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TR2/3/3A New windshield vendor

John_Progess

Jedi Warrior
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Does anyone have a recommendations where I should purchase a new windshield? Mine is cracked top to bottom in the middle of the windshield. Thanks and have a good day!

John
 
The usual suspects... Moss, The Roadster Factory, Victoria British. carry windscreens.
 
FWIW, a couple years ago I called around and found a local vendor that could supply a new windshield for my TR3. You might try the same approach. He was going to install it for me for about the same price as one from TRF (with shipping but without professional installation).

Also, in case it isn't obvious, you should double-check that the little rubber buffer in front of the rearview mirror is in place. The rubber is just pinched in the bracket, and sometimes comes out. Time and vibration then supply the exact symptom you describe, a crack from top to bottom in the middle.
 
I just replaced mine with one from "ProSource Glass". Under $200 delivered. I don't know if all new glass is this way, but it was a full 1/32 thinner. Regardless, I was satisfied. Installed it myself in a couple of hours.
 
In my case, the rubber buffer is in place and the crack appeared about the fifth day after I left the convertible top installed so it might stretch a bit. I don't know if the aluminum frame has too much flex or not. Thanks and have a good day!

John
 
In the words of my TR mentor circa 1969 (as I remember them), "So how often do you plan to replace the glass?". This was after I'd just told him about buying an aluminum frame and stanchions from a junkyard in my all out campaign to autocross. But almost everybody back then you gave a ride to would always grab the windshield for ingress or egress. I did know one guy with the all 'aluminium' set up who replaced the glass with an acrylic one, but he was forever polishing it out after rainy weather. Lexan perhaps?
 
Bought a new windshield for the 250 about 4 months ago from one of the big three. Installed it about 6 six weeks ago. Its already separating in two of the corners with little sqiggles. I am pxxxed!
marv
 
Lexan perhaps?
Even Lexan won't put up with wipers riding on it. You'd have to use Rain-X or similar instead.

Also, AFAIK, most US jurisdictions require that the windshield be safety glass. No plastic allowed, since it can shatter in a crash. Might be OK on a race course, though.
 
I have now purchased two VB windscreens. The first caught a rock and cracked during my first 5 or 600 miles of driving, much to my disappointment.

The Good: They ship promptly and in a huge foam filled box, so the glass arrives intact and ready to install. It is much cheaper than the other Big Two.
The Bad: The fit is just OK. At each lower corner, the VB glass does not extend down into the windscreen frame, so there is a very small gap on each side.

This has been a challenging install both times. I don't know if that is because of the VB glass thickness, glazing strip thickness, or if it is because that is just how it is supposed to be. After properly soaping this up with dish soap, I used three clamps (pipe clamps used for compressing woodworking projects) to push the frame over the glazing strip and glass. I am sure the mechanical clamp install method is risky, as you could break the glass. But there is absolutely no way a few strong gentlemen could compress this without that clamping assistance. I used a small tube of Permatex black silicone to fill the gaps at the lower corners. As info, I believe the glazing strip that VB provides is the same as Moss and may have had a Moss part number on it, if my recollection is accurate.

I think it looks fine and the full glass swap out was less than $250. Hagerty would have paid for glass replacement for $500. I'll be tempted to let them pay the bill next time, as this is always a difficult install.

Pat
 
I used three clamps (pipe clamps used for compressing woodworking projects) to push the frame over the glazing strip and glass.
Pat
Glazing strip?
When I replaced my windshield, I found the PO had wrapped a couple of thicknesses of electrical tape around the edge of the glass. I did the same thing. The tape is completely below the edge of the frame. I ran a small bead of black RTV around the frame just to assure no water gets trapped in the channel.
BTW as I commented earlier, I didn't buy from the "usual suspects", and the glass fit perfectly.
 
I wrapped mine with vinyl tape several times but to be honest with you, I'm not happy with it. It fits too loosely in the frame. I have ordered packing/glazing strip to do mine again before it hits the road.

Cheers
Tush
 
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