The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

You can order direct from Pilkingtons, which may reduce both the wait time and carriage costs as I suspect if you order from 'another supplier' they will then order one from Pilkingtons for you.

https://www.pilkington.com/en-gb/uk/aut ... ke=triumph

sprint95m wrote: ↑Fri Nov 25, 2022 10:15 am

naskeet wrote: ↑Thu Nov 24, 2022 10:02 pm
I also remember that. The question is whether there is a similar windscreen guru in New Zealand.

Sorry, I cannot let that pass….

Are you seriously trying to suggest that New Zealanders are less or even non skilled?

It is a fact that people in remote locations are adept at finding solutions, they don’t have the luxury
of having everything at their fingertips
not that New Zealand is in any way remote.

Thanks
Ian

No Ian, this was not intended as a slight against New Zealand or New Zealanders!

Apart from a few unpopulated or sparsely populated islands, New Zealand isn't particularly close to anywhere! Even the islands of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga are about 1,000 km away. Its nearest neighbour of any significant population is Australia (about 1,700 km away from coast to coast), which only has a population of about 25,500,000. Even Canada, as vast as it is, has a population of only about 37,000,000. In contrast, the population of the United Kingdom is nearly 68,750,000, which is slightly more than the populations of Australia, Canada & New Zealand combined!

There are many nations where the natives are accustomed to improvising and adapting things, if exact replacements are not readily available or too costly. I have been privileged to learn of or see in person, a variety of such things during my travels off the tourist trails around the World.

Just because there is one individual in the World (in this case, in California, USA; as featured in the Wheeler Dealers episode that some of us recall), does not mean that there are others who offer the same service elsewhere; either in other parts of North America, Great Britain, Europe, Asia, Africa or Australia & New Zealand. If such a person exists in New Zealand and a suitable windscreen can be found there that is suitable for adaptation, then HURRAH to that!

If in the USA, a nation of more than 300,000,000 population, there were only one person who adapts windscreens from one vehicle type for another vehicle type, what is the probability of finding a similar individual in a nation of only circa 5,000,000 population, where there are fewer cars per person!?!

xvivalve wrote: ↑Fri Nov 25, 2022 11:19 pm You can order direct from Pilkingtons, which may reduce both the wait time and carriage costs as I suspect if you order from 'another supplier' they will then order one from Pilkingtons for you.

https://www.pilkington.com/en-gb/uk/aut ... ke=triumph

Non-heated, laminated front windscreens and electrically-heated, laminated front windscreens, can also be made to order by Tyneside Safety Glass, which was featured on two British television programmes; including Salvage Hunters: Classic Cars.

https://www.tynesidesafetyglass.com

https://www.tynesidesafetyglass.com/contact-us/

https://www.tynesidesafetyglass.com/#laminated-glass

https://www.tynesidesafetyglass.com/pro ... ted-glass/

https://www.tynesidesafetyglass.com/#heated-glass

https://www.tynesidesafetyglass.com/pro ... ndscreens/

If a replacement laminated windscreen were not readily obtainable at a reasonable price, I wonder whether a polycarbonate windscreen could be made, using the existing spare toughened windscreen as a former!?!

https://info.glass.com/polycarbonate-ra ... indshield/

https://www.weprofab.com/polycarbonate-windshield/

https://www.sheetplastics.co.uk/solid-p ... ate-sheets

An “emergency” or “temporary” windscreen is mentioned in the context of shattered windscreens, in the “AA Book of Driving”, published in 1980.

Marcus Jacobson (Consultant Editor), “AA Book of Driving”, Automobile Association, 1980, ISBN 0-86145-021-3, Chapter 4 – Emergencies, Mechanical Failures Section, Windscreen Shatters Sub-Section, Page 121

« Laminated windscreens present little problem as they remain transparent even after an impact by a stone causing nothing more than a star-shaped scar. Toughened glass screens usually incorporate a zone in front of the driver which gives fair visibility even when the rest of the screen cannot be seen through with clarity. »

« When he windscreen shatters do not punch a hole through it immediately. Check your mirrors, signal, move gently to the side of the road and stop when it is safe to do so. Remove as much as possible by pushing it out onto a sheet or newspaper on the bonnet. Do not push the glass into the car interior or allow it to block any heater vents. »

« A temporary windscreen will allow you to proceed safely, but if you do not have one you can still drive, although with great care and at low speed. In that eventuality, make sure that all glass fragments have been removed from the windscreen surround. »

Nigel, NZ regulations for windscreen glass are quite tight, I don't believe polycarbonate would be allowed for a road registered vehicle.

Bunji wrote: ↑Fri Dec 02, 2022 5:46 pm Nigel, NZ regulations for windscreen glass are quite tight, I don't believe polycarbonate would be allowed for a road registered vehicle.

You might well be correct, but there is no harm in making enquiries, given your present predicament!

An important aspect of problem solving, is the use of lateral thinking!

Bunji wrote: ↑Fri Dec 02, 2022 5:46 pm Nigel, NZ regulations for windscreen glass are quite tight, I don't believe polycarbonate would be allowed for a road registered vehicle.

Polycarbonate is very tough, BUT it is also soft and scratches very easily. You would not be able to use wipers for long, or indeed expect it to have a life more than a few weeks at the outside.

cliftyhanger wrote: ↑Fri Dec 02, 2022 8:20 pm

Bunji wrote: ↑Fri Dec 02, 2022 5:46 pm Nigel, NZ regulations for windscreen glass are quite tight, I don't believe polycarbonate would be allowed for a road registered vehicle.

Polycarbonate is very tough, BUT it is also soft and scratches very easily. You would not be able to use wipers for long, or indeed expect it to have a life more than a few weeks at the outside.

If that's true, it must be rather expensive regularly replacing polycarbonate front windscreens on saloon racing cars!?!

I vaguely recall that in Japan, glass windscreens are routinely replaced, in order to satisfy the Japanese equivalent of the MOT roadworthiness inspection, which I suspect is one reason why so many Japanese-specification cars (right-hand drive) are exported second-hand to Great Britain & British Commonwealth countries like Australia and New Zealand, plus various counties in Africa & Asia.

When Triplex 10-20 windscreens were introduced in the late-1970s or early-1980s, which I recall being factory-fitted to some BLMC cars (including the Dolomite I think), I vaguely recall them being described as a hybrid of toughened & laminated glass!?!

I suspect is one reason why so many Japanese-specification cars (right-hand drive) are exported second-hand to Great Britain & British Commonwealth countries like Australia and New Zealand, plus various counties in Africa & Asia.

No, the sole reason second hand cars are exported from Japan is before you buy a car in Japan you have to demonstrate that you own or rent sufficient land to park it off road. Space is a premium in all parts of Japan and most folk who own cars therefore buy the smallest they can; it is also why modern Japanese car design is often so 'slab' sided. Only the very wealthy can therefore justify buying larger cars and consequently there is a limited second hand home market for bigger cars.

naskeet wrote: ↑Tue Dec 27, 2022 4:10 pm

cliftyhanger wrote: ↑Fri Dec 02, 2022 8:20 pm

Bunji wrote: ↑Fri Dec 02, 2022 5:46 pm Nigel, NZ regulations for windscreen glass are quite tight, I don't believe polycarbonate would be allowed for a road registered vehicle.

Polycarbonate is very tough, BUT it is also soft and scratches very easily. You would not be able to use wipers for long, or indeed expect it to have a life more than a few weeks at the outside.

If that's true, it must be rather expensive regularly replacing polycarbonate front windscreens on saloon racing cars!?!

If you think a polycarb windscreen is expensive, wait until you see the cost of an engine, gearbox, tyres or indeed any of the other expenses involved in racing!

cliftyhanger wrote: ↑Fri Dec 02, 2022 8:20 pmPolycarbonate is very tough, BUT it is also soft and scratches very easily. You would not be able to use wipers for long, or indeed expect it to have a life more than a few weeks at the outside.

naskeet wrote: ↑Tue Dec 27, 2022 4:10 pm If that's true, it must be rather expensive regularly replacing polycarbonate front windscreens on saloon racing cars!?!

cliftyhanger wrote: ↑Wed Dec 28, 2022 11:05 am If you think a polycarb windscreen is expensive, wait until you see the cost of an engine, gearbox, tyres or indeed any of the other expenses involved in racing!

Only one of many reasons that I don't get involved with racing!

If I can't make a car last at least 100,000 miles without needing major work doing or more than three sets of tyres, there must be something significantly wrong with the car's fundamental design / build-quality or my driving technique!

xvivalve wrote: ↑Tue Dec 27, 2022 6:07 pm

I suspect is one reason why so many Japanese-specification cars (right-hand drive) are exported second-hand to Great Britain & British Commonwealth countries like Australia and New Zealand, plus various counties in Africa & Asia.

No, the sole reason second hand cars are exported from Japan is before you buy a car in Japan you have to demonstrate that you own or rent sufficient land to park it off road. Space is a premium in all parts of Japan and most folk who own cars therefore buy the smallest they can; it is also why modern Japanese car design is often so 'slab' sided. Only the very wealthy can therefore justify buying larger cars and consequently there is a limited second hand home market for bigger cars.

There are also the unbelievably draconian Japanese emission regs playing a part. I'm not sure of the exact terms, but there comes a point (10 or perhaps 7 years into the life of the car) when the car MUST pass an extremely tight emission test or be taken off the road. The test is so stringent that effectively only a new condition engine will pass, so the unlucky owner is faced with either a new, or at least, a fully rebuilt engine, plus new Cats etc, to keep driving the car. It's my belief that there is no MOT substitute BEFORE this 7 year (or whatever) point, so a large number of owners just run them for 5 years or so and get rid to the exporters before all value is lost. A neighbour of mine has just sold a "grey import" JDM Mitsubishi Pajero diesel, new in 1995, it was UK registered on 1/1/2000 so less than 5 years old when moved on!

Though I DO wonder how the flourishing tuner and classic scene in Japan copes with these regs. Or perhaps they just do what the French do and simply ignore what they don't like!

Steve

I suspect is one reason why so many Japanese-specification cars (right-hand drive) are exported second-hand to Great Britain & British Commonwealth countries like Australia and New Zealand, plus various counties in Africa & Asia.

xvivalve wrote: ↑Tue Dec 27, 2022 6:07 pmNo, the sole reason second hand cars are exported from Japan is before you buy a car in Japan you have to demonstrate that you own or rent sufficient land to park it off road. Space is a premium in all parts of Japan and most folk who own cars therefore buy the smallest they can; it is also why modern Japanese car design is often so 'slab' sided. Only the very wealthy can therefore justify buying larger cars and consequently there is a limited second hand home market for bigger cars.

That also makes sense as one of the likely reasons.

Many villages, towns and old parts of cities have very narrow roads, so the Japanese also endeavoured to design & make cars which could cope with these conditions.

In the not too distant future, space will also be a limiting factor in Great Britain for the parking and driving of private-transport vehicles, so similar legal restrictions might be introduced here in the future, with limits on the number of vehicles per household and where & when they may be driven! In my part of World (i.e. North Thames Corridor), the main roads become extremely congested during the peak commuter hours, which last for several hours during both the morning and evening (typically starts before 4:00 pm and ends after 8:00 pm).

Carledo wrote: ↑Wed Dec 28, 2022 4:01 pm There are also the unbelievably draconian Japanese emission regs playing a part. I'm not sure of the exact terms, but there comes a point (10 or perhaps 7 years into the life of the car) when the car MUST pass an extremely tight emission test or be taken off the road. The test is so stringent that effectively only a new condition engine will pass, so the unlucky owner is faced with either a new, or at least, a fully rebuilt engine, plus new Cats etc, to keep driving the car. It's my belief that there is no MOT substitute BEFORE this 7 year (or whatever) point, so a large number of owners just run them for 5 years or so and get rid to the exporters before all value is lost. A neighbour of mine has just sold a "grey import" JDM Mitsubishi Pajero diesel, new in 1995, it was UK registered on 1/1/2000 so less than 5 years old when moved on!

Though I DO wonder how the flourishing tuner and classic scene in Japan copes with these regs. Or perhaps they just do what the French do and simply ignore what they don't like!

Steve

The French have long been a strange bunch regarding laws & regulations! They scream "blue murder" if other nations do not comply with such things but seem to believe that they are in some way exempt or engage in riots "protesting" against changes in their situation (e.g. increase in retirement age from 62 and/or reduction in pensions).

When Japan changes over entirely to electric-powered vehicles, they might no longer have a problem with emissions regulations, but whether they will have enough nuclear-powered and other electricity generation facilities remains to be seen!?!

Bunji wrote: ↑Fri Nov 25, 2022 9:32 pm Thanks all for your comments. I've tried a couple of specialist windscreen places here in NZ regarding getting a screen made, but they both suggested bringing in from the UK. Just waiting on insurance approval to get the order underway.

Have you yet managed to source a replacement laminated windscreen from Great Britain or elsewhere, for which the motor-insurance company will pay, or have you resorted to fitting your spare toughened windscreen?

If I ever need to replace my Toledo's mid-1980s vintage Solaglas laminated windscreen (blue shade band at the top), I would probably choose to have an electrically-heated one for improved demisting & defrosting; especially the latter.