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MG MGB Technical - Restoring MGB windshield frame

Hello All.
I'm restoring the windshield frame on my mgb roadster and have a couple of questions for those who have restored theirs. 1. The brackets for the visors and brackets that hold down the convertible top appear to be held on by steel rivets of some sort. After drilling these out to remove, I was surprised to see no replacement part for them in my parts catalogs. At first I thought I would just use standard aluminum blind rivets, but now I'm concerned over the strength of these, as well. What have you used in place of these factory rivets that have worked well?
2. I'm having the anodized coating removed from the exterior surfaces and then polished. I can't decide on the inside finish, whether to powder coat or have a brushed finish applied with a sanding belt. Any comments? Pictures?

Thanks a lot.

Scott
Scott Wooley

My windscreen frame is off being restored by my parts guy and they use powder coating on the frames. I removed the anodising with oven cleaner then sanded all the frame parts myself. I had been told that the old, weathered aluminium of the frames don't take re-anodising very well.

I haven't seen the results yet but might be heading off to collect it this weekend (a 3 hour drive away). Can post some pictures of how it turned out once I do.

I hadn't even though about the rivets now you mention it so it will be interesting to see what they used.

Simon

Simon
Simon Jansen

Use stainless rivets.
J Heisenfeldt

I've just had my w-s frame powder coated. I'm in the process of putting it back together now to ensure the parts fit properly. Soon I'm taking it to someone who will put the glass in for me. My installer will provide the glass, I bought all new moss rubber seals. For lack of any add'l information I'm using the rivits available through my local hardware store. Have I screwed up? If you'd like pictures of my powder coated w-s frame let me know (mgb_mga@yahoo.com).
Danny Jacob

I am going to go collect mine on Saturday so I can post some pictures too once I get it. They were installing it literally as I called this morning!

Simon
Simon Jansen

I cleaned up my windscren frame a year ago, went to a powder coater who told me the surface was too smooth and the powder coat would not hold.
So I went to a local spray painter who painted the frame in clear 2 pack.
The top and bottom rails are still very good but on the side rails the finish is starting to lift in a couple of places.
A G Wright

I suppose it depends on how original you want it to look, I had the frame re-polished and anodised to the original finish for the year, which was high gloss for the top and bottom rails and satin for the pillars. Incidentally the pillars will not finish to the same colour as the rails because they are cast and have some Silicon present which gives a slightly grey colour when anodised. The frame was done 12 years and 56000 miles ago and is still looking as new.
I used stainless rivets for all attachments and tappex inserts for the 3/8 unc threads on the pillars.
Hope this helps
Graham
G Cherry

Apparently my windscreen frame had to go back to the powder coater to be redone. The first time the left out a step which was sealing the old aluminium. Apparently this caused bubbles in the finish. Am going to go collect it tomorrow so will be interesting to see how it all came out. Originality isn't a big deal on my car so a non standard finish isn't a problem.

Simon
Simon Jansen

I've had the ws rebuilt with tinted new glass, all new rubber and "Spartan Bronze" powder coat to go with final motif. Done carefully, it's just beautiful. I'll send jpegs if you get me e-mail. Vic
vem myers

Originality went out the window when I installed a Ford 289 V8! I was hoping to have the coating stripped and have the exterior surfaces polished...Are you saying that all the frames will not polish to the same color? The car is kept indoors, and I'm planning on simply using aluminum polish to maintain the luster. On the inside, I'm just looking for a good non-reflective finish. I'm really undecided on this, and would love to see what others have done.

Thanks,

Scott
Scott Wooley

I got my screen back. The powder coating looks good. They also applied a matt black paint to the insides of the frame. This looks really good with the dark tinted windscreen.

Simon
Simon Jansen

Here is a picture but not sure sure how well it will come out. I am sure the frame will look better on the painted car too of course with the bottom seal and so on in place!

Simon


Simon Jansen

And another. By the way that overall black tinted glass is really nice. I think I had a choice of what to get - clear, green tint at the top or black all over and I am glad I went for the latter.

Simon


Simon Jansen

Hey Scott,

I'm from the old aircraft school, so when my rivets went south, I used the aircraft cherry rivets. No rust and over strong, still working good after 2-3 years.

I would not use hardware rivets, period.

James
James Huggins

I hand sanded (wet) the exterior of my ws frame. I then polished to near mirror polish. All parts are very close in color of silver. I have components of multiple frames in mine. I plan to coat with Zoopseal (expensive, but long-lasting, and will not peel). Interior surfaces were cleaned. Top surface, were top seal sits has some gouges - I plan to paint this surface with POR-15 silver.
drew

This thread was discussed between 03/09/2008 and 11/09/2008

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