MTFCA Forum

I am getting ready to install the glass into the windshield frame. The attached photos show one corner of the frame. There are three screws that hold the frame together at the two corners.

The fourth photo shows the two screws that holds the bracket that fits into the piece on the right. The fifth photo shows these, and the screw that fits into the hole shown in the second photo. The problem I have is: I don't remember what that screw threaded into! As can be seen in that second photo, the hole in the piece on the right is much larger than the screw.

I hope someone knows how it was attached. I wonder how important that screw is. Can I just leave it out if I can't figure out how was attached?

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Well, I checked my car and all 6 screws are missing. Apparently it has been like that since 2009, with nothing but the sliders and friction holding the glass and bottom half of the frame. I suspect the glass shop that did the replacement destroyed the screws trying to get them out, or the glass was a bit tall dimensionally and they couldn't be bothered to sand it down or cut new glass.

I think I will keep my windshield closed in tight until I can address.

The forward- facing screws appear to be intended to apply some clamping force on the folded metal of the frame, not to supply additional restraint against vertical movement of the frame & glass.

Each screw passes through the front fold of the frame, then the large hole in the tab, then it looks like it just threads into the rear of the frame like a self-tapping screw. On my car these look a little chewed up, so I may have to look into adding a thin nut or similar between the rear fold of the frame and the rubber seal.

It appears that your rubber weather strip is probably covering over the threads. I suspect that the large hole is simply a clearance hole to get to the obscured threads. Pull the strip back and I'll bet you see it. Compare to the old strip and I'd bet there is either a notch or hole in the old weather strip. Purely a guess as I do not own an Improved Ford.

I would certainly not leave it out. It's a window frame. It can't take that long to find the hole(s).

I have had a look at my frame and removed that small screw.
It's hard to see exactly what's there, but it goes through the outer frame part, then another piece - as you show, and then I can see threads so I think there may be a small nut.

Is you frame fully painted? I wouldn't assemble it until it is painted.