Perspex windows DIY...

[lm11]

Would it be possible to buy some perspex, cut it into shape using a template and then fit it into the frames..?

If so has anyone tried it?

[Trise30rally]

Yep i did it with my front windows, piece of p*ss mate!

[lm11]

Really?

It must save you a few KG and also a damn site cheaper than proper perspex ones...

What thickness perspex did you use and where did you get it from?

Cheers

Luke

[Trise30rally]

I didn't even use perspex mate, i went to B&Q and got someof there plastic conservatory window stuff and cut it out of that.

I think it was 4mm

The MSA book states that for modified production cars you may have plastic windows, it doeas not state what type of plastic window.

In the rally class it does however state it has to be perspex.....

It does save a few kg, if you have non opening rears it is easy to do those too....

[lm11]

Yeah Im not so keen on using the cheap non-perspex stuff as it my break into sharp bits

I got a quote for 4 peices (front and rear doors) and it was £120ish

Can you buy the perspex stuff?

[alloyproducts]

i used perspex for some rear windows on a ren5, and they scratched very easily, so i went back to a local plastics company and got some poly carbonate ones made up, just took them the old ones and they cut them to shape, was about £40. and they dont stratch as easily and are harder wearing.. thickness was 4mm.

[UweM3]

http://diyplastics.com/makrolonlexanprices.htm

LEXAN, MAKROLON, MARGARD are the trade names for polycarbonate. You better use a UV graded to stop it from getting brittle over time.

[zaust]

Looking at doing this too, (side's only) As the touring seem's to suffer extra roll and weight shift at the rear. Is this worth looking at as a group buy thing ??? And as above, I had my old kadett with plexi glass, but it scratch'ed very easy and became brittle after one winter. Don't want to go through that again.

[northloop]

If you have removed the heater / vents then I would advise you to fit slider kits too. If the sun is out and the window is fixed shut it will get bloody hot in there. I have sliders and it's still bloody hot, especially when wearing a lid.

[Tommoed]

Ready made kits...

http://www.srbpower.com/lexan/full-list.php
http://www.plastics4performance.com/pro ... 2&P_ID=522
http://www.raceplastics.com/index.html

All about the same price, approx £200+

I have a contact in the plastics trade, he got me the polycarb for my sunroof panel. If you can give me an idea of numbers I can ask him to give me a quote?

[Steve]

poly carbonate is lot, lot stronger and doesn't shatter like perpsex

[northloop]

I took my glass windows to my local glasier and asked them to copy them in perspex, same thickness etc. Cost me £90. The only thing I didn't get it the slight curve but that is unoticeable once in position anyway. I drilled and fitted my own slider kits, purchased from demon thieves.
At the same time we made up a couple of small brackets to fit under the windows and hold them in postion. Without these there is nothing to hold them.

There is a slight wind noise, but nothing too dramatic.

The weight saving is ok, but not what you might expect. Possibly 10-15kilos without doing the rear screen.

[lm11]

Zaust, yeah up for a group buy. (Only after sides though)

You want to set it up in the group buy section?

Luke

[zaust]

Pm sent.

[oldroydsr4]

^^

I would be up for a group buy for my touring (only sides) but only if i don't have to wait until the next millenium.

[zaust]

That's exctly what nelly and I both need too. I will see if it is possible, As I know there are more intrested out there.

[oldroydsr4]

Cool, keep me posted

[1an]

Mark let me no a price aswell for a touring,

[shorty73]

I took my glass windows to my local glasier and asked them to copy them in perspex, same thickness etc. Cost me £90. The only thing I didn't get it the slight curve but that is unoticeable once in position anyway. I drilled and fitted my own slider kits, purchased from demon thieves.
At the same time we made up a couple of small brackets to fit under the windows and hold them in postion. Without these there is nothing to hold them.

There is a slight wind noise, but nothing too dramatic.

The weight saving is ok, but not what you might expect. Possibly 10-15kilos without doing the rear screen.

It's where the weight is though mate. 15 kilos quite high up in the C of G. Wish I could fit them in my race car but regs won't allow it

[northloop]

True but the negatives possibly out weigh the positives on anything other than a race car.

[zaust]

Have made some call's, I should have a price for next week. I have asked prices for side's only on a touring model, with slider on the driver's window. They will be flat not concaved. If the price, material and thickness is ok with people then I will get something organized, As for the 2 and 4 door's, They will be slightly cheaper, but I don't want to drive the fella mad at the moment.

[1an]

marc, once you have a price i could be tempted by a rear window for the touring aswell, if possible,

[zaust]

marc, once you have a price i could be tempted by a rear window for the touring aswell, if possible,

Never seen a car with the rear done, except when it has been a fiberglass body.. Will ask though.

[1an]

yeah just trying to get ideas on price fella,

[mike_sayer]

I'll be cutting a set of polycarbonate side windows for my touring track car project, using the original glass as templates and a CNC machine owned by Mark's (the guy who's working on the car with me) brother. It would be no problem at all for us to cut some extra sets for anyone who wanted them, and I expect we could do it for a lot less than a group buy! Please let me know if there's any interest...

Thanks

Mike

[zaust]

Let's have some price's please Mike.

[lm11]

Will the touring ones fit my 4 dr saloon? (Sorry if Im being thick lol)

[mike_sayer]

I should have a price for you by tomorrow. The window glass for the touring is going to be scanned and digitised to ensure accuracy - we're going to do this tomorrow night so i'll post up a screenshot of the CAD when it's done, together with some prices. Windows will then be CNC'd from 4mm UV resistant polycarbonate.

Not sure how the window sizes differ between the saloon and the touring...anyone know? If they do, we could probably scan your windows lm11 and cut a set for you.

[lm11]

I should have a price for you by tomorrow. The window glass for the touring is going to be scanned and digitised to ensure accuracy - we're going to do this tomorrow night so i'll post up a screenshot of the CAD when it's done, together with some prices. Windows will then be CNC'd from 4mm UV resistant polycarbonate.

OO sounds pretty hot! thats the proper stuff then that wont shatter in your face..

I will probably have some if the price is right.

Luke

[1an]

Mike let us know a price for the touring so i can ponder over it,

[chips]

I'll definitely have a set of sides for a 3 door when you get that far!

[mike_sayer]

OK guys, got some provisional prices for you. We can offer two different grades of polycarbonate - one is cheaper, but has been used in a friend's rally car for four years and still has no scratches or discolouration, and survived a roll without cracking or smashing - no guarantees what it would be like on a road car though (if that's what you're intending!). The second grade is more expensive but may be better for road car use.

For a touring, you have a number of options. A set of four replacement windows for the door glass, including the small fixed panels that form part of the rear door glass, will be about £100 for the cheaper grade and £135 for the more expensive. The two fixed rear windows either side of the boot can also be had for an extra £50 or £70 for the more expensive.

From the ETK, it looks as though the door windows are the same for a saloon as they are for a touring - but the fixed windows in the rear doors aren't. So for the saloon we can only do the four main door windows. We don't have any windows from a coupe, but I may be able to get hold of some - if I can, then we will be able to offer polycarbonate replacements for these too.

These prices are only provisional - the final price will depend on how effectively we can fit the templates on to the polycarbonate sheet - but should be very close to the prices above if not exactly. Delivery not included

Cutting will hopefully take place either on the weekend of 18th/19th or 25/26th of this month. Let me know if you're interested! We've scanned the original glass tonight, and i'll post up some screenshots once the models are fully digitised. Any questions, please get in touch!

Thanks

Mike

[chips]

Shame I'm so far away or I could have lent you a set of 2 door glass. I bet postage would be a killer

[mike_sayer]

PZero - some mates have an E30 coupe that I think currently has at least the front windows removed - so we should be able to do those as a minimum. I'll keep you posted.

[chips]

PZero - some mates have an E30 coupe that I think currently has at least the front windows removed - so we should be able to do those as a minimum. I'll keep you posted.

Excellent. Cheers Mike.