safety alert for imported 40/45's

[3_puppies]

working on a 45 troopy and the windshield glass wasn't good, it had some waves in it
I have my glass guy come out to pull it out and cut a new piece of glass
as soon as he sees it he asked me if it was imported, I said yes it was, he thinks it could be tempered
we get the old/bad glass out and sure enough it is tempered
My glass guy tells me many countries don't have the same standards as the US, and tempered is still used for windshields
glad a rock didn't hit it on the highway
pic of the markings on the old glass

my guy told me if it has AS1 in the marking it will be laminated
most glass shops will also have a diagnostic tool that can be placed on the glass and it will let them know what thickness and type of glass you have

 

[JohnnyC]

Wow that’s interesting … and scary

There has been many being imported and would have never gave that a thought

 

[archie73]

I had a windshield cut for me locally, not that far from @3_puppies (4hrs south), I assumed it was good. A couple years later I remove the glass for a respray. It crumbled. I didn’t k ow to look for the mark. Is it on all glass?

 

[Bear]

Toyota has offered both laminated and tempered glass for the 45 series at least as far back as the early 1980s, at least for the corner windows. Apparently at that period tempered glass not directly in front of the driver (the windshield) was acceptable in some countries and jurisdictions. Because the 45s go back 60 years, regulations were likely not as stringent as today's modern vehicles.

Not sure what requirements now exist for my country (USA) on newer vehicles or whether ASAHI (the original Toyota glass supplier) would be making any new replacement glass for these old Land Cruisers (not likely). Whether some glass manufacturers supply tempered front windshield glass and whether there are legal requirements to American installers that prohibit replacing front windshields with tempered glass I do not know. Flat glass is far more easily available than today's curved windshields and side glasses, so the chance of having tempered flat glass installed whether purposely or not still remains.

@3_puppies cautions are good to be aware. As have been cautions of single brake master cylinders, metal radiator fans, seat belts (whether none, lap, 3-point), etc.. When you operate an older vehicle the risks increase, when someone "works" on any vehicle the risks increase, when parts are replaced, modified, or "improved" risk can increase. Life itself is a risk every day. Accepting responsibility when you walk out the door every day is part of it.

I myself opt to take limited risks beyond being coddled by every single worry thrown upon us by our government, its regulators, and often well-meaning people. Limited risks, personal choices, not a dare-devil. I'm okay driving my 45s with their 60-year old technology, their 60-year old style, the wind-up windows, the Dino-fueled engines, and the lack of computer geekiness. But learning new things about old things is valuable, and I commend 3_puppies for bringing this alert to the Mud brethren. Forewarned is fore-armed.

My two cents. YRMV