Body / Glass: Windshield question

[jmc14]

Hello Everyone, I have a Kellison J5 coupe body. These were made in the 50's and early 60's. They mounted on a dedicated frame or modified Corvette frame and used a 1948-1952 Studebaker windshield from what I have read. That year glass is flat and has a V shape.

I'm starting a project to build this car. I am thinking of doing some customizing of the body and am thinking of changing the windshield to a curved one. Looking at some Studebaker pictures I see that in 1953 the glass was changed to curved. I'm trying to find out how the 53 glass compares to the 52 glass in width and height, and taper. From the pictures I've seen it appears that the over all size is similar. Any one know what the dimensions of the 53 glass is? Or, where I might find them? Thank you very much. John

[PackardV8]

They say we buy/build the car we wanted in high school and in 1962, the Kellison J5 was my dream car. I still have their brochure I sent away for and read a hundred times. Please occasionally update us on your project.

jack vines

[studepack]

The 1950 Champion used a flat glass 1 piece (slight curve) windshield on the coupes while the 4 doors used a 2 piece flat windshield. Hope this helps on your search.

[stude dude]

The one piece V'ed glass was used on all 51-52 models plus earlier coupes, etc.

It is very different to the 1953 glass in every dimension and curve. The '53 glass has a gradual curve from side to side. The earlier glass has a 'peaked' center with flat areas either side.

Chris.

[jmc14]

Thank you for the responses. Does anybody know the overall width and height of the 1953 glass? It's pretty easy for me to change the windshield opening on my fiberglass body. But, I want to the new glass to be pretty close to the over all width and height of the old glass? Anybody have a 53 - 61 car that they can take the measurements from? Thanks, John

[Tom Bredehoft]

Just measured my '53 coupe, across the base, its about 54 inches, hard to hold the tape in place on the far end. Its 18 inches high in the middle. These are not exact, measuring to the center of the stainless cover strip.

[jmc14]

Thank you very much Tom. That helps a lot. Here is a picture of the Kellison shown with a curved windshield. I know that it's a model slot car but it's pretty realistic. I think the curved windshield looks better than the flat V glass. I'll measure my body in the morning. Thanks again.

[dean pearson]

They say we buy/build the car we wanted in high school and in 1962, the Kellison J5 was my dream car. I still have their brochure I sent away for and read a hundred times. Please occasionally update us on your project.

jack vines

Darnit,
That means I should be working on an old Barracuda.

Dean.

[Mike Van Veghten]

A friend of mine also has a bare body of the same vintage he's thinking of selling if anyone is interested in building a different hot rod...(Jack..).
He's a little south of Sacramento.

Mike

[bezhawk]

There has been one on Ebay for a long, long time.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1950s-Kellison-Cpe-Vintage-drag-race-car-Packard-V8-available-/150970806914?pt=Salvage_Parts_Cars&hash=item23268fb282&vxp=mtr

[kurtruk]

Just measured my '53 coupe, across the base, its about 54 inches, hard to hold the tape in place on the far end. Its 18 inches high in the middle. These are not exact, measuring to the center of the stainless cover strip.

The 47-52 style w/s is 48" wide. You've got some pretty narrow windshield posts, John. No room to make up 3" on each side with the '53 style glass. But the 53 w/s could be cut narrower if you really want the challenge to fit it to your car.

[jmc14]

Thank you. You guys have been very helpful. I worked on my project today. I was given a C4 Corvette roller which I stripped down today and test fit the body. It fits pretty good I think. When I measured the windshield opening today I realized that the 53 glass was going to be to wide. I'm going to stick with V shaped flat glass from the earlier cars.

Because the car is so light it's sitting 3 inches to high. Once at ride height I think the tire will fill the opening pretty good. The hood was cut to allow for a blower by the previous owner. I will be filling it in and it will have a Kellison styled hood scoop.

I'll be fabricating a roll cage that will stiffen the chassis further and provide roll over protection. Having fun. John

[t walgamuth]

YOur body looks in amazingly good condition. I would think you might have issues with the engine placement on the modern vette. The early fifties sports cars all had engines with transmissions attached so a lot of mass there, to balance the weight the front wheels were very far ahead of them. The vette chassis you have has the trans incorporated into the rear end (right?) so the engine may be too far forward in relationship to the front wheels for you. I hope it all works for you as you have the basis for an exciting car there!

[sweetolbob]

John

Just a thought, but have you looked at Austin Healey 3000 windshields. IIRC, they have a slight contour, would be much narrower and about $175 from Moss Motors.

I'd measure one for you but it left to feed my Avanti habit a couple of years back.

I'd like to do what you are doing but under an Avanti shell as some of the newer 'vettes have the correct wheelbase but are to wide. Not a big issue as I own a sawsall and glass with resin. Just to many projects on the list.

Forge ahead fearlessly as you are and keep us in the loop. I, for one, love to live vicariously throught the work of others.

Avanti, Bob

[Dick Steinkamp]

What a great project!

In addition to getting the body down a little over the frame, you might think about different wheels and tires. This may not be in keeping with the plans you have for the car, but narrower wheels, less back spacing, taller tires might solve a width problem (if you have one), and give more of a "stock" look to the J5 (it just wouldn't be able to go around corners as quickly )