Hey guys. Ive chopped the roof of my 72 bug, didnt think too far in advance and now i have to find somewhere to create/modify glass to suit the rear window.
Not too sure about other states, but in QLD the glass has to be approved automotive safety glass.
Just thought id put it out there and see if anyone knows of anywhere in QLD that is able to make a custom curved safety glass window?
Cheers.
silver ·
Make a template and cut it yourself out of your old window
it sounds scary but with a grinder and the right wheel its like cutting tiles
polish the edges with the grinder as well
what's the worst that can happen?
Silver
helbus ·
I had a friend get custom curved safety glass made for the rear of a car, and it cost $1200 for 1unit and $1500 for 2, so he went the 2 option to have a spare. He got it made in Thailand through a specialist that was getting reproduction rear screens for that model of car made already in standard form.
His other quotes ranged around the $3000 mark
Another option is perspex.
helbus ·
Actually thinking now how small a VW rear screen is, there is another option, and that is to find a front laminated screen of any modern car that has the same curve and have the screen cut out of that. I know of another car that had a chop top that had a front windscreen of a Bedford truck used to cut a rear screen from.
parra ·
gees, talk about fast response. to start with, i have been told by an engineer that i cant use perspex/laminate which is stupid because as far as im aware, it can be used in NSW but not here in QLD?!?!
helbus, the second post leaves me in exactly the same spot that im already in. I can get a laminated rear screen for around $120, but 'apparently' they cant cut it because its curved. so, looks like i will try silvers idea... sounds easy enough... besides if i stuff it, there is always the rubber to hide small mistakes.
cheers again guys
helbus ·
Wha? No perspex or laminate? Laminate is safety glass. Cutting lamiate glass can be done by some specialist windscreen fitters. We get windscreens at work fitted to cars like E-Type jags, and every single screen has to be cut and/ or ground to fit. This is standard, as they were not a mass production vehicle and the windscreen opnings all vary by up to 10mm, so they make the biggest screen opening scenario and cut down from there. Anyway, have another talk to the engineer and ask why 'safety' glass that is laminated, or perspex is definitely not allowed for a rear screen. It would be interesting to see his reasons. We have done quite a few perspex rear and side screens for Austin Healeys at work also, however they were done originally that way, so that may be another reason!
parra ·
awsome, thanks mate. Ill give him a call tomorrow. Curiosities sake, where are you? thanks again.
helbus ·
Actually thinking again now, I used laminated glass in the custom side window of a stretch limousine, and the engineer accepted that. He did check that it was indeed laminated though.
helbus ·
I'm in VIC. Don't hold that against me though, as I am just an earthling on this planet!
parra ·
woohoo! i found that if the material i want to use complies with any of the following standards, its all hunky doory!
· Australian Standard AS R1-1965 Safety Glass for Land Transport
· Australian Standard AS R1-1968 Safety Glass for Land Transport
· Australian Standard AS 2080-1977 Safety Glass for Vehicles
· British Standard BS 857:1967 Specification for Safety Glass for Land Transport
· British Standard BS 5282:1975 Road Vehicle Safety Glass
· British Standard BS AU178:1980 Road Vehicle Safety Glass
· Japanese Industrial Standard JIS R 3211-1979 Safety Glasses for Road Vehicles
· American National Standard ANSI Z26.1-1980 Safety Code for Safety Glazing Materials for Glazing Motor Vehicles Operating on Land Highway.
However, i cant seem to find a copy of these standards for free online... poor old google has let me down. Just wondering if anyone has a copy of Australian Standard 2080 lying around?!?
parra ·
hmm, seems that perspex (minimum 3mm) complies with the british standard...
Next question.
Anyone out there know where i can get some?! Preferrably in brisbane area.