Roadster Rear Window

fundytides

fundytides

Well-known member
What is the correct glass thickness for the rear window for my 31 Roadster? I assume it should be safety glass and hope to get it cut at a local glass shop.
 
JS page 10-1. Says: "When replacing rear curtain light, a glass thickness of approximately 3/32" will generally reduce fitting problems." It goes on to say that you should use laminated or safety glass with no logo present.
Is 3/32" thickness available in safety glass?
 
Brattons catalog page 173. part# 41660. for 30-31 roaster. "Glass is 1/8" thick and tempered. $30.00.

Hope you find something that works in your car.
 
The thicker it is, the harder it is to fit. The frame screws may be too short for thicker glass and if they are the 5-40 size screws then they can be a challenge to source in longer lengths
 
Is there a pattern available anywhere to cut the glass? Dealers seem to be out of stock of the glass.
 
Your local glass shop should be able to cut the glass based on your rear curtain light frame. You've got the frame , right? Like rotorwrench says, be sure your frame screws are long enough for whatever glass you use. Thinner is better.
 
Mike Peters said:
Your local glass shop should be able to cut the glass based on your rear curtain light frame. You've got the frame , right? Like rotorwrench says, be sure your frame screws are long enough for whatever glass you use. Thinner is better.
Click to expand...

Yes, I have the frame. Based on the comments here, I am a little concerned about having to use 1/8" glass and finding screws long enough to fit. I do have the original screws.
 
If you can source 3/32" glass, you may be able to get safety film applied to it. At work, we have safety film applied to windows in stairways for safety. Talk to a dealer in 3M safety film, it may be worth a shot.

Red
 
Ford put the early glass thicknesses in a service bulletin chart page 250 that has the sizes. They started pretty thin but there is also a misprint I believe on the Phaeton/Roadster back light. The Sport Coupe is listed a .080/.087" thick but the open car is listed at .080/.187". It should be the same as the Sport/Business Coupes since most of the rear window frames for cloth tops had the same channel width. This would be just over 5/64" thick/ The setting tape also has to be considered. The 1/32" tape is about as thin as it gets and that adds up to 1/16" added to the glass thickness. The thickness of the top material is a whole other issue but it is definitely related. The 3/32" thickness is .09375" so it may be as close as a person can get. Ford used regular glass for the open cars so they put rubber supports on the back of the Roadsters to hopefully protect the glass. The only ones with Triplex back glass were the Tudor, Coupe and Closed Cab Pickups. The glass on the different Fordors was up to the subcontractors that made the bodies so they aren't listed in the bulletin.
 
Confusing! The only Model A supplier indicating any availability for the window is Mike's Affordable and his supplier tells him the glass is 5/32"-3/16" which would be thicker than the original 1/8" or the JS recommended 3/32" or the service bulletin .080 - .087. I would really like to hear from anyone that has actually replaced their glass regarding what thickness they used and what problems they had, if any.
 
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