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MG Midget Windshield help

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ragster1

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I am the proud owner of a '72 MG Midget currently in the shop getting a face lift and new paint. As part of the effort, I am replacing all the rubber on the car and am having great difficulty getting the windshield back together again. The rubber gasket seems a little to large (~ an inch or so) and to thick to fit back in the frame parts. After hours of frustrating myself I decided to take it to a "real" window shop who called me today saying the same thing.

Any guidance, help, referrals to qualified shops etc is appreciated. I bought the part from Vicky Brit and even called Moss to see what advice they can offer. They both said the part is a compression rubber and any qualified and experienced shop should be able to do it. I live in the Harrisburg, PA area (Central PA). Thanks
 
I just put one in a few months ago and -yes- everyone who does it has to fight it quite a bit. I made up a couple of bent wires (about 1/4" thick bar stock actually) to be able to lever the windshield down enough thru the lower holes to get the first bolts in the top holes. Tough but possible.
Bill
 
It'll be a fight. There's no way a "standard" glass shop will understand forty year old technology. They expect it all to fall in place with no effort: Butyl tape and trim, y'see.

Hold their feet to th' fire and ask 'em if they're a "professional" glass shop or a fly-by-night outfit... evil, but effective: They'll buy two sets of glass 'n rubber or bail in a heartbeat. Either way you've got the job done. It's a "Process of Elimination."

The only other way is to do it yourself. If that's the case, consider it "Trial by Fire."
 
To those that responded to my request for help, thanks! For the others, I want to share some insight gained in discussions with Vicky Brit and Moss.

The dimensions of the rubber seal according to both suppliers are 47 3/4 inches on the bottom and 67 3/4 inches across the sides and top. My rubber seal measures 49 across the bottom and 69 across the top. This leaves too much material to fit back in the grooves of the frame.

Has anybody experienced this same problem and how did you solve it?

Thanks!
 
Mine appeared to be excessively large too but I gave the gaskets, windshield and frame to the "Speedy-glass" guy down the street and he returned the complete assembly back to me 1/2 hour later. I didn't ask and he didn't mention having to cut anything.
Bill
 
Here ya go, ship it to Renton for Speady-glass to install.
 
Ragster

Sorry, been a few years since I have restled one of em.

As I remember it was one of those things that if I could get someone to do it for me and in a half hour and a few bucks, I would gladly pay.

Patrick
 
If the seal doesn't just "fall" off the glass, then I think it is probably correct. Mine did not have to hardly stretch to go around the glass, but the frame easily (with the help of ratchet straps) closed up. It was a 30 minute job. But it took several hours of prep work to clean out all the frame channels that a DPO filled with some type of mystery goop.
 
ugh... thanks for bringing that up. I've notice that I've some mystery goop around my windscreen. I'm certainly not looking forward to replacing the glass on my car...
 
The quandry that I had was that several of the local glass shops around (automotive as well as general)wanted to charge $150 to $200 just to put the glass in the frame. I was very lucky to find the guy down the street who both knew how to do it and could. My input would be to check with club members around your area to find if there is a similar person in your area who would be reasonable.
Good luck
Bill
 
I am sorry, but I didn't catch your name...welcome to the Forum, first of all!

Everyone else...I got a call from this guy the other day and suggested the Forum would have the solution to almost any problem. I think what he would like to find is a knowledgeable (and adventurous?) person in the Harrisburg area to mount the glass in the frame. I know there are members from the area here that must know someone to do this???

There is a State worker in my parking garage at work that is heavliy involved with the local Susquehanna Valley Vintage Sports Car Club (svvscc.org)but I haven't seen him. The have an active group of people...maybe they could help, if we can't find someone here. There is a contact list on the website.

Good luck...if push comes to shove, bring it over to my home in Lemoyne...I have a couple of big pipe clamps and some bar clamps that we can use to force the bugger on /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif

Bruce
 
I had to cut an inch or two out of my MGB seal. That was 10years ago. I thought it might just be me. I glued it back together after it was in the frame and no probs and no gap.

Dont worry about getting it back on the car for now, just get it together. Dish soap is your friend.
 
Maybe he should ask over in the spridgets forum to see if anybody else has experienced oversized seals.
 
Bruce,

I was the one that called you at work the other day to ask for some assistance - thanks. I took your advice and re-joined this forum. (Apparently I signed up in 2004 but forgot!)

Kelby Steele recommended John at Diamond Auto Glass in Enola. I dropped the parts off on April 12, 2007 and John said that he can do it with the existing seal. I'll be gone for 2 weeks on my annual AF active duty so he has plenty of time to make it happen. Kelby sends all his glass work to John.

By the way, I live near Cedar Cliff HS - not far from you. Hopefully, our paths will cross this year.

thanks,

Ron
 
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