So
I'm doing a bit of work on my 1992 facelift coupe.
One job that needs investigating is the dreaded windscreen scuttle rot.
I have always noticed a gap between the windscreen seal and the stainless steel trim at both bottom corners and can hear a whistling from the corners inside while driving. See below, it just didn't seem right and not like others I've seen;



I've always suspected that it has an incorrect screen fitted.
Anyway got round to investigating in the last few days and took off the stainless steel trim around the windscreen and the screen edge rubber.
What I found was quite a shock. The screen (which on the facelift is bonded, and therefore a structural part of the car) was not attached and had lifted off the mastic at the two bottom corners and across the bottom of the screen, see below; No wonder I could hear a whistling sound!

Looking from the inside out bottom right hand corner, there's a big gap!

Same corner with the mastic retention rubber removed

So, is this an example of just extremely bad fitting or a badly fitted incorrect/chinese copy windscreen?

Below is a photo of the code on the screen but I haven't been able to establish if this tells me whether this is the right or wrong screen for my 1992 facelift coupe;



Anybody got a similar or different code on their 1992 coupe?

Obviously the screen has to come out.
I have still to investigate the state of the scuttle. It looks like a PO has been in there before and completed a botched filler repair.
The joys!

 

Chris,

That screen was made in 1993. So if your car is a 92-manufactured car then it's been changed at some point. As it seems an original screen, it could have been fitted badly or perhaps someone has fitted a convertible screen to your car?

I'm really surprised that you haven't got significant rot in the frame and scuttle. I think you've just caught it in time!

Good luck

Paul

 

Hi Paul

Out of interest, how do you know the screen was made in 1993?
Also do you know how to distinguish between a coupe and convertible screen?

 

Chris,

Apparently a convertible screen is thinner. I don't know why. Either weight-saving or perhaps it's something to do with the structural element and the screen frame not being stiffened with the attachment of the coupe roof, and this needing a lighter screen?

As regards the date ( and just to be annoying!) look at the photo of the markings and see if you can work it out!

Cheers

Paul

 

Paul

I'm afraid you've got me..
Looking on line;
the 43R indicates that the glass complies with European safety standard rule 43,
the DOT is the registration number of the glass manufacturer and
the M848 is the model number for the glass?
But the year it was made? Don't know!

 

Chris,

Look at the word "Laminated".....

Paul

 

Paul

So there's a couple of dots?
One under the third letter of laminated.... but that's a bit convoluted..
I cant see it
Put me out of my misery

 

Chris,

Yes, that's it! Pilkington glass (and Triplex brand) put a dot under the word Laminated or Toughened to identify year of manufacture. Have a look at the rest of the glass on your car.

Cheers

Paul

 

Ok
That's interesting, Thanks!

 

So checked the other glass on the car, side windows dated 1992 and rear window 1991 so the windscreen has been changed
Going to need to cut the screen out so that I can investigate the scuttle rot situation better..

 

I had a windscreen installed in my 1992 coupé this summer. The car was built 6/91 and is VIN xxxx180034. I believe it will be the same spec as your car concerning the windscreen, and I say that because the rubber seal that I purchased for this installation (BEC9535) fits facelift cars up to sometime in early 1993, with VIN 186966 being the cutoff. Anyway, here's a photo of the info on my new windscreen. I'm sorry I cannot answer your question and hope that you find this information useful.

When sourcing this glass I found Randy at Pilkington Classics in the USA to be very helpful. 1-800-848-1351.

May I suggest you source the rubber seal and inner mastic part before you cut them. I had a devil of a time finding a seal, and could not locate the mastic and so had to reuse the original.

 

Thanks very much for that.
I actually sent a snapshot of the screen codes to Pilkington Classics yesterday to see if they can confirm whether the screen I have is the right one or not
I have removed the screen rubber and mastic dam and both are in good condition so will be re-using these. I had a look for these parts some time ago and they seem to be no longer available.

 

Excellent. I tried suppliers in Canada, all over USA and the UK and was told there are none left...eventually a NOS BEC9535 popped up on ebay. Good luck with the rest of the job.

 

For what it's worth, here's mine, from a 1992 coupe. Slightly different DOT code. Japan market code?

 

Thanks for that

I noticed that you and Greg have the same DOT number, DOT 17 which is different from mine.
The DOT number I found on the net is the manufacturer code.
So I found a register of DOT numbers on the web and....

DOT 17 is listed as TRIPLEX SAFETY GLASS COMPANY LIMITED BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, which is Pilkington Glass

However my glass, DOT 625 is listed as WUHAN YAOHUA PILKINGTON SAFETY GLASS CO.WUHAN, HUBEI, P.R. CHINA

So looks like I have a Chinese copy windscreen. And it looks like it definitely doesn't fit properly, so beware of imitations if you have to replace your windscreen!

Looks like a new one for me when it goes back together.

 

Also

Just checked the rest of the glass on my car and its all DOT17, which is Triplex/Pilkington

 

Chris,

It may not fit correctly or else not be the correct glass, but, on the face of it, there does seem to be some validity in the company. Still not quite sure how or when it was fitted. Do you not have any history on the car that may explain it?

Below found on the 'net, dated 2004.


Cheers

Paul

 

Interesting. You know, I was wondering about the bad kerning in "laminated" on your windscreen, and it's precisely the sort of thing I would expect on a Chinese copy. It's almost "la minated"....

 

Paul

The plot thickens! Yes it does look like this is a genuine Pilkington Company....never judge a book by its cover, eh?
I have an email into Pilkington Classics in the UK asking whether they can tell whether this is right glass for my VIN.

I have been working on the car today, carefully cutting the bond around the top and sides to remove the screen and after removing the mastic retention dam on the inside and have found that the screen has been very poorly fitted. The depth of adhesive around the screen is not at all even. Much thicker at the bottom than the top, which means that the bottom of the screen is effectively sticking out far too far. What a mess.

 

Can anyone assist me in figuring out this thing. Mine is also a 92my early facelift and after full body restoration we're struggling with fitting the windscreen. I do have bec9535 seal, for mastic dam using a rubber/butyl tape as the originals are unobtainium but no way in hell can I get the seal to grab both the windscreen as well as chrome bits. My car didn't have the original seal so we couldn't see how it's all supposed to fit together, it had some generic wv-type rubber fitted. Can anyone maybe draw a cross sectional diagram of how everything is supposed to fit together? Thanks!