What do you do when the windshield frames are rusted out and clip anchors are gone?

 

Sadly this is all too common on these cars. Welding in new metal is the only option for fixing the rust. There are patch panels available for the bottom windshield pinchweld for the 64-67 cars and the 68-72 cars, but the rest need to be fabricated by hand. Once the metal is solid, you need to weld on new trim studs using a stud welder gun. There are special tips available for the stud welder guns that hold the head of the trim stud. The usual restoration supply vendors sell them (Eastwood, TP Tools, etc) as well as most welding supply and auto body supply stores.

Do not simply drill a hole and install the clip with a screw. It's pretty silly to spend all that time fixing rust holes, only to run the risk of starting another hole or leak with the screw.

 

Thanks Joe. After I posted I had a lucid moment in regards to the clips and found kits that included self-tapping screws that had a small amount of sealant on them. Glad to have an Olds_Fart such as yourself chime in before I did something counter-intuitive. Also, where have I missed these lower patch panels? I was sweating having to make something that included reattaching to the trunk filler panel.

 

Actually, I was talking about the front fender patch panels.

 

I made mine I was in a budget and being rushed a bit.
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I had very small pin holes so I just formed mine over the old cut out the rust treated and used bond on mine
I have seen serval of our members replace the filler panel depending on year

 

What I had in my mind to do is so much more complicated... I'm thinking home made forms and clamps and hammering (po' boy stretcher/shrinker) But that's so me; making a mountain out of a mole hill. I have a tendency to overthink things. So, I looked online for a while and found some patch panels for Cutlass/442s but as usual, came up short for the Starfire. I'm getting used to not seeing it in the lineups. That's ok though, I'm pretty creative and I know once I actually get her home next month and get her opened up I'll be fine. I have a nice, slightly crumpled right front fender I plan to hammer and dolly on until I either straighten it out or screw it up beyond repair. Thanks you guys for the info and insight.

 

You didn't specify the year and model in your first post. You won't find anything for a full size, so don't even waste your time looking. Plan on getting practice metal forming.

 

1966 Starfire; power everything, Strato buckets, console automatic...I found a couple things at eastwestautoparts.com, and West Coast Classics (http://larrycamuso.com/), but yes, there's not a lot out there for full size. I'm not sure if I found a gem or just a lump of coal.

 

You have a car that will be unique when it's done, just don't plan on buying parts out of a catalog. You'll either need to source rust-free original sheet metal or learn to fabricate patch panels yourself.