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Niggling Windscreen

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jjbunn

jjbunn

Jedi Knight
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I have the windscreen unit out of the car, as I have previously posted. I want to repaint the frame flat black before replacing it. I discover, after removing the riveted chrome top piece, that the frame was indeed originally flat black, and has been resprayed silver, and not very well.

In the process of removing the chrome top piece, I drilled out the rivets, and some of the ends broke off and dropped into the frame, where they are rattling around and annoying me /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif

Then I noticed a small impact crack in the glass: at about driver's eye level, about 1/4" in diameter. Obviously I need to replace the glass at some point - but I have no new glass (although I do have the seals). I also really need to remove the glass and the old seals so I can do a proper job of repainting the frame.

I suppose I just need to bite the bullet and order new glass, and replace the whole lot, but I was really hoping not to have to do that job for a while. I was hoping to actually get some driving time in before replacing the glass /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif

Just thought I'd share my niggles!
 
Julian, I feel your pain... I was dreading a windshield replacement for a long time on my 71 TR6.

First, the job wasn't that bad with two people and one of those plastic windshield sticks, but more importantly... WOW! What a difference a fresh windshield makes! I never thought of this before, but it's something you notice every second you're driving the car. I especially noticed driving at night when the thousands of little pits and nicks from years of use didn't sparkle in the headlights of oncoming cars. Other than maybe refinishing the dash, it's the single thing that has made the most difference on the car that I notice on a daily basis!
 
Must agree.

And if you do that job once, you'll come away sayin' you've done it for the last time.
The TR is sooo much easier than a B but still: no picnic. Get a new windscreen, 'ave done wifit. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
My advice is to take the glass out and do a proper refurb. Have the new glass installed at a glass shop, well worth their charge, done right.
 
if you take the glass out cut the gasket, I tried to push mine out when I refurb it to try to save the gasket and I cracked the glass, also I would replace the plastic trim that covers the inside of the frame makes the whole thing look much better when finished
 
Isn't satin black the proper color? I did mine in satin as I thought it would hold up better than flat. if you have new gaskets for th windshield and choose to do the windshield now, just use a razor knife to cut the old gasket out to remove the windshield. Then you can really do a proper job cleaning, priming and painting the frame.
 
Just out of curiousity... is full glass coverage generally offered around the country? Here in rocky AZ it is pretty much de riguer to have this on your auto policy, it pays 100% of glass replacement even if you have a large deductible on your comprehensive.

The coverage is really cheap and well worth it as often as windshields get damaged by rocks, sand, etc. It even covers the plastic in the TR3 sidecurtains should anything happen to them.
 
Geo Hahn said:
is full glass coverage generally offered around the country?
Click to expand...
Might be available, but my Mercury agent never mentioned it to me.
 
TR3driver said:
Geo Hahn said:
is full glass coverage generally offered around the country?
Click to expand...
Might be available, but my Mercury agent never mentioned it to me.
Click to expand...

Not sure for AAA, and besides, I haven't added the TR6 to my policy yet.
 
The glass is out!

I see Moss wants $150 for new glass. TRF wants $160 with a $25 crating charge (Moss don't mention such a charge). Can I do better than Moss? Would a local glass shop be cheaper? Sorry to sound like a cheapskate, but costs are mounting up, and I need to keep an eye on the budget /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

Also: any suggestions on how I can extract the ends of the rivets that dropped inside the windscreen frame? Or are they there for good?
 
Loose bits in the windscreen. I removed the sockets for the soft top handles. This leaves two largish holes in the top of the frame. Then, by picking up the frame upside down, and repeatedly tilting it from side to side, all the bits eventually end up falling out of one of these two holes. Problem solved /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
Julian
I live on the west coast and got one from Moss, one because my local expert said their's fit the best. Two, cause the shipping was cheaper and 3 it was less expensive.
Came in a cardboard box filled with that poured foam and plastic effectively encapsulating it.
It is really great to look through a new screen, on top of nicks and pits mine had an almost eye level crack. Really a big improvement.
 
Norton47 said:
Julian
I live on the west coast and got one from Moss, one because my local expert said their's fit the best. Two, cause the shipping was cheaper and 3 it was less expensive.
Came in a cardboard box filled with that poured foam and plastic effectively encapsulating it.
It is really great to look through a new screen, on top of nicks and pits mine had an almost eye level crack. Really a big improvement.
Click to expand...

OK that clinches it. I get a restorer's discount at Moss, too, so that will make it a bit cheaper.

Thanks for the input!
 
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