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I've got two of these new windshield inserts and I am trying to get them apart for painting. It took 15 minutes to get the top section off and I am not sure I can get the glass and weatherstrip out without breaking something. Have any of you guys taken these things apart (remember these are the new replacements) to paint them? I'm very close to just masking it and painting it like it is.

We have done it, but it's no easy task. Painstaking so you don't break the glass. I really don't have any secrets to share in making it easier. It's one of those any which way you can projects.

Your new panels came w/the hinge at the top right?

Yes, they have the hinge. I think I bought these back in 2008 at Aberdeen. My truck is a six year project....

It sounds like masking would be a lot easier, and less likely to damage anything.

Mask & bag them, quicker/easier, paint the hinge separately, it should slide right off after un-crimping one side.

I would up doing one partially disassembled and one assembled. I took the one I had removed the top section from, separated the hinge and masked one side of it and painted. I masked both sides of the fully assembled insert, hung it from a rack and painted both sides. I will not disassemble another new one again. If it was an old one I would. Now I have to mask the other side of the first one and paint it tomorrow. It will be a while before I do another M37 so I'll probably forget this by then!!

Thanks everyone!

I just tore down the pass. side windshield insert to take it to the glazier for lam. glass replacement. Twisted off all the 10-32 screws in the frame. Drilled,tapped, and replaced with ss screws. I'm on oxygen 24/7 so I am very careful about sparks, open flames, dust and all the voc's used in the paint industry.
The only way I can remove paint now is to use a heat gun and scraper. A slow PIA. I primed the frames with a rattle can and used a water borne acrylic enamel before I sent it to the glazier. I would be embarrassed to tell you how much time I spent on just one window. Now to do the drivers side but not replace the glass.
The toughest part was replacing the weather stripping. Used a Dremel with a cut off wheel to modify the channels so I could slide the new ws into the grooves.
Never thought I could find a use for a Dremel on 37. I'm agonizing over how to prep this vehicle for painting considering my breathing limitations.
Sand blasting is out of the question as are chemical removers. I'm looking for a non re breathing incombustible oxygen mask so I can continue working on this vehicle which has become a reason for being.
Chuck

Hi Chuck,

Why is sandblasting out of the question? When I blast I use a full face forced air respirator......it's basically a small motor driven blower that feeds fresh air to the mask at all times. I place the blower as far away from where I'm blasting as the hose will allow, which with my setup is about 30 feet. Since the pressure inside the mask (from the air being supplied by the blower) is greater than the dusty environment outside.........the dust can't enter the mask. I'd never sandblast without it. Positive air respirators come in all different configurations and prices, so maybe you could find a setup that works for you. Just a thought.

regards,
bob

Thanks Bob: I hadn't thought of a low pressure hose off a blower. Makes sense. I would have to bleed in to the air stream an oxygen supply of about 8 liters/min to give me an air supply of 52% O2 instead of the 20% O2 of room air. Yo u have me brainstorming now. I'll try to get an old CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) machine and bleed 8L/min. into the airstream. In that event I could use chemical removers and sand/grind the rust and be assured of clean 50% air.
I need that much extra O2 to do any kind of physical activity. Thanks again Bob Chuck