they will go for tape. I thought of temporary clips like they do with race cars but don't think that will fly either. If I go the permanent installation route, when it comes time to remove the body to complete the underside, what kind of issues do you envision then? I also thought about using a cheap foam tape instead of the urethane sealant and then the tape on top. That would be easier to remove with less stress on the windshield. Maybe I should just move to Montana!! :p

Oops. Totally missed that in my response. No way I'd try to remove the body with the windshield glued in. So that certainly influences the discussion. My Coupe was painted body on, and I did the underside before the last time it was installed. So it wouldn't have been an issue. Painting body on is not the usual practice at all. But that's what my shop wanted to do. Although I didn't put the windshield in until it was completely done.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Scott,
I would approach the state with a “Better to ask forgiveness rather than permission” mindset. If you ask it’s liable to raise suspicions whereas if you just show up… ;)

The windshield installer that I use travels throughout the Midwest doing custom work and has done a bunch of Coupes. He said that he only encountered one that had to have the glass reshaped to fit—-talk about something that would test your nerves! I asked him about removal after it was bonded in and he said he would give it about a 90% chance of coming out intact IF HE WAS DOING IT!

I’d have concerns about putting the body on and off with the windshield permanently installed however we did so during the live build at SEMA a few years ago. Caveat is that was done with 4 guys on the body during R&R—-in my own shop it’s only me and 4 straps!

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=181075&d=1677944268

Hope some of this is helpful. Me? I’d go for the tape until they say you can’t.

Good luck!

Jeff

[Namrups]

Paul, Jeff, Thank you both for your responses. Discissions, discissions !!!

[Kbl7td]

Paint has been done by rsnake recently with windshield in place. Additionally multiple SLCs have had the body on and off with windshield in place.

[Joel Hauser]

Scott, I don't think NYS DMV employees do the safety inspection. When you are doing the title/registration application you submit photos of the car to DMV, so as long as the windshield has the DOT label on it, it should be fine. NYS's DMV requires an inspection for stolen parts, but those DMV officers don't inspect for safety. The initial safety inspection is done by a regular old inspection station. There are a lot of them that "know how" to inspect hot rods.

[Namrups]

Scott, I don't think NYS DMV employees do the safety inspection. When you are doing the title/registration application you submit photos of the car to DMV, so as long as the windshield has the DOT label on it, it should be fine. NYS's DMV requires an inspection for stolen parts, but those DMV officers don't inspect for safety. The initial safety inspection is done by a regular old inspection station. There are a lot of them that "know how" to inspect hot rods.

Thanks Joel. Seams like there's a lot of "leeway" in the process. Stop by when you get a chance!

[klawrence]

ran mine for a while with butyl on inside and gorilla tape on the outside.

[cfriedman67]

Hi Scott, I’m in ulster county and when I brought my roadster into DMV it seems like they only thing they were concerned about was if the parts were stolen and that I had the correct paperwork. Defrosters are required and they never checked to see if I had it installed.

[FredG]

Do many drive in gelcoat?
I an considering it while I work on the body.
Seems like a good idea to help work the gremlins out and have fun.

[Skuzzy]

Do many drive in gelcoat?
I an considering it while I work on the body.
Seems like a good idea to help work the gremlins out and have fun.

I'll put, at least, a thousand miles on the car before I consider painting it. During the 1K break-in, I'll work on the body. It will take me a couple of months to get the body in good enough shape to mount. After all that work, I will want to drive it to remind myself why I built it.

[FredG]

I'll put, at least, a thousand miles on the car before I consider painting it. During the 1K break-in, I'll work on the body. It will take me a couple of months to get the body in good enough shape to mount. After all that work, I will want to drive it to remind myself why I built it.

OK ... that was really my reason as well. I need seat time!
I just got the body on the buck and not one part on yet. It' killing already.

[Blitzboy54]

Scott, I don't think NYS DMV employees do the safety inspection. When you are doing the title/registration application you submit photos of the car to DMV, so as long as the windshield has the DOT label on it, it should be fine. NYS's DMV requires an inspection for stolen parts, but those DMV officers don't inspect for safety. The initial safety inspection is done by a regular old inspection station. There are a lot of them that "know how" to inspect hot rods.

This was my point as well. The only person in the process that could possibly care or "fail" it is the local guy you choose to do your routine annual inspection. That process can be massaged and worse case if they really did fail it (highly unlikely) you can then glue it in properly. The guy that inspected my car only wanted to talk about how awesome it was, he never even checked to see if the horn or headlights worked.