Can this be done a 1949-54 Car/Truck windshield converted to a safari popup

fordsum · Jun 17, 2013

Has anyone ever seen a 1949-54 Car or Pickup Truck windshield converted to a safari windshield popup? I have always liked the look of the front windshield popping up 4 inches or so to let a little air in. I have been told everything has been done before but I have never seen this and I would like to know how hard it would be to do a custom job like this. (It may end up looking like crap but just a thought)

Skankin' Rat Fink · Jun 17, 2013

Are we talking split windshield, or curved one piece windshield?

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fordsum · Jun 17, 2013

any combination Split or one one piece windshield.

49ratfink · Jun 17, 2013

probably pretty simple with the flat truck windshields. just look at an old VW bus and copy that. a curved windsheild would be harder, and not look good at all.... might be kind of cool in a truck though... maybe... kinda... sorta..

typo41 · Jun 17, 2013

During the war, ford made half ton truck bodies with swing up windshields like the early car bodies. They hindged from the top and had a handle on the dash to crank open. I saw one in Nevada years ago, all the 'chrome', door handles and such, was OD green. I grabbed the door handle and three weeks later that body and a number or others were rolled over by a cat when the new land owner wanted the junk removed.

HOTRODPRIMER · Jun 17, 2013

Yeah,flat glass like the old VW's would look cool,,curved would look like sh*t! HRP

tb33anda3rd · Jun 17, 2013

i think it might need to be made wider, but i would bet you could mount an earlier chevy windshield ['39-46] pickup frame and use the hinges and mechanism.

davidbistolas · Jun 17, 2013

HOTRODPRIMER said: ↑

Yeah,flat glass like the old VW's would look cool,,curved would look like sh*t! HRP
Click to expand...

I think this is an intriguing idea, and I'm not sure it would look terrible if executed correctly on a split/2 piece windshiled, like that of a '49-52 chevy. However, it would be a LOT of work. Much more than a chop imho. The windshield frame/channel would need to be separated from the body, hinged/latched & sealed, and then all new trim would be needed. A lot of work.

tolo2go · Jun 17, 2013

Think it would look good on a '49-'51 not the '52-'54. Run a window jamb down the center and copy off the VW's or even the deuce and a half windows. They will leak over time but you will probably be on your next project by then.
-tolo2go

fordsum · Jun 17, 2013

I do think a truck would look best with this custom job. I hope some on the HAMB who has the skills to do this will give it a try on Flat glass or curved glass.

'51 Norm · Jun 17, 2013

I saw an Advance Design truck at Santa Maria this year that had swing out windshield halves like you describe.

It seemed like a good idea but the truck was not finished (read rat rod) so I can't comment on how it would look done right.

Norm

alchemy · Jun 17, 2013

Safari huh? Did you usta be a VW guy?

I had a '37 Diamond T truck that had a V windshield, and both halves opened separately. Most cars and trucks had tilt-out windshields until about 1937, and a few even later, but the Diamond T is the only one I remember that had individual halves. Well, maybe mid-30's Chryslers did it too.

I'd find the windshield area from a '46-ish Chevy truck, a pair of windshield frames, and get to cutting and pasteing.

treb11 · Jun 18, 2013

typo41 said: ↑

During the war, ford made half ton truck bodies with swing up windshields like the early car bodies. They hindged from the top and had a handle on the dash to crank open. I saw one in Nevada years ago, all the 'chrome', door handles and such, was OD green. I grabbed the door handle and three weeks later that body and a number or others were rolled over by a cat when the new land owner wanted the junk removed.
Click to expand...

Ah Ha.. this is the type of cab I have for my '40 pickup build. did not come with any of the windshield frame pieces, just the pockets in the upper cab where the hinges were and the swing arm retaining hardware - a knurled knob located about midway up the A pillar on the inside.

Barn Find · Jun 18, 2013

The Dimaond T is a pretty simple design. The cranks on the dash are basically just a threaded rod.

Barn Find · Jun 18, 2013

The Dodge Windshield opens as a single unit. Civilian trucks had a crank in the center of the dash. Military versions, like my Carryall push out just lile a Model A with stachions on each side just like a Model A. The military versions fold out much farther.

porknbeaner · Jun 18, 2013

alchemy said: ↑

Safari huh? Did you usta be a VW guy?

I had a '37 Diamond T truck that had a V windshield, and both halves opened separately. Most cars and trucks had tilt-out windshields until about 1937, and a few even later, but the Diamond T is the only one I remember that had individual halves. Well, maybe mid-30's Chryslers did it too.

I'd find the windshield area from a '46-ish Chevy truck, a pair of windshield frames, and get to cutting and pasteing.
Click to expand...

Alchemy,
I would like to have one that the halves opened separately that sounds pretty damned cool.

My '38 still has a pop open windshield/ To make one on a late model car like and early '50s Gm you would need to build a windshield frame I would suspect, not hilll for a stepper.

Flipper · Jun 18, 2013

Barn Find said: ↑

The Dodge Windshield opens as a single unit. Civilian trucks had a crank in the center of the dash. Military versions, like my Carryall push out just lile a Model A with stachions on each side just like a Model A. The military versions fold out much farther.

Click to expand...

That looks like fun!

Rusty O'Toole · Jun 18, 2013

I've thought of doing this. The easiest way would be with a flat windshield. Get the hinges and handles from an older (junkyard) car or pickup truck with pop out rear windows (my 92 Dodge club cab has rear pop outs, so do millions of minivans and economy cars). Have a glass shop cut oversize glass and drill holes for the hardware. Find a suitable rubber molding from one of those guys who sells it by the yard at flea markets. Or use one made for a minivan rear window. You can cut the rubber and glue it together with isocyanate (crazy) glue.

You would have to remove the WS wipers when you popped out the glass, or relocate the wipers above the windshield. I suppose if you only wanted the extra breeze on warm sunny days you could take the wipers off and stick them under the seat.

That type latch would allow popping the windshield out about 2". This would create a nice breeze with the windows open. If you want them to open farther you would have to find some other type of catch to hold them open. I would try the side window catches first, I think they would work great. Only if you really want a lot of air, would you need to come up with something else.

If you want to get really elaborate later model minivans have electric pop out windows. I don't know what kind of mechanism but it must be pretty small to fit inside the roof post.

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