Windshield sources

[Jack21]

Are these windshields crack prone?

Presently using OEM tinted windshield. It's made in England, brand is VELAS. AC Cars, Ltd is still making Cobras so there has to be glass, and replacement glass for them. Since installing it, two cracks have begun to form. Should I just plan on replacing these things every year or so?

There are American made versions of these things also. Are they any better? Who sells them?

[Bud Man]

Jack:

I own a Velas (UK) windshield also, but it is too new to exhibit any damage, so I can't comment on that. I can say that I am dispensing with installing the center bracket on my Kirkham on advice from the manufacturer who believes that these brackets could be causing cracking. We'll see.

I have compared a US made windshield with a UK made one, and have seen a few differences. The US windshield sported a much stouter (thicker) cowling strip than the UK unit, and the eight screws that attach the two side brackets to the screen itself are noticeably shorter and feature a coarse thread vs the UK item.

I have also heard that the overall fit and finish on the UK item is superior, but I did not find that to be true. Both I have examined showed excellent polishing and chroming. The durability of the chrome itself has been rumoured to be better on the US item, but can't really substantiate that.

FinishLine sells both.

Bud

[stuarth]

Hi,
I'm in the UK and hence have a UK spec windscreen (have to have a UK spec one as it has to be European type approved to pass SVA inspection). There are two companies here that most people use, Autobrass and Brasscraft, my screen is made by the one of these that also supplies AC Cars (but I can't remeber which it is!!), both however make excellent screens and I haven't heard any complaints about either. I can dig you out their details if it helps.
With regard to the screen cracking - I've heard that another cause of this is the pillars being mounted incorrectly such that they stress the screen when the bolts are tightened down, to stop this happening you need to pack them such that they don't.
Regards

Stuart