Notes on a roadster windshield

GB SISSON

GB SISSON

Well-known member
So... Most of you know me and this certainly ain't no roadster or RPU by any standards. It's a bunch of parts on a good running 4 wd chassis I had left over from a previous life. I don't think the Hamb would have me because I could never afford all prewar, and the FTE seems to specialize in stuff with a mustang or volare (gasp) front clip 2" off the pavement. Just that I raised the height of my windshield up and down by 2" and stuck where I am. . I have played with squared corners and radiused corners as well. I guess what I am saying is unlike some forums, 'barners have class and this is just a 'run around town, summer rig' for me and the grandkids. After many alterations I am ready to start welding after work tomorrow. I am hoping that my friends here will chime in with advice and I am really thinking of wind wings too. My wife is deaf in one ear from a tumor and I am close behind in both from work. Last summer was no windshield at all, just safety glasses and wind noise. My windshield has a ways to go and I would like to share, so come back and see how it turns out. The images shown have a band across the factory cowl with 3 uprights welded on rough and the rest is wood scraps and gorrila tape to mock up what I hope to build from steel. Thanks, GB
 

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Its looking real neat. I guess I would suggest drawing designs from the past. I like it so far.
 
GB SISSON said:
So... Most of you know me and this certainly ain't no roadster or RPU by any standards. It's a bunch of parts on a good running 4 wd chassis I had left over from a previous life. The images shown have a band across the factory cowl with 3 uprights welded on rough and the rest is wood scraps and gorrila tape to mock up what I hope to build from steel. Thanks, GB
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Gary, Looks like an "island rig" to me!! That shape looks about right. Have you looked at the open cab fire engines for the shape of their WS?
 
Windshield looks good, but wind wings will require a re-think on mirrors, and If the wife wears dresses, she'll appreciate wind deflectors from floorboard all the way up.



Here's another idea... How about a steel rail from a railroad for a front bumper?
 
I like the fire truck windshield as well. I'm going to look at google images on that. They aren't sporty roadsters or flat, plumb military windshields. They are open cab working trucks!
 
About 20 years ago, a friend and I co-owned a couple of fire engines, one a 1948 Seagrave (on the left). It's the only picture I have of it on this computer, but it was a great looking truck. The windshield was even more sharply raked than the one shown previously.
 

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tubman said:
About 20 years ago, a friend and I co-owned a couple of fire engines, one a 1948 Seagrave (on the left). It's the only picture I have of it on this computer, but it was a great looking truck. The windshield was even more sharply raked than the one shown previously.
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I agree, that's an incredibly handsome beast! (the truck) :)
Just spent ten minutes looking at open cab fire trucks. Mike hit the nail on the head by bringing up the open cab fire trucks. I might make the top corners a bit bigger radius. Currently it's a quart paint can for a template on the outside rad.
 
rich b said:
Square corners, for sure.
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I knew this would come up.... I started square but with the bulbous fenders on the jailbar the square seemed like from an earlier time. Like model A/32 stuff. I went with a smallish radius (the qt. paint can is 4 1/4" , so 2 1/8" R) and am now thinking maybe 2 1/2" outside R to pick up on the fenders. I plan on a gusset coming twds the driver in the Vee at bottom of windshield with some shape to it. Seems like the Duvall WS has outer posts that taper inwards ie, widest at the top. I have configured mine at plumb and about 15 degrees slant back. I love this stuff.... Being creative and standing back and looking at progress etc. But.... I have 3 grandkids on the island this week and 1 step grandkid staying with us all week and 3 days of a hell jobsite I finally finished today and tossed all my tools in my pickup, kicking up dust down the driveway. I might get some welding time tomorrow, but on the weekend my wife is taking her grandson home to the mainland so I am a welding bachelor for the best of 48 hours. Expect to see some progress.
 
I think I'll go with Rich B, square corners. Never was a fan of the "Duval" look, but thats just my opinion. Anything that "Might" have had a rag top on it would be square corners for ease of a seal, even the later "round bodied" Fords. The fire trucks, and Ice cream trucks were never meant to be enclosed like all the military trucks Mercman has shown us in his wonderful Aussie open cab thread. Old guys are supposed to limit the direct sunshine for health reasons, a top may be in your future, or you could at least make it a possibility if you ever get the hankerin. Easier to build too. Lookin too cool though !
 
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I like the square corners for the future top as cas3 suggests. Your doing a fine job son.......keep up the good work!!........Mark
 
OK, I'll tape up some 1/4" masonite into a square corner configuration and get some pics. Not a duvall fan either. Finding a boat windshield that fits could be very time consuming and I cant weld aluminum to alter the frame.
 
GB SISSON said:
OK, I'll tape up some 1/4" masonite into a square corner configuration and get some pics. Not a duvall fan either. Finding a boat windshield that fits could be very time consuming and I cant weld aluminum to alter the frame.
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Plus if you did find one that would work it would probably pricey.
 
OK, you guys win. I'm man enough to say I gave a soild look at the hard corners with welding them in. Pretty much the fire truck pics (and some friendly coersion) have convinced me to go this way. I played hookey from work today and got a head start on the weekend. My local lumber yard has 1/4" plexi in stock and that will do til I send a plywood template to the mainland for safety glass. I would love to come up with some safety glass here and try to cut it, but can't think of any vehicles around here. Part of me says to drop the top horizontal bars down a bit on the middle post to make the top line more flat or less of a Vee. Easy now, a beyotch later. But doubt there will be a top, or ????
 

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