Windshield Re-Installation – Round Two

Something told me that installing that windshield was just too simple. Of course, it was—just another case of MG trickery, courtesy of modern parts that never quite match the specifications of good old British Leyland.

When I was putting the rubber around the glass, it seemed too simple and, well, loose. It wasn’t the snug fit I was expecting. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. It covered the edges, and I figured that when I clamped the left and right pillars together, it would self-center the glass and jam the rubber into the frame. I thought it did that, until Steve at the Sports Car Factory pointed out a gap right at the edge of the frame (click on the picture to see it in full size). You could actually stick something small through it. How is this even possible? Needless to say, the window leaks water like a proper strainer.

As if on cue, after I took a picture, Martin MacGregor called with some “helpful” advice on installing the rubber to the glass. A day late and a dollar short, but his advice made sense. He explained that the factory making these seals has workers cutting the rubber between 115” and 116”, then super gluing them together. The problem, he said, is that they often cut them too long—longer than 116”—which causes all sorts of problems when installing the windshield.

Martin suggested I cut the rubber at the seam, measure out 115”, and then cut and super glue it back together. It should be a snap fit, which mine definitely was not.

Even with that fix, I fear the windshield still isn’t wide enough to center properly when squeezing the pillars closed. My plan is to put clear silicone inside the pillar frame to build it up a bit on both sides to properly center the glass. This is just a plan; I’ll know more when I remove it for the second time after I get it back from its safety inspection.

Any suggestions would be truly welcomed here…