Spider windshield post-clearance to cowl????

[iowaalfa]

Hi folks,

My '63 Giulia Spider restoration is nearing completion. Question: how much clearance (or gap) is acceptable between the bottom (base) of the windshield post and the body's sheetmetal? I've got about 3/16" space between the bottom of the post and the body. Not sure how thick the rubber gasket is that fits underneath the post. The posts were rechromed, but no chrome (only copper plating) on the spigot that fits into the tapered hole. I've removed all the paint in the tapered hole, but the left side doesn't fit as deeply into the tapered hole as the passenger's post does. Thanks!

Jim Caldwell
1963 Giulia Spider
Coralville, Iowa

[Gordon Raymond]

Jim,
you want them to both sit about the same depth. There is a large surface on the bottom windshield frame to support the assembly. Originally the frame bottom and post bottoms sealed the gaskets with a material like 3M or Scotch windshield putty. This stuff never hardens and acts as a water seal against the paint and gaskets. The plating on the tapered post pins is really pretty thin. The tapered holes get messed up in stripping and repainting the car. It IS A GOOD IDEA to have some sort of rust protection in those holes when they are cleaned to bare metal. One restorer I know sprayed them lightly with RustOleum damp proof red primer, let it dry a week, then sprayed the post pins with a wax based anti-rust sealant as he slid the assembly together. His posts bottomed, just barely, and had to be jiggled loose. I hope this helps.

[Alfajay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iowaalfa My '63 Giulia Spider restoration is nearing completion. Question: how much clearance (or gap) is acceptable between the bottom (base) of the windshield post and the body's sheetmetal? I've got about 3/16" space between the bottom of the post and the body.