TheSixAppealWheelGroup

Hello

My TACR2a windscreen surround has rust in it (top passenger side corner & along the top rail) and I want to investigate getting it repaired properly (in case it is too far gone to fill).

Does anyone have any experience of this repair? Or recommend anyone to do the works (I'm in Surrey)

I have looked at other RR Classics surrounds as it has been suggested to cut out an old screen surround and weld it in, but their top rails appear entirely different. Was the top screen rail a custom Carmichael fabrication?

Lastly, how easy is it to take off the fibreglass roof to enable repairs (if that is what has to be done)? I am guessing that it is effectively structural so would need to brace the door posts?

Any help/advice gratefully received.

John

Hi John D.

Firstly we can recommend Peter Brown of AGF 4x4 (01299 253995) who did the repair to the windscreen surround on the Falklands machine (Pictures in appropriate album), however Kidderminster is a fair trip from Surrey.

It is posssible to unbolt the top of the surround and raise the bodywork.  Alisdair Couper did this when he repainted NUF.  Incidentally he also found that the new windscreen rubber he purchased had less of a rebate in it than the original so was a pig to fit - hence having to unbolt the roof.

Whether it is worth sourcing a complete frame depends I suppose on the extent of the rot.  I'm sure Walt would be interested too as he has a touch of the same problem I believe.  As far as I am aware the surround is completely standard and was part of the chassis cabs as delivered to the bodybuilders.

John C.

Yes JC you are correct! Mine has that same problem. I showed John it when at brighton so we had a lot in common!!!!:)

Err, does that sound Bad????

It didn't 'till you mentioned it.  Must be the way your mind works Walt.

You ought to be ashamed of yourself Walt, that's a "rotten" double entendre.

John thanks for the advice and contact, what seems strange when I look at a Range Rover Classic is that the roof line effectively looks lower than on a TACR as if there is a smaller "rail" between the top of the windscreen and where the curved roof begins.

Someone has said that RR's roofs just bolt on and off themselves so it would seem needless and complicated that Carmichael farbicated a new part in this respect,  I need to double check and have a closer look at one perhaps the curvature of the standard RR roof, fits down and over what is "exposed" (now now Walt) on a TACR?

Interesting about the front window seal, Dunsfold LR suggested that no new seals are available and to be sure to keep the original (at all costs!!!). The easy solution could be a convertible TACR, which when driven requires Roy Chubby Brown style flying goggles

That piece on mine is deffo a standard range rover item.

Later ones are welded to the sideframes as part of the range rover being nudged up market (fewer rttles and squeeks).Earlier ones either bolt or screw to the side frames, I forget which.

You could, if you wish, upgrade to a heated screen - at the cost of originality and some messing around with wiring.

Thanks for the extra info.

Rather co-incidentally I have just picked up a windscreen surround from a scrapper that the owner kindly cut off for me (at scuttle) height. Rather unsurprisingly it has a bit of rust at the top where it was covered by the seal and glass, but is far, far better than mine.

Next step is to discuss it with a welder, it looks as if theoretically it will be easier to make good whilst it is off (maintaining the all important profile) and then potentially cut and weld the repair section in (easy huh! - we'll see!!!).

What is interesting is that yes hiding under the standard donors headling and roof was a similar panel to which my Carmichael roof is bolted to! - panic over (well until it's all fixed and the windscreen is back in)

Glad to be of assistance.

Hi all. By way of an update I have had my windscreen repaired. I found a welder who was not intimidated by the job in hand (he has built and raced stock cars since the beginning of time). The screen came out (sadly cracked first go, but I had a replacement at hand). In the end the donor was not needed and he was able to graft in all the necessary repairs, without the need to remove the roof (phew). As a back up I bought a repro windscreen seal from Rimmer Bros. We were dubious as to whether it would be any good (from previous comments) and as it was very twisted. After the sad loss of the original windscreen a professional was found for the re-fit. He was intending on using the old seal but in the end fitted the Rimmer Bros one. It went in fine and I must say looks a pretty good fit. I also took the opportunity to have anything that needed welding done (repairs to sills, drivers floor and a body mount). Now I just have to get it all back together and painted in time for its first outing at easter!

John

Good news John.