Anyone have any ideas on the stainless windshield trim at the base of the windshield? The stainless screws are just stuck. I've sparyed the crap out of them with penetrating oil, and tried the hammer to break the oxidation bond. Decided to drill them out, and they are eating up my drill bits. Must be some tough stainless. I can't really get the screws off with a cutoff wheel, I'd probably screw up the trim. *IF* i just go for it, with the cutoff wheel, what am I looking at for new trim? Or is there an easy way that I'm not thinking of yet? Anyone BTDT ?
First---how are you using the drill? You need a BRAND NEW BIT first. Then use LOW LOW SPEEDS (variable speed drill that you can control speed on). Use a decent amount of pressure with the low speed. And finally use some oil on the screws as you drill. If you are running the drill bit at anything over 150 rpm(estimate) or so you are wasting your time and the drill bit...what I mean on the speed is you need to drill at a speed that you could almost count the turns as you are drilling. START SLOW (REAL SLOW) and slowly increase the speed but not much. The screws aren't stainless...they are regular steel. GET A NEW BIT FIRST...nothing exotic..HDepot, Lowe's, etc. Be patient. Can you get at the screws underneath and grab the threaded portion protruding on the underside of the cowl??---See if you can get a good Vise Grip plier on that side and grab and turn them. They are rusted into place. Should you resort to the die grinder you are still going to have to deal with the part of the screws that remain in the holes...the most important part since that is the same hole where the new screws go. You can get a used stainless piece at a local salvage place if you know of any that have GM A-body cars. They are generic between all the ABodies. Maybe you have a local source that has good pricing. If not, then you can find on here on the Parts Wanted board...but shipping will be a little as it will need to be attached to a board or something to prevent the package from getting bent (maybe it will fit in a piece of PVC pipe of the proper diameter). Supposedly these are repro'd but I don't know if they are available yet...not the cheapest part at $100 for the repro I think + oversize shipping I suspect. Get a NEW BIT and keep the drill speed DOWN. Patience is your virtue when drilling out metal stuff.....find some:laugh: At a minimum please post again and let us know what works/doesn't work. Thanks
