Removing the windshield ?

[aaugman]

I'm just finishing up redoing my boat, I took the dash out and recovered it, Now that I'm trying to put it back in i cant, the holes don't line up 100% because when it was removed the whole plastic back of the dash fell apart and I had to rebuild it with Fiberglass.

Now i cant get a drill to screw the dash in because the windshield is in the way.

It seems the frame is held on with nuts and bolts but you cant get to all of them to take the windshield out,

If i take the rubber gasket out of the frame will the glass come out and then i'll be able to re-install the glass and the gasket ? or is the frame put on the glass and it is then all screwed together ?

In other words what is the simplest way to get my dash screws back in ?

[laserfish]

Buy a 90 degree drill attachment from Harbor Freight. Cheap and I have used mine many times for stuff like that.

[aaugman]

Yup I tried that, the windshield is still too close, the attachment only allows you to get to the first screw

[jrj701]

What model boat do you have? They are typically held on with a "T" bolt which slides into the bottom of the windshield frame and then there are nuts under the dash and down the sides that hold it down. I have never run into a windshield that couldn't be removed. It may take a little body contortion and creative tool selection, but you should be able to locate and access all the nuts.

[aaugman]

Its a 99 21V , I think your right about the 3 bolts, I cant get in there to get a wrench on the nut,

Maybe I'll get my 11 yr old nephew to climb in there.

the windshield is curved from the front to the side and is in 2 pieces, the bolts that hold the side windshield seem to only be accessible from behind the Fiberglass that the throttle is attached to. the front windshield the bolts are in a little side door in front of the drivers area.

[bfrank]

Buy a 90 degree drill attachment from Harbor Freight. Cheap and I have used mine many times for stuff like that.

Robert.....did he say HARBOR FREIGHT!!!

[laserfish]

Hey, I inherited my grandfathers Snap On socket set and wouldnt trade for it.

[bfrank]

See Roberts a Snap On guy, and Im a MAC man. So I had to jab you about Harbor Freight!!

[laserfish]

Got a set of MAC wrenches inherited from my Dad. As well as Craftsman, Proto and S-K. Got em all covered.

[Pro-Fab]

I have broke more snap-on ratchets and sockets than one would believe, I have only wrecked one craftsman ratchet and that was by beating on it with a BFH. I stick with Craftsman because you dont have to wait for the truck to roll around. you can just go to Sears and swap for a new one (K-mart and Ace sell some craftsman stuff now but I believe it is inferior quality to that sold at Sears)