alex
Junior Member
Posts: 62
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Post by alex on Feb 8, 2011 9:23:05 GMT -5
OK, there are a bunch of smart guys here, lets solve this problem of GT2 windshield availability. Member Skip20 has taken a run at it, from what I read here. What can we do to either help him finish or embark on a similar effort where we can use some common donor windshield? As humans we have built pyramids, empire state building, sent men to the moon....surely we can do a Bradly windshield replacement. What to do first? Somehow compare a real stock one to others? Get measurements someway?
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Post by Dan MacMillan on Feb 8, 2011 13:18:32 GMT -5
As for building pyramids and putting a man on the moon, that is still up in the air. They trained for the moon in my hometown as it closely resembled the moons surface, and we still cannot build a pyramid. But since we did build the Empire State Building and many other feats. I think we can succeed. Maybe there is a current windshield that is big enough and the right curve to cut one out of.
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Post by spyderdriver on Feb 9, 2011 0:46:21 GMT -5
see if you can get enough people together and have some one make a few plait loads.
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Post by bobevans on Feb 9, 2011 10:55:09 GMT -5
I gave a cracked GT2 windshield to a guy in Texas that wanted to take it to a friend that makes aircraft windshields and windows...He was going to get him to pull a mold from that windshield and make 20 or so out of aircraft materials..Whether or not this can be done and the windshield be legally acceptable to various State's DMVs, I cannot say...But, at least there is a possible solution... ;D  bobevans |
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Post by killnjuggalo on Feb 9, 2011 11:08:28 GMT -5
I gave a cracked GT2 windshield to a guy in Texas that wanted to take it to a friend that makes aircraft windshields and windows...He was going to get him to pull a mold from that windshield and make 20 or so out of aircraft materials..Whether or not this can be done and the windshield be legally acceptable to various State's DMVs, I cannot say...But, at least there is a possible solution... ;D bobevans what the dmv dont know wont hurt them... lol sounds like a solid idea to me |
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Post by skip20 on Feb 9, 2011 15:02:24 GMT -5
Sorry guys, been busy building Honda GoldWing GL1500 Trikes Body's.
Need to get back to work on on the Bradley.
I still have the list of e-mails asking about the Windshield frame using the 280ZX glass.
I don't know if I should offer it or not, due to the amount of work & fiberglassing it would take to install it.
Some one could screw up on the cutting mods then blame me.
This would be doable, but not easy!
Bad new on the aircraft plastic, auto windsheilds MUST BE ASA-1 Lam. GLASS.
Maybe I could get my friend to start the body work on the frame, then make the mold for it.
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Post by bobevans on Feb 9, 2011 15:45:43 GMT -5
I don't know which would be worse...Wrong material or no windshield at all.....Just thinking aloud....  |
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Post by Dan MacMillan on Feb 9, 2011 18:45:59 GMT -5
Skip, is the 280zx glass bigger than Bradley? Could it be cut down and installed with urethane instead of redesigning the frame?
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Post by mwilson on Feb 10, 2011 0:26:58 GMT -5
Just curious how many people need a windshield? Seems to me if we had enough folks that were committed to buying a windshield it might cause a manufacturer to listen. Can we do a poll? I will need one in the near future, the Bradley GT II I bought has two cracks in the corner.
Matt
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Post by brianboggs on Feb 10, 2011 5:58:09 GMT -5
This was tried once before. I think it ended up going to cost close to $500? each with a minimum order of 20? That was as far as it got. Its hard to put a $500 windshield in a car that you only paid $500 for the whole car.
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Post by skip20 on Feb 10, 2011 7:46:46 GMT -5
It's close, but if recall it's a little taller. The top corners are smaller & I think the curve at the bottom is different also ( a little less if my mind is still intact after 2 years. Find a good glass man to cut it down may cost about $100 + new glass. To bad if they break it!  They don't really like cutting old glass. The shape is real close. I made a fiberglass windshield from a Bradley II & walked around about 4 junk yards checking. There are other cars I didn't check due to them not being in the yards at the time. My plan is to installed with urethane with rubber trim. That's why I've had to do so much work around the frame so it will fit without the old chrome trim. Problem is, I don't have another Bradley II to test the install, take picture & come up with a manual for it. Here's a picture showing the WS sitting on the stock Bradley II   |
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alex
Junior Member
Posts: 62
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Post by alex on Feb 10, 2011 10:35:44 GMT -5
I dont think $500 for a new windshield, total cost, is all that unreasonable for a specialty car. I just paid $211 for a new windshield for the wife's jeep....so about twice that..OK. The key words are "total cost", to have to pay another $200 for shipping ,well, I dunno I can justify the cost.
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Post by jspbtown on Feb 10, 2011 12:16:08 GMT -5
Better than the $3500+ for a Lamborghini Muira that my Aztec 7 requires. Even the little Dauphine windshield my Deserter requires costs $500+
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Post by bobevans on Feb 10, 2011 17:05:17 GMT -5
 That being the case, I have one new old stock windshield that I was trying to sell with my very last GT2 project car...I would take the $500 or higher bid.. you all are talking about, because I was only asking $600 for the project..body only including the windshield...I am going on a trip to Florida in March and could deliver the windshield, at least part way to some buyer if you are on the way...  The buyer for the project has never committed to come get it, so it is back on the market....  Bob Evans
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Post by Wyn on Feb 10, 2011 19:29:21 GMT -5
Each one of us does not have the same skill set of working ability with fiberglass and modifying the GT II to install a shell and a cut windshield to fit. I think about 1/4th of the GT II owners would be able to install a windshield mod-kit. And getting outside help maybe more difficult for other to do. So it looks like many of the GT II owners would not be able to complete the installation of the windshield kit. I am not putting Skip down as he has a fantastic ability to work and create working designs, but to get them into untrained hands would be a big problem. I think the only applicable answer is to somehow to get new Bradley windshields made. Three years ago I tried to get something going to get the windshields made. As the new company is only 100 miles from Newark, Ohio, where I live. Maybe help deliver some through several states. But with some new health problems that is out of the questions. Maybe someone else would like to try it. Ok here is the information. OK, Here is the story on Bradley GT 2 Windshields. From 3 years ago. First the Big Bad News “Viracon” sold off ALL their window & windshield Operations. The fellow did give me a Name and Phone number that may have some windshield. So I called it, They said ALL Bradley GT2 windshield and glass was sold off. I was given the name of who bought it all. “Bob Evans” Fancy That! Back to Viracon, Viracon sold their Glass operation to PPG Industries and Guardian. PPG Industries took all the high end large production and Guardian got the left-overs. This person did give me the number to Guardian and a contact name. Name: Guardian Glass Street: 2040 Production Drive Findlay, Oh 45840-5449 Phone: (419) 420-9736 Kevin McMillin 419-209-6332 goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/product-compint-0000045975-page.html I called the Guardian number and acutely talked to the contact person, He found that they had the info on the Bradley GT2 windshields but did not know if they had the tooling. He said he would research to see of they had the tooling and if so have sales call back with more information. I had asked him how the windshields would be shipped. He said they can be bulk shipped or individually shipped, but again it all depends on where they are to be shipped. I asked to make sure, if I supplied them with a list of individuals to be individually shipped, and he said yes, but again cost depends on location to be shipped to. I had received a call back from a gentleman from Guardian and we had a very informative discussion on the production of the GT II windshield. Like most companies today to keep up with the demands for production, they have gone to full robot operations. This requires for the production to be setup similar to what Gary Hammond did for Rob Stone’s tilt hinge only in a much larger operation. First, Guardian does have the tooling for the GT II windshield, but the question comes to legal issues “Who owns the right to the tooling” and there for it products. I had check on The Bradley trademark to see if it was open, and maybe we apply for it. But someone at Bradley had just reacquired the trademark license. Bradley trademark Owner (REGISTRANT) Bradley Automotive, Inc. CORPORATION MINNESOTA 6315 Timber Trail Edina MINNESOTA 55439 Someone can try to contact the Bradley Automotive, Inc, and see of they would set up a windshield production or release the tooling so we can produce the windshield needed. As for a TradeMark, we can have a off the wall new car name entered and a tooling made for the same windshield, problem is more cost. Maybe the only answer. Second, Guardian usually does a production of 200 to 500 or more of a product. Anything less would require a setup charge of $4000. This goes to programming the robots for the job, a test run and evaluation of the products. After the setup charge of $4000 is paid any number of windshield can be produced. More windshield made the price would be a little lower. Do we need 20 windshield a year or what the minimum that is required? I have seen many GT II on Ebay and Craigslist listed with no windshield or a cracked windshield. To get 20 windshield will take some heavy investment on someones part or a complete investment of a well formed Car Club. For the ones of us that have good windshield once they are broken or damage our cars are done for. The next time you see a GT II up for sale for $2000 or more you better buy it for the windshield, if it has one. So the question is what can we do as the Bradley Car club, does anyone have the $10,000 to start the first production for the Bradley GT II windshield or off the wall name? (Setup and products) ($10,000 is my arbitrary number for cost, it may probably be much higher.) How do we organize all the Bradley GT II owners US wide who need windshields ? Anyone with any ideals.  Wyn |
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alex
Junior Member
Posts: 62
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Post by alex on Feb 10, 2011 22:31:12 GMT -5
I don't know how to organize potential buyers; maybe start with a Bradley GT2 registry if there is such a thing. I'd be in for one + spare = 2 for me.
The reason I haven't closed the deal, Bob, is because I am still thinking of what to do with the package deal you have offered. I don't have anywhere to put a whole nuther car. All I want is the windshield <)
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Post by skip20 on Feb 11, 2011 18:02:51 GMT -5
Each one of us does not have the same skill set of working ability with fiberglass and modifying the GT II to install a shell and a cut windshield to fit. I think about 1/4th of the GT II owners would be able to install a windshield mod-kit. And getting outside help maybe more difficult for other to do. So it looks like many of the GT II owners would not be able to complete the installation of the windshield kit.
I am not putting Skip down as he has a fantastic ability to work and create working designs, but to get them into untrained hands would be a big problem. I think the only applicable answer is to somehow to get new Bradley windshields made.
I Agree! This would not be a simple Plug & Play.
That's why many post ago I said I may not sell it as a kit.
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Post by mj on Feb 11, 2011 21:08:11 GMT -5
I have a spare GTII windshield still in the packing crate. It will go with the GTII when I sell it. Anyone with a well invested GTII should have a spare.
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Post by smyrnaguy on Feb 11, 2011 21:43:53 GMT -5
Bradley trademark
Owner
(REGISTRANT) Bradley Automotive, Inc.
CORPORATION MINNESOTA
6315 Timber Trail Edina MINNESOTA 55439
Sun Ray Products address
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Post by flekst on Feb 19, 2011 0:15:01 GMT -5
So can Sun Ray make them? My GT II is a daily driver and I'm SURE my luck with rocks on the highway is going to run out soon....
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doug
Junior Member
Posts: 90
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Post by doug on Feb 19, 2011 17:59:17 GMT -5
stranger things can happen as well........something fell out of the rafters where I was storing mine and cracked the windshield.
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Post by sselfinflicted on Mar 7, 2011 4:32:31 GMT -5
Aquired a bradley gt and am making a drag car out of it and have parts im not planning on using. anyone needing some of the leftover parts ? I have gull wing windows. seats, some fiberglass that was cut out of the body. Lites and acceseries,bumpers on the back a gas tank and some misc items. Trying not to destroy the things that some other people might b able t use. Calling me would b the best way to get ahold of me.330-949-9493. My name is Art and you can leave a message and I WILL get back with you. Thanks...... any time between the hours of 5:00am and 9;00 pm EST.
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Post by thehag71 on Mar 7, 2011 4:44:50 GMT -5
Start a new thread and post what you have for sale in the classified section instead of hijacking someone elses post.
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vwguy
New Member
Posts: 9 
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Post by vwguy on Sept 22, 2015 15:47:42 GMT -5
I see that the posts are very old. Is anyone still monitoring this thread?
As anyone found a donor windshield that is close to the right shape and size?
I called all of my local glass shops and it seems that on one wants to cut a windshield. Most of them told me that it just isn't even possible to do. The rest just said "nope, not me..."
I guess one question is how much too big is it. you can do a certain amount of grinding on a windshield without damaging it, is that an option?
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Post by jspbtown on Sept 22, 2015 16:34:32 GMT -5
I don't think there has been any movement on this. I think Skip's answer is probably the best.
Yes..you can grind a windshield. It can also be cut with a water jet. I had a Speedster windshield ground...maybe 2" along the bottom. It was not easy trying to find someone who would do it.
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Post by hunter49x on Sept 22, 2015 17:52:02 GMT -5
I checked just a couple of days ago and the 280ZX windshield (new) is no longer available and that is what Skip said was the closest of what he found keeping in mind he only checked what was available in the junk yard by his house. Glass gets brittle over time so making mods to used glass is risky at best (not that new in not risky).
Chris |
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Post by jspbtown on Sept 23, 2015 8:23:07 GMT -5
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Post by hunter49x on Sept 24, 2015 10:07:26 GMT -5
I ran a request for availability through NissanPartsDeal.com. They were the ones who came back with discontinued status. Maybe these others still have stock.
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Post by tasibrett on Oct 2, 2015 4:19:12 GMT -5
Hello.
My name is Joe, I'm 16 and my really want to restore a Bradley GTE (Missing front window). The Bradley is the very first GTE produced and still has the number plate to go with it, because of this it is too special to change the body work to get a different front window.
If anyone has any information on window solutions could you please send me a email at: joe_mounsey17@student.friends.tas.edu.au , thanks.
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Post by jspbtown on Oct 2, 2015 8:24:31 GMT -5
Joe,
If you don't want to modify the opening then your only solution is to open your wallet. There are windshield(s) available for the right price.
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That being the case, I have one new old stock windshield that I was trying to sell with my very last GT2 project car...I would take the $500 or higher bid.. you all are talking about, because I was only asking $600 for the project..body only including the windshield...I am going on a trip to Florida in March and could deliver the windshield, at least part way to some buyer if you are on the way... 
The buyer for the project has never committed to come get it, so it is back on the market.... 
