MB/GPW Windshield Cover Project

Well, today I started to work on a 'draft' of a windshield cover for the MB/GPW jeeps.  Since my MB is getting closer to being finished, I figured it would be a good time to start playing with the design.  Years ago I picked up a copy of a Ford drawing of the windshield cover.  It gives me most of the dimensions I need, leaving a few to figure out with trial and error.  On the advice of Jeff I will post my project here for all to see and maybe throw in a few tips and advice as I go . 

On a side note, did Willys make a windshield cover for the CJs?

I'll post some pictures later tonight.

Yeah, thought about that after I posted the question....

A nice accessory for towing your Jeep, I think.

So went out and tinkered on this a bit tonight.  Remember the saying 'Measure twice cut once' well I didn't follow that too well and ended up with one of my main pieces not square... That's what I get for having an adult beverage before starting the project....  I was able to at least salvage most of it and get a chance to work on the technique.  Luckily I have about 60 yards of crap material I use for testing new stuff.  So no loss on my part.  I'll try and do my best to document the process here.

First off, here is what I am using for a sewing machine:



It is a Consew 206RB-5 Triple Feed industrial machine.  The triple feed means that the lower feet move, the foot moves and the needle moves.  All three move in unison to move the material.  Just picked this beast up a couple of days ago.  Still trying to get used to it!  A far cry from my other machine that you can see in the background.  It is a 1950s Necchi industrial, non-walking foot. 

I started with cutting the top and bottom panels and then sewn them together.



There will be a reinforced area for the windshield adjustment arms and holes for the windshield hold down latches.



There is another reinforcement piece that runs the length of the top of the windshield.  It starts at the seam made earlier and goes about 5 inches out then folds over itself and comes back, covering the first seam made when the two pieces were sewn together. 



After sewing this in, I came to the conclusion that I can incorporate this into the bottom panel.


 The raw edge of the bottom panel and the raw edge of the reinforcement piece butt together and are hidden under everything when the reinforcement piece is folded back over.  This would element the hassle of trying to sew it in and nobody would know unless they took it part.

So after that is all sewn in, the top is triple the thickness, nice and sturdy!



Next I measured out where the hole for the latch goes.



I cut it, folded it in on itself to hide the raw edge and sewn it in place.



Test fit it to the windshield frame and perfect size hole!



Before I called it a night, I cut out what the bottom corner will look like when finished.



So this was good practice.  I'll work on this during the week making another one (making sure I measure twice before I cut!)  Once I feel things will work out, I'll move on to the correct material.

Glad I could be of service misterberry to get you wanting to work on yours.  For what seemed like a daunting task, is turning out to be not so bad. 

Nice work.  Had an old Necchi myself.  It was basically for sewing hats and such.  No walking foot.  When I used my first walking foot, it was so fast I thought I was going to sew through my fingers.  Once I got the hang of it they are great.  Need to find one.

zooke581 wrote: When I used my first walking foot, it was so fast I thought I was going to sew through my fingers.  Once I got the hang of it they are great.  Need to find one.

Ha!  I totally agree!!  After using my Necchi for the last few years (no walking foot also) and going to the Consew, holy crap!  I feared for my fingers!!  Starting to get the hang of it though.

So tonight I started from scratch and things chugged along fairly well.  Incorporating the reinforcement piece across the top into the rear panel really made things go smooth.  I was worried when it came time to cut in the holes for the hold downs to go through.....  To my surprise, they were spot on!!!



So far all my measurements that I had to figure out seem to be working.  Got one of the side panels in tonight and will need to make some adjustments to the other side before I sew it in.  Once the finally tweaks are done, I think I will be ready to go.  So exciting! The snap closures that are shown in the drawing, I have not seen before.  Tomorrow I'll snap a picture of it to see what you guys think.  Looking at the other people making these, they are either using common sense fasteners or lift-the-dots.  Since I am already using Lift-the-dots on another item I make, I'll use them on here too. 

I will have to see if my buddy has a CJ2 windshield frame lying around so I can see what modifications I need to make to this design so it will work on that frame.

What is involved in the modification? Just allow for the extra height?

Looking good!