Handbuilt MGB windshield frame continued

[Jim Stabe]

Here's the link to the first part http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=150617

I made new bases for the side posts that mount the same way as the stock MGB windshield. The center tongue that goes into the body is ½” aluminum plate and the platform that sits on top of the fender is ¼” plate. The assembly got TIG welded together.





I cut the bottoms off the Midget side posts and rounded off the top corner to give a sort of Porsche Speedster look. There was also a flange for the door seal that I cut off and blended in along with some holes that got filled. I trimmed the bottom to match the contour of the mounting plates and then tacked the posts in place.



I used a lot of TIG rod to build up the base so I could grind/file it to the shape I wanted.





I then cut the top rail to length and welded it to the posts. All through the fitting process I used pieces of the “C” shaped windshield glazing rubber to make sure I had the proper clearance for the glass




The lower channel is a separate piece from the upper frame and attaches to the cowl with 7 screws from underneath. You can see the shape in the cross section drawing. The piece that sits against the cowl and the one that slopes forward from the bottom of the channel are welded to the channel and to each other the full width of the frame. The welding caused massive warping that required several hours of straightening and recontouring to the template and to the cowl.



Now I have to cut the glass to match the template but that is for another thread.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Amazing! Great work!

Jim

PS Mod, can you merge these?

 

[Poppa Bud]

I have a spare frame sitting in the garage. Could have saved you some work.

Now if you can come up with an easy way to put the bottom seal on the frame, you could make a LOT of money.

 

[38Chevy454]

Nice work. How about some details on the car?

BTW, you don;t have to start a new thread, just reply to your original.

 

[Jim Stabe]

I have a spare frame sitting in the garage. Could have saved you some work.

Now if you can come up with an easy way to put the bottom seal on the frame, you could make a LOT of money.

Unfortunately, an extra windshield wouldn't have saved me any work. I have extra frame parts but the problem is that the angle the glass leaves the post on the Impala glass is different than the MGB and the top of the post wraps around the top of the glass. The new windshield is also layed back an additional 8 degrees from stock which would have really complicated the process if I used the stock parts. Like I said in the first part, getting a windshield glass that is wide enough with enough curvature is hard so all I could do is come close.

I have done the bottom seal on a stock MGB before. The secret is getting the groove clean then using KY Jelly to slide it in. The stuff is made for sliding things in.

Nice work. How about some details on the car?

BTW, you don;t have to start a new thread, just reply to your original.

Details on the car are in the links in my signature. There are also more pictures of the windshield frame in process.

I wish I had thought of just replying to the post, I'll do it when I post about cutting the glass. Thanks

 

[bobadame]

Really nice work Jim.