DuaneEstill
Banned User
It's a good idea for this community to have 'received views' about certain things, and I haven't seen this one discussed just endlessly, and I was wondering myself actually. IT's healthy to discuss these things as a point of reference for any future potential issues.
Two established members of the community were in a disagreement, one being a seller of NOS windshields and the other being a master mechanic and experienced with industry standards in windshields.
I've bought approximately five windshields between the spiders and X's I've owned and I always hated delamination for purely cosmetic reasons, and the dreaded "smokey glass" thing we've all seen.
The one position was that delamination, in any form, compromises the structural integrity of the windshield to a significant point. The other position was, "Hey...it's a 30 year old car too, and a little delamination isn't going to matter in the larger context." (forgive me if I haven't presented the views well enough here, and this is not to stir anything up)
I do recall discussion that the windshield on an X, but not a Spider, is a stressed member of the carriage, ergo, that's why they're so hard to get out. And remember too that the X has a uber-stout cage to begin with, so we're still pretty darn safe even compared to modern cars. Spider windshields almost fall out/off.
I'll go on record as having bought many with minor delamination and would do so again, but if new one's are available and reasonable I'll buy new. When I'm in an X and thinking of the potential problem areas that could become extenuating, delamination isn't near the top of the list, but it isn't at the bottom either.
To me, the critical question is "How much delamination is going to be structurally significant on an X in the event of an accident?" or "Are there peripheral issues related to delamination?" Like....the windshield falls out or something.
Interested to know what other's think.
Two established members of the community were in a disagreement, one being a seller of NOS windshields and the other being a master mechanic and experienced with industry standards in windshields.
I've bought approximately five windshields between the spiders and X's I've owned and I always hated delamination for purely cosmetic reasons, and the dreaded "smokey glass" thing we've all seen.
The one position was that delamination, in any form, compromises the structural integrity of the windshield to a significant point. The other position was, "Hey...it's a 30 year old car too, and a little delamination isn't going to matter in the larger context." (forgive me if I haven't presented the views well enough here, and this is not to stir anything up)
I do recall discussion that the windshield on an X, but not a Spider, is a stressed member of the carriage, ergo, that's why they're so hard to get out. And remember too that the X has a uber-stout cage to begin with, so we're still pretty darn safe even compared to modern cars. Spider windshields almost fall out/off.
I'll go on record as having bought many with minor delamination and would do so again, but if new one's are available and reasonable I'll buy new. When I'm in an X and thinking of the potential problem areas that could become extenuating, delamination isn't near the top of the list, but it isn't at the bottom either.
To me, the critical question is "How much delamination is going to be structurally significant on an X in the event of an accident?" or "Are there peripheral issues related to delamination?" Like....the windshield falls out or something.
Interested to know what other's think.