Windshield Installation?

How the heck do you install the dang windshield on a 79 Midget? I tried for several hours a few months ago and gave up for a while. Now that the car may be back on the road pretty soon, I need to get serious.

I put a new gasket under the replacement windshield I have and that may be part of the problem. But I get two bolts in one side with very little problem and then can't get the other side to line up for the next pair. What's the secret? I MUST be missing something. Help!!!!

Bill Tubbs
https://tubbs.cc/mg

You are having some fun! Went throught the same thing with my B.

What worked for me was a c-clamp. Open the door on the side that you can not align and place the clamp so that one side is on the windshield frame pushing in, and the other side is in the door jam. On my B there is a diagnal surface in the door jam that looks like it is meant for this use. SLOWLY apply pressure with the clamp until the holes are close enough to being aligned to start the bolts.

Oh, yeah. On the side that you can start the bolts without the clamp, leave them loose until you get all the bolts started.

Yes, found the windshield experience to be the biggest pain in the neck as far as MG maintenance goes. Much rather put in a new clutch that mess with the windshield.

Good luck.

There was actually a tip about this in Moss' "British Motoring" magazine recently. It's actually for an MGB, but the Midget's windshield setup is almost the same. To be fair it comes from Larry Dale of Richland, WA.

He had the same problem you are having, and what he did was drill out the three rivets which hold the cover plate in place over the two bolts on each side of the car. After replacing and tightening the bolts, he riveted the cover back in place. It seems it really simplified the job...

I will be replacing the inner windshied seal on my '67 Sprite pretty soon and may try this trick...

You know, I saw that trick with the C-clamp on a web site but not being familiar with the MGB, it looked in the photo as if the B was configured a bit differently. But for the price of a clamp it sure can't hurt to try!

Thanks!!