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MG MGB Technical - Windshield Replacement

I have a 1979 MGB and the windshield recently cracked. I have a new windshield and all the rubber. The removal of the windshield and frame from the car was not difficult but the four screws on the bottom frame are rusted. I'm soaking them in penetrating oil but they are in very sad shape.
Any advice or tricks to remove them?
Dick Field

I'm normally brave enough to try any kind of automotive repair, but windscreen replacement is one I take to a glass pro. Someone else will reply as many of the people on this list have done their own. Good luck, Clifton
Clifton Gordon

Try as you are now with penetrant. Then move to mild heat wrench. Lastly, drill out and retap to next larger size. Replacement brackets may also be avail from Moss or Vicky. I don't remember. Check the catalog. Life with your windshield will get much simpler with a couple of large "grip clamps" that will hold the top and bottom frame while you work on the sides and botom gasket. Use masking tape to hold the glass rubber in place while struggling with the top and bottom frame placement--there seems to be a sweet spot of about a 64th of an inch side to side. At that point the curve of the glass is in perfect alignment with the curve of the frame. Forget about marking the center of the glass--it's the sweetspot that matters. The bottom gasket goes on in thirty seconds if, after you get all four pieces of the frame back together, with all screws in, (this is very important---no shortcuts here---all four pieces with screws in. This is where the Moss directions have you sliding it very, very slowly, sideways in the channel!! Ha!) take one side pillar off gently with a rubber mallet. Use GoJo original hand cleaner and you'll be done in less time it takes to read this. That was so easy, you're now going to remove the gasket you just put on. The very end needs to be angle cut to match the frame. Make your cut and reslide it in. You'll need to take your best estimate of the length and angle and trim the bottom gasket on the side with the pillar removed. Measure 6 times. You only get one cut. If you cut it short, the windscreen will leak. "OK wise guy", I can hear you all thinking, "How you gonna get the screws back in that hold the bottom of the side pillar. The gasket is now in the way." No problem. Get a brand spanking new pointed exacto knife blade out of the box and install on your knife handle. Reinstall the side pillar. (a small alignment tool punches through the gasket and into the screwhole to align) Make two small, X incisions, one for each screw where your alignment tool was. Push screws through the gasket and tighten with very small, thin screwdriver.
Paul Hanley

Dick, Heat is a wonderful thing although you will have to be careful not to damage the surrounding paintwork unless of course you are prepared to touch up afterwards. Personally I would be very reluctant to drill out steel bolts in an aluminium frame. After you remove the frame be sure to have the holes drilled and helicoil inserts fitted so as to prevent a future occurence.
Iain MacKintosh

Hi Dick,

Chris Harvey 's excellent book states to delete screws by digging them and re threading the holes.
Complete screw kit availble by MGOC spares service.
Reset them with speacial alloy grease , allowing further withdrawing much more easily.
- Regards -
Renou

Don't remove the screws at the bottom. Just remove the ones on the side, and the side pieces will come off. Then leave the rusted screws in place. This is how I did mine last year.
Greg Bowman

I had a local auto glass company do a midget windshield for me last year. I called three shops that refused to do MG's but I found one that would. They kept it for almost a month. When I went to pick it up I mentioned that I would be bringing in the one from another MG. The manager came out and said that in doing the Midget they had broken two pieces of glass and had to send the frame to a machine shop to remove the rusted screws. He refused to do any more work on MGs and went as far as to call the other two of the company's locations to warn them.
David
David

You can buy new brackets/screws
Getting the glass and new rubber back in and all back together can be done but you need to be patient. It's going to take you a couple of hours.
I ended up using 6mm ropes/cord wrapped all around it and screw drivers winding up and tensioning the ropes (like a rubber band aeroplane) at various strategic locations. With the "pillar ropes", have a piece of wood across the middle front of the screen and pass those ropes outside it or you will fold the windcreen in two. Long clamps would be easier, but I don't own any!
Soap up the rubber. Be warned the center/rearview mirror strut may not be positioned dead centre (mine is off about 5mm) so measure and mark and its not a bad idea to measure and mark the windscreen as a starting point.
You will need to use windcreen sealant between the rubber and the glass.
When it's all back together and you're fitting it to the car ensure you use all the packing pieces. There are two per side, a thick and a thin piece each side. If you leave out the thin pieces (I did) the windcreen will crack when you tighten up the bolts. With me it cracked at the top corners about a week later.

Peter

This thread was discussed between 12/05/2004 and 17/05/2004

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