411 Windscreen rubber

[Kevin H]

Do other 411 owner's rear windscreen seal/rubber have a join at the bottom centre of the screen? (it's probably very similar to the other V8 cars)

Are windscreen rubbers still available?

Last but not least, can anyone describe the process for removal and refitting of the screens?

[Rubbond]

Kevin,
Removable fixed window gaskets are extruded rubber compounds which are
either vulcanised in line (hot air tunnel with or without UHF heaters),
cut to length and then corner-moulded (injection moulded in a mould), or
pulled around a metal former (uncured) and cured in an autoclave. Bottom
centre these are butt-jointed. On the finished gasket, on one side two lips
fit snuggly over the bodywork and on the other snuggly over the glass. On a
modern car the windscreen is glued in to stiffen the body.
I have never done the job myself, but refitting is done by first fitting the
seal around the glass, and then the gasket fitted over part of the bodywork
and the rest by pulling a piece of cord around the window between the gasket
and the bodywork. This has to be done from inside and outside the vehicle,
so you need a second. person. Preferably from your local Carglass shop!
Removing will be the reverse, but I dont know how you would get the string
through safely without risking damage to the glass. Maybe they use a curved
sailmakers needle or maybe just a screwdriver.
I can imagine Bristol windscreens were taken from another vehicle? That
might help finding a new windscreen gasket.
Try to make sure they are made from EPDM rubber. These will last about 5
times as long as ones made from SBR. SBR smells like rubber, EPDM hardly at
all. The same applies to radiator hoses - aftermarket hoses are often still
made from SBR. If you can find a hose from a modern vehicle with the right
ID and roughly the right shape, it will last much longer than a cheap after
market copy of the original. VW has the toughest specifications on coolant
hoses in the auto industry.
With best regards,
Andrew Knox.

[Kevin H]

Thanks Andrew.
I knew there was a piece of cord/string involved somehow. However, it's probably not wise to "learn the ropes" on a windscreen which could be very hard to replace.

We've had some discussions about V8 Bristol windscreens before on the BEEF mail list, and probably before that on the the BOC forum, and unfortunately I can't recall anyone ever identifying the front or rear screens as coming from another vehicle.

The but joint at the bottom on my rear windscreen isn't very well butted together and I'm concerned it will let water in (not sure where it would go). I think this may receive a dollop of windscreen sealant for the time being!

Also, with the front screen, the metal surround which fits into the outside of the rubber moulding is springing out at the top joint - the centre joint piece was held in place with silicone rubber. Apparently there is a brass frame under there which goes all the way around the screen and it has been suggested that this has been bent when the screen was removed at some stage and it may be able to bent back into shape without removing the screen.

Can anyone shed any light on this. A cross sectional diagram would be really nice

[Rubbond]

Dear Kevin,
Not sure about the brass insert (I doubt it very much) but would be happy to
check this with a manufacturer. The first one that comes to mind is Schlegel
(which I think became Metzeler) in Coalville (Derbyshire?), who supplied
most UK manufacturers, including Land Rover.
Standard Products in Plympton may also still be making these parts, but I
think they are now called Cooper Standard.
Need to be quick before they all go bankrupt, as they are 100% automotive
parts suppliers. Sad times.
Will revert asap.
Andrew.

[Sam410]

Originally Posted by Kevin Howard

Are windscreen rubbers still available?

Bristol Cars in Chiswick had 410 screen rubbers earlier this year, and given the company's current work on 411 's6' cars I'd be surprised if there were no 411 rubbers.

[seanmcs]

From Sean mvSharry

If you have a good specialist windscreen guy in Melbourne, ask him
first. I found that the Company's 406 replacement screen rubbers
were as old as the car and they wanted GBP 220 for the front alone -
15 years ago. Ralph Moore Autoglass at Botany NSW found the
identical profile, which came from a common UK van, for nearly
nothing. Brand new Asian stock and still going strong on the car in
Victoria.

Sean

[Hugh]

On the subject of windscreens, does anyone know if Bristol Cars used a
windscreen for the 603 and onward from a donor car of the 70,s.
I will eventually need to replace the Britannia's screen.

Hugh

[seanmcs]

Sean McSharry

Hugh:

Would ask Ralph Moore, Mascot. He might have an idea.

Best. Sean

[Rubbond]

Silly question maybe, but doesn't the factory know what windscreens were
used, or have parts available?
Rgds,
Andrew.