Second Time's a Charm: Windshield Success

Sean at work fitting the new gasket

Tabs be gone!

I took the Stag to Sean at Lomas Glass. When I showed up at noon, he and Sergio had just started the charcoal for lunch. Sean had me pull the car right in the shop, and I immediately got the feeling he knew way too much about my car. Turns out, he had done extensive research on Stags after I called for the appointment, and even found this blog in the process! He has a friend who owns a transmission shop and a Stag (yes, Bob, I'll be paying you a visit soon if I can't get my overdrive working). Wow! Sean and Sergio got the windshield off and then we looked at those tabs that had bothered me. Sean's professional opinion was that they were riveted in backwards, or added aftermarket. Notwhithstanding the comments from the Stag Forum, his opinion was that we should just remove them. So we did. I saved them just in case, but he thinks the likelihood of the windshield ever sagging down without them is miniscule. The new seal from Tony Hart is nice and tight, so I feel pretty confident things will be fine. They got the windshield in in five minutes...real pros! Then the fun began.

Trying to get the chrome on

Using the tool described in the ROM, or trying to

Patience

British Leyland's special tool

The chrome trim strip was a nightmare. Indeed, that's what Sean had researched so thoroughly. His friend with a Stag loaned him the ROM and he even made the special tool mentioned. After a couple of hours, though, the allure of using the special tool wore off. Sean had tried a "bone" as well, which is a thin hard plastic blade. After finally eating his bbq chicken and three coathanger prototypes, Sean finally designed the killer installation tool. If any of you are trying to do this, I highly recommend his solution pictured below. (That is, take it to Sean and let him figure it out).

Sean's special tool.

So, in another 30 minutes or so, we had it on. I was at the shop for three and a half hours, and Sean only wanted to charge me for one hour. I doubled that and still got away cheap. I can't say enough nice words about Sean and his business. Thanks, man!

WE GOT CHROME!!!

So now it's on to the wipers, whenever I get some more time.