On Fri, 15 Dec 1995, James Fischer wrote:
> While we are on the subject, I need to replace the rubber seal
> around the windscreen on my 1972 Midget. (Drip, drip, drip...)
>
> Knowing my limits, I went to a local windshield shop, and asked
> them what they would charge to remove and replace the glass, if
> I gathered up the required rubber part(s) from the usual sources.
>
> They wanted $75, and they wanted a "waiver" against breaking
> the windscreen glass, since they claimed that the plastic at
> the center of the glass would be brittle from age.
>
> 1) Is there PLASTIC in the center of the US version of
> the windshield? (1972 Midget, Chassis GAN-5UC121382).
I believe windshield safety glass is made up of two layers of thin glass,
with a thin layer of plastic bonded between them. When the glass
breaks, the plastic holds the pieces together. So your fantasy of the
windshield falling apart in a rally isn't likely.
The shop's analysis of increased risk with an old windshield may be
correct. In any case, I would pop for a new windshield. After 30+ years,
the old one will have many pits and scratches. You may not notice them,
but you will be amazed at how much better you can see through a new one,
especially at night.
Rear windows on american cars are generally made of a different type of
safety glass, called tempered glass. When this glass breaks, it crumbles
into small bits that are relatively non-threatening. Sometimes stesses
in the glass cause it to crumble spontaneously. You can see how having
this in the windshield would not be good, because a flying stone could
cause the windshield to go nearly opaque, then blow out into your lap in
little bits.
Ray Gibbons Dept. of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics
Univ. of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
gibbons@northpole.med.uvm.edu (802) 656-8910
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