Post Photobucket reboot from October 2009.This task began after my recent trip to Curborough with MrsW, who felt that it was a bit draughty on the A38. It got me wondering about a conventional mesh Windstop. I'd seen one on a Mog at Curborough and it was mounted low, just above the head restraints. Once home, I looked on "a Mog website" and was surprised to see that they come in at well over £200, spend and the picture showed it installed quite high. This also requires drilling the inner wing wood to fix.
For a while in Miscellany, there used to be a perspex windstop which fastened to the head restraints with elasticated cords, but I believe this is no longer made. I must admit that I'm not keen on the elasticated solution, but it got me thinking about a perspex shield and a no-drill solution.
First I sourced the Perspex, and in doing so also produced the spare wheel filler which turned out to be a really simple fix.
I had to take a view on the measurements of the windstop, since I was starting from scratch, and this is how the perspex looked when it arrived, complete with protective film both sides.
This image not available.My first thoughts were to fasten around the head restraint stalks, so I obtained some U bolts which I covered in plastic sleeving. The main disadvantage to this method is that both seats need to be kept level.
This image not availableHad this worked, it would have been so simple to mass produce. But the U bolts were not long enough. I tried extending but the method of location was too floppy, and the windstop flopped rearwards at 45degrees. So 'Plan A' failed.
This image not availableTime for a rethink.
I needed a bracket that would locate around the head restraint stalk but that would be non-damaging. I eventually hit on the idea of a perspex bracket. For this I made use of an old number plate by stripping off the backing and cleaning up the plastic. It's a bit rough & ready, but this is a prototype after all.............
This is how the brackets looked after I'd been at them with the Dremel.........
I would have liked to avoid working with stainless steel once again, but anything less would not have looked right. My first pair of angle brackets were scrap. You live & learn. I took a lot more time with the second pair. These are not 100% but are good enough for me..........
Next I added a thin U channel of neoprene - the same profile as used on various other projects. This gives a snug fit around the stalks.....
This is one fitted to the windstop - using stainless dome bolts.
This is how it fits. Note that the fasteners are clear of the leather. At the end of this process I had to add a 1/4 inch strip of neoprene as a spacer between the stalk and the bracket to add a small amount of 'lift'.
More to follow..............................
