Series 2 windscreen

[vee12jag]

Hi everyone,
I am a 'newbie' to the club and may ask several questions of you all as the complete restoration of my 56 Series 2 progresses (or not as the case may be).
Yesterday I had the glass removed from the car to prepare for the repainting.
We noticed that the front windscreens are laminated whereas the rest of the glass is toughened.
Upon further inspection, I notice the front screens are not 'kite' marked unlike the rest of the glass. This would lead me to believe the winsdscreens may well have been replaced at some time.
The laminations in the screens are starting to go around the edges which might make refitting an even bigger concern than it normally is as my glass man reckons the glass will break more easily if the laminations are starting to fail. He suggested I source new glass (easier said than done).
My question (finally) is, does anyone know if the series 2 windscreens were originally laminated or toughened?? Depending on the answer it might make getting replacements made a little easier. If anyone has a good pair of original winscreen glasses they would be willing to sell please let me know.
Many thanks
Mark Harnden
56 Series 2

[kennatt]

originally toughened,don,t know of any new ones,and secondhand good ones are hard to find,thats probably why the previous owner has fitted laminated,which are safer by the way. Being flat they can be cut from laminated sheets by the window fitter,provided you have one to copy so don't throw them out and they will have no kite marks on because of this.There are different grades of glass as well so make sure you get the grade suitable for windcreens the others are for side and rear windows. the only problem is that the laminated is a different thickness(can't recall ,thinner of thicker? someone will know) so there are fitting problems. There will be anyway,do a search on fitting split screen glass, you are lucky if you have found a fitter who will take the job on ,not many will ,takes about 5 times longer than a modern,and probably will still leak.If the old rubber is in good condition re use it,the new ones are very a poor fit and cause megga problems.

Just read another post re heated screen and plastic orange appears to have found someone able to make up toughened screens,he no doubt will be along soon to explain.May be interested myself as my screens are a bit scratched.

[vee12jag]

Thanks for that. Now that I know they were toughened and not laminated, I guess I would like to know the original thickness if I have to have new ones made. Any ideas anyone?
Unfortunately the seals have been removed as they were quite bad. Have a new one which seems to be of good quality through ESM
Cheers

[customjob]

East Sussex Morris Minors (ESM) stock new laminated half screens. I believe they are around the £35 + vat mark.

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

I had a laminated screen break when we were refitting it to the traveller. I bought new ones from ESM, they are slighty thicker than original making fitting a bit more difficult but not impossible. The problem lies more with the rubber, it could really do with more of a lip on the outside to keep it in place. When it is refitted use plenty of windscreen sealer on all the edges.

[mike.perry]

4mm toughened, 6mm laminated. See post on dating glass

[bmcecosse]

I have seen a suggestion that any new screen should be made slightly smaller than original - to make fitting slightly easier. And yes - PO is the man to talk to about this. Hard to imagine how he got toughened screens - these can't be 'cut' from sheet - so would have to be specially made.

[kennatt]

I was also interested where he got them from ,suprised he hasn't been back,must be cut first and then put through the toughening process,Has to be very expensive.

[plastic_orange]

I got all my glass cut then toughened (and marked as toughened) by my mate in the know - he was a double glazing fitter and got them made by his supplier. They are 6mm toughened - tinted on sides and clear on front. I didn't want to risk laminated as I was sure they'd crack in the fitting process. If doing again, I'd get front glass made slightly smaller.
Contact morrisfixer on the other side

Pete

[kennatt]

Sorry totaly confused now,are they toughened or laminated made to look like toughened
Ah just got it yes I remember getting toughened glass made to shape for an internal door,to comply with safety regs,so there must be a way to cut toughened,perhaps the club should get some made up.

[plastic_orange]

Laminated glass cracks quite easily if twisted or knocked, hence I went for toughened. For the same reason, car door glass is toughened as laminated can crack when slamming doors.
Cost of getting glass made wasn't as expensive as you'd think - but only for flat glass. There are some specialists that will do curved, but this can get expensive.

Pete