Speedster Screen fitting

sent you dialog

Hi, not sure how much this'll help but it's my screen fitted to the body - Chesil body/screen.

Wolfgang,

PLEASE would you share your dialog re: Mounting the Windscreen.. I'm certain there are many other s who will end up in a situation where they need to know this info.. And it adds value to the Forum.

Since Red Baron is in UK and it is perhaps difficult for him to contribute as a supporting member, I sent him link to a free on-line copy of a FiberFab build manual.  I'd rather not post it here but since you too are OCONUS I'll send you link.

Fiberfab/CMC don't have the raised fiberglass lip that the Chesil has.  CMC is completely flat.  In the build manual, the aluminum piece is riveted and sealed to body and is visible when rubber gasket is in place. DrClock uses plastic VW fender welting under the strip for a clean finished look.  I haven't tried that yet but on my long list.  

Hi Speedster fans

Thank you for the response to my question and yes Wolfgang the Fiberfab build manual will fill in a few blanks on other issues I have. This FiberFab build definitely uses a bottom rail to secure the lower screen rubber but the body does not have a ridge like the Pilgrim/Chisel body, anyone out there built one of these? I would contact Pilgrim but when I purchased just the outer shell from them their attitude was unless I bought the complete kit from them '' I was on my own'' I can understand their attitude as it probably has to do with liability issues etc.

The attached Illustration is similar to what Chisil have in their manual but do not mention a lower locating rail.

I hope I can shed some light on this subject,it seems the windshields on earlier speedsters is mounted flush to the body panel, the later models had a built up area I stand to be corrected I can not find any records of this change, I came to this conclusion just by looking at thousands of speedster photos.

Now back to the replica setup American/Canadian replicas mount flush to the body also they don't have a ridge setup, again I stand to be corrected, I have noticed that Chesil, Pelgrim and South African replicas have a ridge where the windshield rubber is positioned (perhaps made from the same original mold), the ridge rubber profile is totally different from original speedster rubber profile.

I personally did not like the ridge/rubber setup on my speedster and decided to source a windshield rubber from Sierra Madre(a reproduction of the original) and shaved off the ridge. When I attempted to fit the windshield with new rubber to the speedster I noticed that the windshield profile to body profile did not match. Long story short  I ended up using mold release and fiberglass bondo to fill the gap a huge mistake from my part should have used the rubber profile that was issued by the local supplier and should have left the ridge as is. The end result with lots of hard work and lots of swearing it is elevated not closely matching the later model speedsters, to be honest never again.

I have attached a few pics of the different windshield setups of an early model and a late model speedster. Also is a pic of the Sierra Madre windshield rubber which wont work if you have the ridge setup on your speedster your rubber should have a different profile to suit the ridge. If your speedster has no ridge try sourcing a new rubber from the states which closely matches the original profile.

I also have included pics of my speedster before and after.

My personal opinion keep it flush to the body, and leave the ridge as is.

Interesting,

I have drawn as best I can, a side profile of the rubber I had, and re-used for mine after I cracked my screen.

I had to space up the two side bolts before it all seems to set 'flush" in the rubber and on the car. But it seems solid enough now.

Close enough

I'm also in UK but mine is  CMC .......It has flat scuttle and alum moulding.

I have seen some of Speedsterclinic cars up close in raw state and they use ridge on body, (as Chesil).

Send me email address if you want to discuss further or contact Gary direct at Speedsterclinic !

(I'm up North in Glasgow BTW)

Cheers

Gerry

Hi

Thanks Alan that is spot on and Manny for sharing your experiences,I am sure a lot of builders will benefit from your that.

Cheers

Perfect,

I'd guess it would also be possible to fit a piece of Aluminium around the front of the rubber which would also help secure the Window and rubber mounted on that ridge. I found the my center stay is pulling the frame down with enough tension to hold it all in place.

Cheers

Alan