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MG MGB Technical - windscreen frame screw removal

I need to replace the rubber in the windscreen frame of my '68 roadster. I have removed the 10 screws holding the top rail but am having trouble with the bottom 4. It seems that the screen fixing legs get in the way of anything except a long shafted screwdriver. I had to use an impact screwdriver on a couple of the top screws but this is impossible with the lower ones (yes I was careful). If I have to drill the heads off will I have to resort to helicoils? Being at the bottom of the screen, water has gotten around the screws so some corrosion may have occurred making the screws more difficult to remove. Any advise would be gratefully received.
Steve Church

If you can't get the bottom screws to budge, drilling them out, with left handed drill bits, is the safest way to go. Start with the smallest bit in the set and proceed to larger bits as you go along. When you approach the size of the offending screw, the left handed bit will usually cause the screw to collapse and spin right out leaving the threads unscathed. RAY
rjm RAY

Incidentally you only need to remove one of the uprights from the bottom rail, not both.

As well as cleaning and polishing the frame channels as best you can use plenty of suitable lubricant between rubber and frame, and frame and glass, it's a beggar to pull the frame back together again at the best of times.

Progressively drilling out as described is the best way to go, it allows you to 'correct' the hole centralising if needed.
Paul Hunt

Thanks for the info. I thought Ray's suggestion smacked a little of "left handed screwdriver" until I looked them up. Never heard of left handed drills!

Paul, I shall be taking the whole frame apart as I need to strip it and polish it. It is marked in several places so it needs rubbing back, polishing and clear coating. I can't afford £400 for a reconditioned frame.

I know it will be a pain to do but others have done it. I am proceeding in ignorance at the moment. I remember replacing the glass in the midget but that is flat.

The PO reshelled the car but drilled out both holes in the frame fixings to make it easier to fit the screen back on the car. He had to relieve some of the bodywork to get the nuts on. It looks like he used a sledge hammer for that!
Steve Church

"Left handed screwdriver" indeed! I'm insulted by that remark! Seriously, the first time that I came across them was some thirty years ago. I was working on a large truck that had a loose alternator moving about for a long amount of time and the pivot bolt finally snapped off in the cylinder head. Someone suggested that I try the local hardware store and see if they carried left handed drill bits. I, too, was a tad skeptical at the time, but sure enough, they had them in stock. After ten minutes, we had the offending remnants of the bolt removed and the new bolt installed. It made a believer out of me and I've been using them ever since with great results. RAY
rjm RAY

This thread was discussed between 09/02/2014 and 10/02/2014

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