Windshield question

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
Post Reply
knohbody

Windshield question

Post by knohbody »

Hey everyone,
Pcking up an 80 spider with a cracked windshield this weekend. Also paying rent, so I'm broke for a bit. Will a windshield off a 78 fit the 80?
Thanks,
James
User avatar
manoa matt
Posts: 3442
Joined: Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:28 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider 1800
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii

Re: Windshield question

Post by manoa matt »

It might, but it might also crack from stress. Old windshields are brittle and new ones are slightly flexible. If you are doing it yourself take the gasket out and clean all the dirt out of the crevices with an old tooth brush. Lube the gasket and the edges of the windshield with a rubber safe lubricant so the windshield can equalize in the frame. It will take two people for the install.

Check the interior condition of the frame while its out. Wire wheel and paint any rust as the frames rust from the inside out. By the time the rust makes it through to the outside of the frame where its noticed, its usually too late to save the frame.
knohbody

Re: Windshield question

Post by knohbody »

Matt, thanks for the advice. Think I'm just gonna go with a new one once I get a bit of money stashed away.
knohbody

Re: Windshield question

Post by knohbody »

One of the local members of this site came to pick a few parts off the 78 and ended up helping me transfer the windshield (frame and all) to the 80. It fit, no problems, and I'm stoked. Thanks to Manoa Matt for the advice and to Foster48x for the help installing.
spider2081
Patron 2024
Patron 2024
Posts: 3015
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:45 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Wallingford,CT

Re: Windshield question

Post by spider2081 »

Have you put the pot up?? I thought there was something different with the windshield frames after 1979.
knohbody

Re: Windshield question

Post by knohbody »

Apparently I was on crack when I wrote the last post. We swapped the frames and gaskets because the one from the 78 was rusted and the gasket was falling apart. I have had the top up, it fits, but it's a bit tighter than before. I have a bit of tweaking to do, I think.
Post Reply