TR2/3/3A fitting windshield/frame to 1960 Tr3a & Brooklands screen removal

Hello to all I recently purchased a 1960 TR3a fitted with Brooklands screens and
I want to fit the windshield on, all the parts seem to be with the car? is there some
form of rubber gasket between the windshield frame and body where the bolts pass
through on the lower (legs) I have 4 chrome bolts, 4 rubber washers, and two chrome
spacers? the paint in this area in unmarked and I am worried about damaging this area
if there is only frame (metal) directly mounted to body?
next question the inner brookland screen mounts are touching the windshield glass
I loosened one mount and found the nuts in the dash are not captive? the nut has
not fell off yet how is the access to these nuts?
car is not at home yet and will be driving it home in a few weeks
I cannot get mechanical inspection without windshield installed?
many thanks to all on this forum

Dave York
Granville Ferry N.S.

Dave --

It's my understanding that there were several (perhaps 3) different arrangements of windscreen stanchions attaching to the body. Many have a chromed plate on the body but some may attach right to the paintwork which may be what you have. Here's a thread from the BCF that talks about this with some pics.

The Brooklands Aeroscreens were owner-installed and thus there is no standard way they were attached. Are you sure they used bolts and not a sheet metal screws? I did mine with the latter as (as you're finding) it is really tough to get at the back side of that area.

Some post TS60000 cars with bolt on windscreens had staunchion plates, but generally most did not have any form of protection between the staunchion and the duco. Guess they overlooked the screen might be frequently removed for aeroscreens. I've seen a couple of viable ways to protect the duco. One was to put duct tape or the like on the staunchion with the non sticky side towards the duco, or in the case of a racecar here, the owner has profiled very thin aluminium sheeting and attached it to the body as a staunchion pad.

Factory aeroscreen mounts on cars up to about TS32833 positioned the aeroscreens so the windscreen could be fitted with them in situ, but thereafter, as said above, aeroscreens were aftermarket and could be mounted without regard to the windscreen. A 1960 TR3A fits that category. Aftermarket aeroscreens are usually supplied with sheet metal screws, but safety dictates these are often replaced with small bolts. That sounds like the case with your car. Aftermarket aeroscreens have to be mounted back against the dash capping to clear the windscreen.

Might be best to remove the aeroscreens, fit the windscreen for the inspection, then look at ways to remount the aeroscreens to clear the screen. What I do for the set-out is to tape the aeroscreens to the back of the windscreen, put masking tape under the feet, mark the drill holes on the masking tape, then drill through the tape to avoid damaging the duco.

Viv