Meyers steel cab

Man oh man! I am in the process of fitting a Meyers steel top to my CJ, tweaked here and there, and everything has been "made " to fit on the tub, but windshield is the problem. The Jeep was flopped over on it's side in a trail situation and bent the upper corner of the right side of windshield back, glass cracked along a diaganol line at almost a 45* angle 8-10 inches in along both vertical and horizontal sides of the glass.( come down from top on the corner 8 inches and draw a 45* line across to the top side of the frame)

If you follow me so far, I need to straighten this out for fitting the top and replacing the glass so it isn't strained at that point and breaks. The corner is set back 1/2 inch farther than the drivers side (never crashed this side). I have put a come a long on the corner and pulled while smacking the frame with hammer and I don't know for sure if this is the best way or not.

Ant suggestions are welcome, I am trying to keep the existing glass in it for now until I can afford to take it in to replace.

 

I'm not a body man, but maybe taking the glass out of the frame and then straightening as best you can; this might also mean taking the frame off the Jeep as well, although it may be harder to handle this way.
if all else fails, maybe a different frame altogether ?

 

You should probably also replace the rubber gasket between the w/s frame and the cowl at this time too, if you haven't already done so.

 

Yea. I ordered the cowl gasket and that will probably change everything again, so on hold from here. The Jeep once upon time had the old rear fender spare mount ( who dreamed that up!!!) and as the story goes, it fit UNTIL the spare tire hit!!!!! talk about the wrong thing on a narrow track off road vehicle( formerly known as JEEP) That was the first thing that I took off and fixed, the bent rear fender straightened out pretty darn close, considering, and all of the years of soft tops there never was an issue at all.
The metal top is not as forgiving however, and I believe the combo of that tweaked section of the tub and the bent wind screen has me where I am today!! I have had the Jeep for almost 40 years now and have overcome about everything else, just one more chapter I guess.
Probably right though, take apart, straighten and have new glass installed.

 

Not a body man but in some instances repairing various "opps'es" over the years I found I needed to make "relief cuts" due to the metal stretching and just no way of getting it back without kinking it (metal stretched and hence more metal than before) Just a thought... after the relief cuts weld the cuts and grind back down. Good luck!

 

Like you say. I had to do the cut and stitch at the back corner lips. For reasons beyond me the corners turned out about a 5* angle. This may be the answer for that windshield frame also.

 

random question...when you insure a vehicle -- I think for 100 bucks more or so (at least where I live), they will cover 100% of the glass. I broke a windshield on my van. I didn't have to pay a dime for them to come to my house and replace it. Would this work on old jeeps? or are they just too rare?

 

I would think it would apply if it's in the contract. Seriously, you can get just about any coverage you need if you're willing to pay for it. The question would be if it would cost relatively more for an older vehicle. I don't know because I haven't insured my '59 yet as it's not road worthy. I think the glass coverage is beyond the basic required here in Arizona, so I may just go without it when I get around to adding the CJ to the policy. I checked the Safelite Web site and a new windshield goes for $178.95. That's less than two years of extra premiums.

You pays your money and takes your chances (or not.)