Griffith Windscreen - to remove or not

[Plan B]

Hi chaps. Haven't posted on here for a while - just waking up after winter and at last my Griff is going in for a respray. The paint shop in the Wavenden/Woburn area (TVR experienced) is recommending that the windscreen is removed for painting. I was under the impression that the screen could stay in as there is a clear rubber demarcation between the screen surround and the body of the car. Frankly I don't mind whether it comes out or stays in other than if the glass breaks on removal then finding replacements are a bit difficult I hear. Advice/opinions please!!
Also what is the current windscreen availability - the glass on mine is just starting to delaminate in one corner (why is it only TVRs that suffer from this!) I read an old thread talking about sourcing better fitting screens from Norway. Did this ever happen/and is there any remaining stock/and who do I contact?
Ta very much!

[V8 GRF]

It's highly likely if there are any issues that the screen may get broken especially as its de-laminating.

It's to their credit they want to remove the screen to do a proper job and I'd think your insurance will cover it's replacement if they break it.

New screens are available from TVR Car Parts I believe but I understand the problem is they won't ship them (not sure why not as Multipart had special boxes with a deposit on them) and they have to be collected.

[Plan B]

Thanks for the info - are these multipart screens a good fit - as I've read past threads about bad shape and height of replacements.
Also if the screen was left in is there anything lost? The rubber strip at the bottom of the screen seems to effectively isolate it from the painted area or have I got something wrong there?

[Aussie John]

I think I just put a bit of cord under the rubber [ near the scuttle]and masked the rubber, this worked for me.

[PeteGriff]

Hi Jim, my windscreen was removed (and replaced) when I had the full interior retrim, but not for the respray! My sprayer placed 4mm did cable under each section of rubber interfacing with the wings (only places) and when sprayed he was able to very neatly and perfectly paint just under the rubber. When the whole car was finished and the spacer cable taken out you could not tell at all that the screen had been left in place! (Did you see my PH posting in 2013 re respray). The reason my screen was removed for the retrim was that you cannot do the screen pillars and right down at the front of the bulkhead area without removing. I had a new screen fitted under the insurance but it did cost the relevant excess. Regards, Pete

[rev-erend]

If you do decide to go for the screen out option, be very careful who refits it. I had a new screen fitted by autoglass .. 4 times for the same job and it still was not right.

[V8 GRF]

You need to be careful using cable to cut the sealant as it is very likely to cut the trim as it's tucked behind the screen and subsequently the sealant. OK if that's what's being done but its not here so probably not a good idea, that's often a reason that folk complain about the windscreen chain.

[Plan B]

Thanks for the advice guys - I will prob take the risk and have the screen out option. If it breaks … well it's starting to delaminate anyway so that will mitigate the expense (ouch!). I'll also have a word with the paint shop re trim damage. Thanks again all…….

[Sardonicus]

PeteGriff said:

Hi Jim, my windscreen was removed (and replaced) when I had the full interior retrim, but not for the respray! My sprayer placed 4mm did cable under each section of rubber interfacing with the wings (only places) and when sprayed he was able to very neatly and perfectly paint just under the rubber. When the whole car was finished and the spacer cable taken out you could not tell at all that the screen had been left in place! (Did you see my PH posting in 2013 re respray). The reason my screen was removed for the retrim was that you cannot do the screen pillars and right down at the front of the bulkhead area without removing. I had a new screen fitted under the insurance but it did cost the relevant excess. Regards, Pete

Thats the proper way to paint a car IMO and so seldom carried out masked windscreen rubbers are a pet hate of mine people pay st loads of money having these cars painted only for the body shop to mask the rubbers and velcro for the roof long term it looks even worse when the lacquer starts peeling from the edges