4wd.com Windshield Frame Quality

[HossH]

Thanks to this free shipping deal on the host website, thought it would be time to get a new windshield frame (few rusty spots)and save some money in the process. After reading about some of the issues with other after-market frames bending from the windshield wipers, etc ... was wondering if anyone could give me some reviews on the frame 4wd.com offers.

http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?jeep-sid=220&plID=0&partID=8483

I would like to know if I should do some prep work on this thing before installing it or is it going to be good as is. Hoping for less work - more driving! :drive:
Any advice is welcome!

Oh yeah, I already plan on getting the glass installed by a pro :) Search did me well in that department.

[nuttzach]

i ordered one from here last year, and was somewhat impressed with the quality. I was skeptical too, after reading all the bad things about aftermarket frames. I thought that some of the spot welds were a little rough up the sides, but that could be fixed with some putty/glaze. I left mine though(its a jeep.)
I have heard some things about the glass not fitting, but my glass went right in. Maybe I got lucky.
Other than that, it comes primed, so i sanded it up, shot some paint, threw in the glass, and done. Good luck.
ps....i have read on here that fiberglass frames kinda suck.

[HossH]

Well thats good to hear, Im not too worried about rough welds, like you said, its a Jeep :) I avoided the fiberglass mostly due to cost, plus I know how to work with the steel. Did you do the glass yourself?

[GPER]

Can't tell you about the steel ones, but I put a glass one on with the rest of the glass body 17 years ago and yet have to have the first problem.

[nuttzach]

Can't tell you about the steel ones, but I put a glass one on with the rest of the glass body 17 years ago and yet have to have the first problem.

the thing that i have heard is that some people say they seem to 'floppy'.

I put the glass in with the help of my father in law. He had done it b4 and talked me into doing it. It went in okay with the cord in the seal trick, but looking back, i would rather pay a glass dude to do it, because if he breaks it, it is his problem. I can't imagine it would be too pricey.

[GPER]

I had the glass guy do mine, but it was a long time ago. I don't think it was too much though.

[tracraym]

i would rather pay a glass dude to do it, because if he breaks it, it is his problem. I can't imagine it would be too pricey.

:ditto:

Around here a new windshield runs $100.00 installed for the CJ so long as your seals are good. Even if the seals are bad, the shop quoted me like $25 for those. I really don't care if they break half a dozen in the attempt. I'm only dropping the C-note.

Once I finish getting the motor in, that will be high on the list.

[PatF10]

i got one on my 74 i cant stand it. The passenger wiper would bend, the frame cracked, so i welded it and it cracked again, Im goin to tear it apart and weld in some serious bracing, cause snow and one wiper doesnt mix well

[ferretjuggler]

I did some digging on the net a while back.
It seems all the pattern jeep panels and tubs in mild steel all come from the same souce now: MD JUAN & Co in the Phillipenes.
http://www.mdjuan.com.ph/
There are still some low volume manufacturers but Juans have the lions share, I think all Omix-Adas panels come from them.
Supply for panels in europe is pretty desperate, you'd expect to pay about$150 in the US for a pattern whindshield frame.
I was quoted $600 to have one shipped from Germany.
And it's made in the same factory in the Phillipenes.

[John Strenk]

I have an old old fiberglass window frame and other than some of the nuts spinning inside, It was never floppy. There is a metal insert in the to attach your soft top retaining strip and it doesn't pull out.

Maybe the olderones were better.
Don't know the manufacturer.

[williewike]

i've got a fiberglass windshield frame on mine and have no complaints. it's not floppy and it won't rust. replaced one on my son's YJ with the steel replacement from 4WD. no problems with it either although it was not made in USA.

[HossH]

i've got a fiberglass windshield frame on mine and have no complaints. it's not floppy and it won't rust. replaced one on my son's YJ with the steel replacement from 4WD. no problems with it either although it was not made in USA.
I hate that every time I make a CJ accessory purchase I struggle with the fact that nothing is made here at home! If there is, then I have to try to convince myself that spending 50% more is better than sending the Red Chinese another 'donation'.

Is there a company out there that can compete with foreign manufacturers? I know there are a few items out there, but is a 50% increase in price really worth that tid-bit better 'homemade' quality? I want some AMC quality :D

[highlandercj-7]

I wouldn't put a fiberglass windshield frame on anything. They are extremely weak, even the 4wd ones. I have the aftermmarket steel and I'm not even happy with it. They are nothing like the OEM. I wish someone would start making them in the US like the OEM quality, Kinda like they did the old GM Mussle Car sheet metal parts. Better yet start making them out of Satinless Steel.


HAHA YEAH I want AMC quality too. Unforchantly some idiots so the biz to chrysler and screwed us all.....

[PatF10]

i keep looking for a stock mid CJ frame, im sure ill find one someday, but until then ill fix mine again. I have repoduciton fenders too and they are just as bad, thin, flimsy they crack and rust!

[Penguin]

I love my fiberglass frame.
Now I only use it when I have a hardtop but even when I had a softtop it was great. I had to replace the glass in it and it went in without a hitch(well he needed to use lube).
It sucks to mount a hartop to but I fixed that with a set of holdowns from my sunrider top.

[CJAY]

I restored a CJ-7 a few years ago and got the steel body tub and all of the other steel parts from a person in southern Michigan who bought all of the original dies/stamps from AMC. Everything was A O.K. except that the only stamp that he had on the body tub was for the 70's era which had a longer thinner cowl air intake. It was a booger to retrofit for the 80's style heat/defrost system but it turned out ok. I never have had any issues on any of the Jeeps that I restored using this guys parts. I'll look up his info and send it along.