Windshields
 

I'm having some issues tracking down a windshield.

I'd run across what seemed to be a good deal on new front glass but they're now saying the part they have will not fit a S5 coupe. Supposedly it WILL fit a 86-88 coupe and all verts but NOT the S5 coupes.

I'm flummoxed as I thought they were all the same and I'm wondering if the part# disparity is over tint color or something trivial, not a real shape difference.

Anyone know?

I recently was wondering the same thing and came across an old thread below:
https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generati...d-swap-312351/

I feel the information is correct, considering the source of the content from said thread.

Bless your heart, thanks.
That info was good enough to get the glass people to at least try.
The unit they have is a TFW522 and per their info it only fits 86-88 coupes and all verts.

We shall see tomorrow.

None in the junkyard, huh? :)

My yard hasn't had a FC in a long time...probably why I graft shit from so many other cars on mine.
Besides, my glass isn't chipped or cracked, it's sandblasted and any used glass is likely to be just as bad.
I figure a windshield lasts about 3-5 years here in Denver...after that it starts to get hazy.

True the S4 windshield will fit in a S5. Yes there maybe the differences with the tint at the top and if it has an antenna in the glass. But the real issue is that the S5 coupe needs the shaded side edges along the A-pillar so as to hide the automatic belt mechanism from view - that is unless you have a true Canadian S5 coupe or a S5 convertible - in which case that is not an issue.

https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generati.../#post11496290

Aha, I bet that's it.

I didn't make sense that Mazda would change a large, expensive component for no appearance payback and having converted to manual belts long ago, I'd forgotten about that rather significant model difference.

I doubt it will be much of an issue (Sprocket is hardly a paragon of cosmetic virtue) and even if it requires some faffing, is hardly a deal breaker given the apparent scarcity of product. This glass company said there were NO S5 windshields anywhere although I now realize there may be lots of pieces around that NAGS says won't fit, even though they really do.

I just got mine replaced last year (Canadian) and the guy said that the only differences were tint and antenna.
Mind you the cost difference too was idiotic so I went with NO antenna as it doesn't freakin work anyways..
I got a full replacement with warranty for 350 Canadian.

Is it because they are rare?or because of the warranty that it cost you 350

I replaced windshield on few cars , and without warranty it was about 150~225 max, depending if they can save the moulding (usually not)

Maybe it's just me but, I think, the sand blast happens faster on the replacements. It just seems to me that with all the cars I've owned, the original always lasted the longest.

look it up and try to get a decent price..
268..I think was the price..then tax(13% in Ontario)..then install,..
I got the top moulding from Mazda.
Try getting NEW sides for less than 100..you'd be GOD if you did.

I got new sides for $100 EACH and thought I was getting a deal! :)

That's about $24.65 USD...

Had my roommate change his in Canada as well...nothing special but was almost $400 (paid cash)
Called up Anytime Auto Glass (local company)

When you look at it that way I got a farkin' Bargain..lol!

lol

had one done in like 2005 for 135 bucks. no ant. now thats what i call inflation

OK, I can confirm that the TFW522 glass fits the S5, despite what NAGS says.
Deacon wins today's cookie, the difference was indeed the width of the black beauty strip on the sides.
The strip was about 1/2" narrower on this 522 than the original.
As all the trim is still off the car I can't say yet what might/will show because of this.

I'm leaving off all the trim bits for two reasons.
- After waiting 24 hours for full sealant cure, I want to hose down the glass and check for leaks- obviously easier with a bare surround.
We're on a warming trend and I'll be able to wash the car in a day or two...she could really use it.

- I removed all the trim prior to the installers arrival and realized now was the time to fix all the petty cosmetic issues. Stuff like a respray of the wiper arms and lower garnish, finally doing something about the janky side trim pieces and fixing a broken tab on the D/S a-pillar.
Gotta put on new wiper blades too, I suppose.

A couple days on something besides the intake/emissions will be welcome, to be frank.

I did spend some time looking for port actuating ideas- the internet is a wonderful place but you really have to know what to ask for. Eventually I found this, which looks suitable but I can't find any usable specs...like "what are the dimensions?", etc.
At $4 it's almost worth the gamble, but the turnaround is very slow. I'm Merkin and ain't waiting 15-30 days for nothin.
It occurs to me that RC planes, drones and the like must use small actuators...maybe I should meander over that way...

I was under the impression that the side trim could only be removed/replaced with the glass out? I thought I read that recently on here.

The side trim screws (4 panheads per side) to the a-pillar and lays on top of the glass, it can come off/go on anytime.

so a profressional glass installer came and you're still going to check for leaks? seems like a waste of time? i've only had 2 done ever.. but the installer(dave see him weekly doing cars on the lot) had a lithium powered sealant dispenser, so i wasn't even going to stand over his shoulder and watch, he's a profession he owned that shit, and i have no doubt i dont need to waste my time checking his work.. do you always feel the need to check over or is there a problem with scammy people in co? not trying to be critical of you... just seems odd to me

Credit should go to j9fd3s - I was only quoting him in my post.

Not that I don't have confidence in Mike (the installer) but Jeez Louise, why wouldn't I spend a few minutes now when it's easy and confirm all is well?

+1 here, better to make absolutely certain while accessible than to find out when all the new gauges decide to let out the magic smoke. A lesson from Aaron Cake is to always put your faith in the omnipotent god, Murphy.

This appears to be the same device and has dimensions in one of the pictures. Although it also appears you'll need a stepper driver to actuate it and it will likely actuate very slowly.

Since you're looking at stepper driven linear actuators you may want to look into RC servos or standardized stepper motors.

Back in my days of car manufacturing, we tested ~15% of the cars for water leaks. FunFact: The sealant actually cures with water!

Take a closer look at the operating temperature range of the the actuators. 50 degrees C won't survive while bolted to a rotary. The cheap stuff is made with low melting temp plastic gears and electronics. For $4, you may get a proof of concept, but I doubt it's going to be a long-term solution. I'd suggest keeping some kind of linkage and moving the actuator away from the manifolds. Are you hell-bent on making this a stepper system or will on-off suffice?

Glass and the urethane is a difficult operation. At the factory, we had very expensive robots and equipment to apply urethane and position the glass. Each one installed by a highly experienced UAW technician every 27 seconds. We still checked their work and they still screwed up. My point, I think, is that mistakes happen and it's easy to miss them if you don't look for them.

Since you took it off-topic I don't feel bad adding this... :egrin: Check out Element14. They support the "maker" community and have lots of stuff for building robots and what-not. Even if they don't have the actuator you need (but I bet they do) you'll find it a hacker wonderland.

Jim

Friend of the family used to do glass, old timer worked out of his house with a pretty big shop he was able to build before they broke your balls as much as they do now

Anyhow--- i had him put a new windshield in my vert back in like 1997 due to sandblast. 2 days after he installed it i was caught in the rain ( car was my daily ) and that water came pouring onto my left foot.
Went back to him and he said it wasn't related to the new windshield install lol
I was so mad and didnt want him touching it again i had another shop pull it out and install it in another vert i was selling. i didnt even want to look at it anymore lol
So yeah i dont blame the guy for not fully trusting the installer

The side trim comes off? Mine has some chips i really wanted to restore it whenever i put my eyes on it the trim doesnt seem to jump right off there?

Yup, it does come off.
You'll want to remove the screw from each end of the wiper cavity garnish. The side trim goes under this trim panel, removing a screw gives you the flex to weasel it out. There is supposed to be a plastic pushpin that holds the very bottom of the side trim to a bracket...mine are gone and I see no reason for them anyway.
With the door open lift the flap of the bodyseal, exposing the four screws that hold the side trim.

The side trim piece is formed metal that had a rubber shape molded over it. It's the rubber edges/lips on the glass side that matter and are usually what get so raggedy. I trimmed the edges of the front face and peeled the rubber off, exposing the bare metal but leaving the lower lip as intact as possible (this is the edge that actually touches the glass).

It's awkward to describe but fairly obvious when in hand.

I sanded the bare metal and sprayed the whole thing with satin black.
The rubber that remained was as rock hard as what I'd removed, but I needed it and the paint didn't seem to mind.

So I've got the wiper arms and glass side trim all painted and ready, the garnish looks OK and I don't feel like painting something that big in this weather anyway.

I washed the car, being especially aggressive around the windshield and am happy to say there were no leaks, so assembly can commence.
Tomorrow Sig and I work on the Z, so it'll be Friday before I get to it, probably.

so you have to remove the pillar panel to see the rest of the fasteners ?

No,it's all external.
I'll get some pictures tomorrow.

Seems like you would have re-purposed a Miata windshield to fit.

Oddly, that never occurred to me.
Lazy, I am.

Photobucket was "down for maintenance" most of the day (heh, like I believe that) but here are the side trim pics.
First, looking down the a-pillar, door open:
Attachment 616069

Lift door seal flap to expose trim screws:
Attachment 616070

I'm having a real hard time finding a windshield....anyone know where to get one? (i dont want a junkyard piece)

Ppg.. Pilkington..safelite..

Where have you tried so far? I've checked prices online from a few places and they at least give me a price. Are they all out of stock?

Correct. I have called or emailed 6 places, including safelite. Most call me back after a couple days and say they cant get them at all. I'm told they are no longer made. Safelite has been on the hunt for two weeks now. They say that there are 5 left in the country, but have yet to put thier hands on one.....

All 4 mazda part numbers that would fit the frame are NLA from Mazda.

Well, that's going to be a problem come time for my windshield replacement. Mine currently has a huge non-repairable crack, but I'm still doing body work, so I hadn't worried about it.

1986-1988 Mazda RX7 Windshield, OEM, Made in USA, Brand New | eBay

Not an ideal price, but it seems they could be floating around out there.