Lexan/poly Windows V Glass

[Reebmit 51 4 Cars]

Has anyone weighed the glass on a 205, is there much of a saving going plastic?????

[calvinhorse 870]

It's about half the weight, I seem to remember front windows are 4kg in glass and 2kg in poly

 

Have you checked in 'the definitive weight thread'?

[calvinhorse 870]

http://forum.205gtidrivers.com/index.php?showtopic=52614&page=8

 

All side windows in plastic are 6.1kg

 

So saving 6.1kg and moving weight from high up, lowering centre of gravity well worth it

Edited October 27, 2014 by calvinhorse

[Reebmit 51 4 Cars]

Thanks Calvin, interesting, the rear probably significant too, thanks for reply. Will check out the weight guide as I've often wanted to know weights of parts...

 

Just had a quick look, great thread just what I was after, will have a proper look tonight

Edited October 29, 2014 by Reebmit

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

Not much in it, the rear screen is nothing, With some MSA spec lexan it's not worth the hassle

[calvinhorse 870]

The beauty of poly windows is you can remove all the winding mechanism too, so with the 6.1kg of side window glass and at least 4kg of mechanism that's over 10kg.. Pretty big saving in the side glass alone

 

I'd say the main problem is the £200+ price tag on a full set

Edited November 6, 2014 by calvinhorse

[petert 554]

A 2400 x 1200 x 4mm sheet of polycarbonate is approx. AUS$190. I can't imagine the price being much different in the UK. That's a lot of windows.

[welshpug 1,626]

I doubt many will have a thermoforming machine in their garage

[petert 554]

I'm not sure why you'd bother forming them. As they're usually rigid in the door, they take the shape of the frame anyway. The rear hatch can be flat also. Buy a cheap jigsaw and cut!

[JeffR 51]

The only issue I see from a motorsport perspective is making sure they're all secured well-especially the rear screen. Speed & air pressure will test the fixings.

 

Is it possible to shape a polycarbonate screen by laying it over the glass & applying heat? Will it hold its shape?

 

It's something I've considered doing on my 405 race car since no one makes the front & rear screens anymore.

[jackherer 543]

I've only ever seen flat polycarboonate on 205s. The rears bond in place and stay there with no issues.

[JeffR 51]

I was referring to my 405 where the screens have a pronounced compound curve.

[Kane 34]

I read over on the 106 rallye forum about someone making a make-shift oven and baking the polycarbonate over the original screen. Seemed he had some issues initially but got there in the end.

 

Here's the link

 

http://www.106rallyeforum.com/forum2008/showthread.php?t=21433

[JeffR 51]

Thanks for the link Kane. That's similar to the idea I had.

[allanallen 528 2 Cars]

The only issue I see from a motorsport perspective is making sure they're all secured well-especially the rear screen. Speed & air pressure will test the fixings.

 

Is it possible to shape a polycarbonate screen by laying it over the glass & applying heat? Will it hold its shape?

 

It's something I've considered doing on my 405 race car since no one makes the front & rear screens anymore.

We've done some impreza front windows by ratchet strapping them around a cylinder and applying heat with a gas space heater. It was a faff but it worked.

 

Decent cage permitting, fitting poly door windows allows you to remove the inner door skin as well.