145 windscreen replacement

[Burdekin]

Originally Posted by 142 Guy

Bonded versus gasket installation of the windshield seems to be a real mixed bag. My 1971 is bonded; but, others have reported 1971s with gasket mounted windshields. In my case I am talking about model year - not year of first registration so some of those 1971s might have been 1970 production that didn't get registered until 1971. The parts manual is not helpful in determining whether there was a chassis # associated with the change. It may have been a market thing because bonding the windshield in place increases the body shell strength and safety requirements may have dictated bonding for some markets.

The easiest 'tell' is examination. Look at the rear glass on a 142 or 144 (this obviously will not work on a 145). The rear glass is gasket mounted and the trim is embedded in the gasket. If your front glass mounting looks like the rear glass mounting on a 142 or 144, you have a gasket mount windshield and you will not have trim clips.

Does your trim have a seal that goes underneath? I think the 240s did and wondering if just the 240s or if mine is missing it.

[142 Guy]

I am assuming that you are referring to the front trim on my bonded windshield. There was no separate seal under or over the trim clips. However, my recollection was that the trim clips were embedded in the window bonding agent so they are sealed - sort of.

All of this is ancient history for me since I started collecting parts and taking my 142 apart in 2002 and didn't get it back together until 2013. Being unsure about the clip sealing bit, I dug out a photo I took in 2002. I took this photo because there were two spacers at the bottom of the windshield that I was unsure about. So happens the photo shows a couple of the trim clips along the bottom of the glass which appear to be pretty much embedded in goo. The spacers are not shown in the parts manual so I expect they are something that the factory used during assembly to keep the window in place. The bonding agents used in 1971 may have had a longer setting time so they may have needed the spacers to keep the glass from sliding down while the bond set up.

As an aside, I went back to the parts manual to see if there was any information I missed about the windshield installation. The parts manual (dated 1979) lists both the seal moulding (gasket) and the adhesive tape kit (bonded); but, provides no footnotes as to what applications received the bonded glass. More interesting, the only glass part numbers are for clear versus tinted. That makes me think that perhaps the glass for gasket mounting is identical to the bonded. The early cars probably do not have the holes for the trim clips so switching to a bonded windshield would be difficult; but, you might be able to switch back to gasket mounted if it becomes impossible to find trim clips.

[142 Guy]

I suppose it would be helpful if I actually attached the photo I was referring to.

[Burdekin]

Originally Posted by 142 Guy

I suppose it would be helpful if I actually attached the photo I was referring to.

Mine had them as well, thought someone fitted a couple of bits of old fan belt.:-)

[morwenna240]

Hallo. My glass is bonded onto a rubber strip/gasket, an, as 142 says the trim clips are embedded in goo. They have died the death. So, stick trim back on with decent goo?

[Burdekin]

Originally Posted by morwenna240

Hallo. My glass is bonded onto a rubber strip/gasket, an, as 142 says the trim clips are embedded in goo. They have died the death. So, stick trim back on with decent goo?

The clips are no longer available. There is a slot in the windscreen aperture that the clips clips into, make sure these are closed/sealed as may be a leak path. Amazon Cars have 3d printed clips so along with these and some PU adhesive it may do the trick. Are your top clips gone also? If you have some clips left that are okay spread them around and use some 3d ones and adhesive.

Or look at 240 trim and clips and see if they are a viable option. Not looked into it but I think they would work.

or https://www.240turbo.com/240windshield.html