kishy's 1985 Country Squire

[87gtVIC]

Looking at a 90 donor, so dash pad isn't removable.

I do agree that it would help with a 79-89 though.

Bummer.

EDIT: I am sure you seen it....a scraper tool with a bit more reach: https://www.zoro.com/milwaukee-scrap...63/i/G1506233/

[VicCrownVic]

The plastic piece over the defrost vents will pop right up on the '90+ dash, but I don't think it gives you as much room as removing the dash pad on '89- Panthers.

[kishy]

Bummer.

EDIT: I am sure you seen it....a scraper tool with a bit more reach: https://www.zoro.com/milwaukee-scrap...63/i/G1506233/

That's the same length as what I've acquired tonight, give or take. As the end of the blade recesses slightly into the saw body, unlike some I've seen where it mounts kind of outside, part of the length of the blade is wasted just getting the blade to protrude from the body of the saw.

The saw is this one: https://www.rona.ca/images/59595059c_L.jpg
Cheap store brand power tools are not necessarily the smartest investment but this has been pretty good to me about zipping through exhaust pipes and removing a wagon trunk pan, so I think it should make quick work of the windshield. Not that I'm trying for quick.

The plastic piece over the defrost vents will pop right up on the '90+ dash, but I don't think it gives you as much room as removing the dash pad on '89- Panthers.

Virtually no increase in a dimension that helps, I think. But we shall see. Maybe I'm grossly overestimating how far forward the sealer adhesive actually is. I'm envisioning it being deep down almost in the cowl.

I'm going to mock this up tomorrow, it was too dark by the time I got back home with my scraper blade...nice thing is I have both dash styles at my disposal. If an extension is needed I'm thinking of making one out of two normal 6" blades sandwiching the scraper blade, riveted together. Hopefully won't have to go there.

[VicCrownVic]

...
Virtually no increase in a dimension that helps, I think. But we shall see. Maybe I'm grossly overestimating how far forward the sealer adhesive actually is. I'm envisioning it being deep down almost in the cowl.
...

I think you're right. At best I think removing that defrost vent cover might give you some extra hand space, but even that is questionable and probably not much difference. Unfortunately that's all you get with the '90+ without pulling the whole dash.

[kishy]

Pretty sure the windshield currently in my wagon is one of the Chinese replacements, and was installed with sub-par materials. Can't find Carlite marked on it anywhere, it's super thin, and it's not even glued down in spots (the butyl or whatever is there, but the glass is not adhered to it). I think getting the old out is going to be a breeze and can only hope (yeah, I know) the junkyard one will be that easy.

As for my scraping saw thing, this is what I have (had) to work with:



It was not sufficient to get anywhere near the bottom edge adhesive:




So I mocked up an extension by using two worn normal blades sandwiching the scraper blade which got me a lot closer, but still not there yet.





Removing the dash pad did it. With it out of the way, there's so much room to work. I can't imagine trying to get this windshield out with the dash pad installed. As for the 91 dash, the saw will just barely sneak into place with the extension I made. It's workable. However, I did try the saw on the wagon and I'm not sure if it's even what I'll end up using. It's all going to depend on how good an angle I can get in the cowl area for the other end of the piano wire. I think if I can get a good angle on that, zipping through it with the wire is going to be faster, easier and lower risk of breaking the glass. I'm also going to pick up one of those cold knife tools because I'd rather have too many options with me than not enough.





I'm going to say I suspect the autolamps were stuck on for the last many years based on how much dirt and dust is on the light sensor. It probably thought it was night on a permanent basis.

[sly]

When you go to town on it... have the flat sides of the rivets up on the good glass so you don't crack it by pop-rivet stem. Maybe even put a towel over it.

[kishy]

When you go to town on it... have the flat sides of the rivets up on the good glass so you don't crack it by pop-rivet stem. Maybe even put a towel over it.

I picked up a plastic-ish "thank you for not smoking" sign to use for that. In retrospect I could have saved the $2 and used a sheet of cardboard, but whatever.

[DerekTheGreat]

Oh god yeah, look how roached those speakers are too haha. If you need JBL/Premium sound stuff I've got tons of speakers and what not. Certified JBL hoarder here.

[TecNickal]

Oh god yeah, look how roached those speakers are too haha. If you need JBL/Premium sound stuff I've got tons of speakers and what not. Certified JBL hoarder here.

I have all 88 TC JBL speakers in the 89 Colony Park - sounds fantastic. Haven't forgotten about the logos Derek. There in my garage somewhere - haven't gotten to cleaning that out yet. Once I do a timing belt for a friends 96 Ranger 4 cyl this weekend, garage cleanout is full steam ahead.

Also when I tried removing the rear glass from an 04 TC using a windshield kit from Amazon the wire snapped so many times I gave up. So some kind of special wire must be used. I had square shaped wire and it sucked.

[DerekTheGreat]

Yeah, they are really good and hard to beat with aftermarket stuff. Oh, cool. My TC is now a garage queen so I don't even see it that much so no rush whatsoever. With the window tint you can barely see the logos.. Oh, fun times.

[kishy]

I have a couple cars needing speakers, but can't bring myself to pay Parts Galore speaker prices, so suffer I have...OTOH I suspect if I walked up with a wheelbarrow full of speakers they'd charge me $10 for some miscellaneous item and send me on my way, so who knows?

The wagon has a Blaupunkt cassette head unit. Kinda cool. Lights up but won't display anything on the screen, I want to see if I can figure out what's wrong with it.

Rear speakers were removed so I'd imagine they had been replaced with aftermarket, then when sold to the old couple, removed. I think it has aftermarket door speakers, off the top of my head.

[Birdofprey]

The rear speakers on my wagon were removed too, found the ends of the cut wires behind the trim, so weird.

[DerekTheGreat]

Well I've got a couple boxes full of them. You could take a set, especially of the premium stuff. I'm low on JBL dash speakers though, those are always roached...

[87gtVIC]

That auto lamp sensor.

WOW.


Fun tid bit. They can be swapped into anther vehicle with minimal effort to have autolamps in that car. I did it with my 1994 Escort whatever year Hurricane Sandy hit. I remember that because I went into work while the Hurricane was going on and did the install. They still work to this day.

[kishy]

That auto lamp sensor.

WOW.


Fun tid bit. They can be swapped into anther vehicle with minimal effort to have autolamps in that car. I did it with my 1994 Escort whatever year Hurricane Sandy hit. I remember that because I went into work while the Hurricane was going on and did the install. They still work to this day.

Yeah, autolamps in these cars is a pretty portable feature.

I spent some time tonight cutting out the broken windshield as practice. I did break it in two spots where I applied leverage against the edge of the glass, knowing I shouldn't, but it happened. Otherwise it came off pretty clean. It's still sitting in place on the car but isn't attached anymore. Hood and wipers came off to make access easier.

The reciprocating saw dealie is not going to help at all, I've concluded. Utility knife to cut out the adhesive around the edge of the glass, cold knife to go around sides and top, piano wire to zip across the bottom. If I break it, oh well, there'll be more and there's no time crunch here so it's not like my daily is off the road waiting for a windshield.

Transporting the windshield is another thing entirely. I don't want to drive the Ranger until it has its clutch job done at least, so the Lincoln is going to do what it does so well and act like a truck. Measurements confirm the windshield will fit on the passenger seat like I've done with bumpers, but I'll need to be very careful to avoid flexing the glass. Lots of cardboard to line everything too.