Blue Invader

[6sabre]

Hi,
The track rod is bigger than 1/2unf, so I suspect its 9/16th. Try here for half nuts https://www.westfieldfasteners.co.uk/UN ... nless.html

[Gavin McArdle]

GOC stocks these!!!!
When I did New Spares I spent a lot of time sourcing these sort of items as indeed BG does now.
Most of what you need is in stock, so your first call should be to Brian to check if he still has something, you could not only save your self a lot of time but you will also be buying the correct part.
Surely it is part of what you joined GOC for?
Gavin

[spegru]

Obviously the inner handles are not exactly Maxi since they have unnecessary brackets but this thing that mainly attracted me was the actual catches. Designed to be surface mounted similar to but different from Mini and MGB. I dare say other models used them but fairly unusual. Front and back appear to be the same...
A remaining issue is the external handles since the stell parts including the finger operated inner flap are horribly corroded and the external chromy bit is not very good either. Mild steel is probably not going to cut it so could consider remaking in stainless? I observe that some models used Stag handles which are available new but unsure what to do about that.
Regarding the Rack I mistyped: what I thought you said Gavin was MGB with MGC Track rods?
Finally I believe that opening rear windows have been achieved (youtube). Easy since the front is hinged anyway, but no info on what catches have been used for that

[Gavin McArdle]

The catches were used on Morris 1800's Allegros etc as well as Maxis, also some Lotus', but not Stags, perhaps more but I have found slight differences in others. It would seem that Gilbern used the rear door catches as most seem to have the lever for the child lock but it has been cut off. Note that they also appeared to have a weight riveted on to encourage the lock to drop into place when operated.
The early type door handles were manufactured 'in house' so should not be too difficult to replicate, I thought that the outer chrome part was chromed brass?
Replacing with Stag handle will entail some modifications to the fibre glass and also maybe to the linkage. replacement Stag handles need to be the MK2 version or else modifications need to be done to the projections at the back. I would be surprised if you found a manufacturer of new Stag handles, I found a casting company who were prepared to do the setting up for free and would re-manufacture in brass but the Stag Owners Club had no interest, (they thought corroded handles unimportant!) the company said that producing only for Gilberns was not a viable project. I have heard lately that someone is supposedly getting them made in chromed plastic.
Gilbern racks are MGB with MGC ends, what the difference is between MGB & MGC racks is I have no idea.
The original rear opening window catches were from the very earliest Mini's so now quite rare, the frames also had a 'boss' which was threaded to take threaded screws to hold the catches. Later ones don't, it maybe possible to locate catches with a flat piece which can be slid between the glass and the chrome frame and held in place with glue as some have done.
Gavin

[spegru]

Many later Leyland group incl Metro used a catch designed to be mounted inside the door. I considered that type but too much bother as it would need to be boxed in.
But for my newly acquired Maxi catches, aside from the handedness they all appear to be the same. Then again I don't know how a child lock would have operated on a Maxi anyway.
Here's a link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ywmsopsawfj84 ... 0.jpg?dl=0
Yes the outer part could probably be replated, although the threaded studs of course broke off so a stainless copy could even be easier. I'll discuss all this with my local fabrication place unless there is another known solution.
I suspected the Stag handles Ive seen advertised on ebay are cheapo repro but I'll probably take a look at my neighbours stag as Im not sure what they are really.
I'm familiar with the mini window catches but was wondering about some glued types which seem quite common. Actually I believe electronic actuators may even be possible using BMW parts. I looked into something similar on a previous project but was stymied by a lack of a hinged window frame - not a problem here.

By the way I do seem to be hogging the bandwidth a bit on this forum. I do hope that is not a problem

[Gavin McArdle]

Both of the bottom catches in your pic show the child locks, the little metal tags protruding from a slot. on the top 2 pics the slots appear to be empty.
Don't think anybody is complaining about excessive use of bandwith, I think most would like more members to use the site.
Gavin

[R_D_Olivaw]

Hi Spegru,

Every day is a school day, and by that I mean we learn from each other's journeys.

Gavin, 6sabre, etc. might be replying, but we're all reading and learning.

[spegru]

Thanks All. After I posted that last message I did in fact spot the child locks. I also retrieved the original rusty locks from the bin so that I can more closely examine them.

One of the reasons for choosing a car in such a poor state is that It's more of a blank canvas on which to create innovative ideas such as opening windows and I shall look further into the bmw rear window electric openers idea.

By the way I have been trying to remove the vents in the C pillars by the rear windows so that they can be cleaned and painted. Although Ive managed to get the 3 screws out there is no sign of any looseness. Any suggestions?

[Gavin McArdle]

The rear vents should just lever out, they may have been sealed at some time. Start at the leading edge as the rear edge hooks in around the panel.
Gavin

[spegru]

Aha vents are out. I tried the other side in case it was easier, which it was. It was then I realised the vent is metal not plastic as I had imagined. So encouraged by that I levered the first one a bit harder and eventually out it came. It was full of what might best be described as soil, plus bits of headlining. I think I'll be needing new bolts which I can imagine is a very old thread style such as BA.....

[Gavin McArdle]

if at first you don't succeed, hit it/lever it harder!
From memory bolts are 2BA
For interest of others we have a couple of new vents in stock plus some used ones.
Gavin

[spegru]

What you do for new window rubbers? I need all of them but my focus right now is outer front side window outer edge rubber flange thing between window and door aperture and rear side window, between frame and glass.

Also door key locks

[R_D_Olivaw]

Hi Spegru,

I think Brian Gent is your man for things like that.

[Gavin McArdle]

There were never any rubbers fitted in the slots around the top of the door frames originally, what you may have seen on some cars is an owners mod. We could at one time supply a reasonably easy T shaped rubber but this is no longer available, Brian now supplies the next best thing but I have found it impossible to fit to my car. The rubbers I fitted 5 or 6 years ago had perished, I managed to save enough of the old rubber to fit the leading edge of the door frame, this has reduced wind noise considerably.
Brian can also supply all screen rubbers, BUT(!) there are differences in the size and shape of the screen apertures, there were cut out by hand by someone who may have had a rough night before! Also some of the edges do not line up with the glass, especially drivers side bottom corner at the front and n/s top and bottom o/s at the rear. I have done an article for Rarebit some years ago showing how I had to modify my bodywork. These mods have worked as the glass has not moved but did need proper sealing.
If for the rear side window you mean between the glass and the frame channel rather than between the channel and bodywork, then again I was unable to fit our supplied rubber, it was much too tight, I believe others have had the same problems and have used the same idea as I did, fill the channel with black silicone sealer, hold the glass central until sealer has gone off and then trim back to make it tidy.
Good Luck (its all part of owning a Gilbern)
Gavin

[R_D_Olivaw]

Hi Gavin,

Thanks for your insight. I also bought the T-shaped rubber from Brian and found it impossible to fit; however my car did come with the remnants of a rubber strip that appeared to fit very nicely and went in without any issues. I've yet to find any like it, though Aston Martin DB4/5s may have something similar, but I hate to think how much they'd charge for it. As an alternative I was thinking of using something like this.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253552160919

As my car isn't on the road I haven't done much with it, but I was thinking of sticking it to the door surround, but I guess I could stick it to the window frame too. It might also work as a reasonable seal for the rear quarter windows too. In my trials it sticks quite nicely, but there isn't enough room between the front of the window frame and the A-Pilar.