Can anyone tell me if the windshield in the 30U opens at the bottom or should it be solid(non-opening)? Mine doesn't look like it opens but when checking for new seals all I find are seals that looks like they are for a swing out windshield.
The 30U cars still had the slide up windshield like the '28s and '29s. It slid up with a crank like a house window leaving a gap of maybe 3" at the bottom. The Plymouth used white metal (think carburetor metal) gears? hidden in the windshield header with a crank handle in front of the driver on the header board. The parts broke up from age and many of the Qs and Us have their windshield left down for the duration. The parts are hard to find. Even if you find them they may be warped and pieces missing. The first windshield for Plymouth to crank out like a Model A Ford was the '31 PA.? ? ?
"Old charging System" is correct. all closed cars through the 30-U had a crank up windshield. The gears were "pot metal" and are almost always broken. But worry not. The gears are reproduced using cast alum. and a car can be repaired for about $225.00 USD. You can also get the mini window crank handle replica for about $150. All money well spent to get a little fresh air in the car while driving.
??? Does anyone have pictures of the header board or these items as they appear when installed? My car had a piece of plywood as a header board. I would like to restore it back to its original state.
TIA
Dale
By the way where can I get these missing parts????
Is the crank up windshield mechanism for a 30U the same as the one used on a '29 Oakland?
30 PLY 30U you said something about being able to get reproduced gears. Do you have info? I would also like to see the back side of the crank up mechanism if possible.
TIA
Dale
Chevrolet did use the same gizmo to raise their windshield in those years. You might be able to adapt it to a Plymouth. I assume Oakland would be the same as Chevy as they were stable mates. (1928/29? Plymouths and Chevys used the exact same bumpers made by the Weed Bumper and Tire Chain Co..) Good luck. Let us know if it works out so others can use the info to repair their Plymouths.
You have a lot of questions on a varity of early 30-U subjects. You can e-mail me direct at pmdolan at hotmail.com and I can provide more photos than you will know what to do with. I hate to eat up all the board space downloading pics. Most of my photos are 3000 X 2000 pixels so I have to shrink them before I can post them anyway.
I know this is an old thread, but have some new info. I just had my windshield mechanism redone by "The Filling Station" in LEBANON, OR. (They actuallly sent it off to someone in the mid-west) They are actually into Chevrolet and GMC but I was told that the mechanism, which was supplied by another manufacturer (not Chrysler) was the same used on Chevrolets. Well not quit right. Chevrolet used a splined shaft for the handle and Plymouth was square. I had to send in my old mechanism and they totally rebuilt it with new aluminum housings and gears. Works perfectly. About $225.00.
Thanks for the information, I'm sure it will be a big help for someone.
I did find a windshield mechanism (from a 1929 Plymouth) that I got for $25.
It was a little different from the pictures I've seen of 1930 windshield mechanisms, but it worked find.
GWR, thanks for the leed on the windshield mechanisms. jim