Windshield Frame

[jerryrosa]

Hi all,

I'm in the last stretches of a complete body overhaul on my '75 MGB. I've gotten all new chrome, new lights,emblems,...etc. Everything except for the windshield,..the pillars are a bit pitted.

I did purchase an entire assembly, used,.it's a little better than what was on the car,..but not by much.

Can the pillars be "re-tooled", or repaired?
Or is there a source for new ones, that I just haven't come accross?

Thanks!
Jerry

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Jerry -

I've just finished rebuilding my windshield, and had to work on all the frame pieces. I used 100 grit sandpaper at first, then 400, then steel wool. It's certainly not perfect, but looks pretty good. As far as I know, there aren't any new ones out there.

I've got another complete windshield from the other body I bought - fair shape, not any worse than the one I refinished. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions or need any pieces.

Mickey

 

[jerryrosa]

Mickey- Thanks!
I was figuring that I'd have to sand or grind them.
I'll try that with what I have here, and let you know how that comes along!

 

[Tom Rynne]

I refinished my windshield frame earlier this year. Use oven cleaner to strip off the old anodizing and scrub this with fairly heavy steel wool (00 grade).
Sand with 400 wet or dry then 600 and then 1200 taking care to blend out nicks etc.
At this point either have it powder coated silver or I polished mine with jewelers rouge and it looks like chrome. Some folks will clear coat after polish but I am just going to give it a touch up polish occaisionally as I think the clear takes away some of the shine.

 

[jerryrosa]

Hi Tom,
Thanks,..the jeweler's rouge sounds like a great idea!
I've just ordered some, guess I just made my plans for this weekend /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Jerry

 

[Steve_S]

I spent hours polishing my windshield frame. I was looking good but very, very slow-going getting through all that oxidation and annodising. I gave up, took it to a polisher and spend another two hours cleaning the mess I made (for nothing!). The end result was stunning and worth the money spent.

 

[jerryrosa]

Steve S- Thanks!
I looked into sending it out, didn't have much luck /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Anyways, I have the original from the car, a used one I got on ebay, and another used one I got from British Miles. I think I'll spend the weekend taking them apart, and using the best parts from the three, to make the best complete unit I can. I'll try sanding them myself, I'm good at making a mess! lol
And I'm getting a little anxious, the car's been in the bodyshop for a while, and it'll give me somthing to work off the frustration with. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[CraigFL]

Thanks for the great info. I need to find time to do mine now....

 

[90 XJ-S]

Have you thought about sending the frame out? I've never done it, but came across a thread on the Big Healey forum. Lin was exstatic about the service he received. Anodizing Service I think I would, at least talk to them. As good as your car looks so far, it would seem a shame not to put a perfect windscreen on it.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif

Mike

 

[jerryrosa]

Mike- Thanks for the link. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

What a cool company,..will call them for sure!

 

[jerryrosa]

Hi All,

I spoke with the anodizing service Mike posted,..I was all set to use them, but convinced myself to try again for someone local,...as i am in Boston, and that service is in California.

I'm glad I did,..I found a metal plating company,..less than 2 miles from me, they will strip and polish the frame for me for $50., they sent me to a company they know that does anodizing,..he'll do the frame for $30, after the polishing is done. They'll have it all done for me by Weds,..with no shipping! Yippee! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Steve_S]

Be sure to post pictures when it's done.

 

[jerryrosa]

Sure, steve,..will do!

 

[90 XJ-S]

[ QUOTE ]
Be sure to post pictures when it's done.

[/ QUOTE ]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif Absolutely!!!

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
Mike

 

[fadler1]

All of the pseudo-chrome on my other project car is polished aluminum and the other posts are right about simply abrading and polishing. The best "final" touch product is Mother's Aluminum polish. I buffed out all the parts with a buff wheel on a cheap motorized grinder and the rougue and then finally polish. Just wear a paper mask since the lint and crud gets everywhere in the air.

F. Adler
1977 MGB
1971 Porsche 914
1998 Boxster /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif

 

[jerryrosa]

F. Adler- Thanks for the tip,..I went out and purchased a cheap polishing wheel, and some rouge,...I'll keep a look out for that polish! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[jerryrosa]

I took the frame apart, this weekend.
What a fun job! lol

I brought it to the anodizing guy today,..he stripped it,..and it looked 100% better already (not to mention the fact that it took him 10 seconds to strip the old finish off of it /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

I then took it to the polisher,.who will have it a little longer than I thought,..probably a week,..he's busy.

Then I'll bring it back to the first guy,..he says the anodizing will take him about an hour,..so I can drop it off, then pick it up the next day /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Steve_S]

Get a photo of it polished and then one after annodizing. Try to get the photos in the same location and in the same light. That way we can all see the real difference between bare polished aluminum and clear annodized. I've been wondering how much of the polish will be retained after annodizing. I chose to leave mine polished raw for maximum shine.

 

[jerryrosa]

Will do my best! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[jerryrosa]

Hi guys!

I got the frame back from the polisher today!

Just beautiful. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

After some of the posts on this thread, and talking with the metal guys, and my mechanic,..I've decided NOT to anodize it, just to wax it.

It's soooo nice and shiney,..and it matches all of the new chrome and steel I'm putting on. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I'll post a picture as soon as I assemble it,..probably this weekend!

-Jerry