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has anyone replaced their glass windows/windshield with lightweight Lexan or Perspex? I'm trying to find out exactly how much this would cost, any insight would be appreciated.
Lexan/Perspex lightweight windows
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It's gonna be pricey, plus that stuff scratches WAY easy compared to glass, you'd be looking to replace it on a regular basis.
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really? i thought Lexan and Perspex were stronger than glass. The glass in cars, i thought, was made to shatter. I guess *if* i flip the car i'd be in some trouble trying to get out. I'll have to look into if it is DOT legal. I just wanted to lighten the car as much as i could and provide a little extra security for the electronics i'm putting in the car. I was also looking into getting Ace Security Laminates but the weight reduction isn't there.
I tend to overcomplicate stuff, so this may not be worth it.
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One thing to think about with any kind of window laminate (including window tint) is that if you are ever in a accident and for whatever reason the fire department/rescue workers have to extract you from your car, the first thing they will try to do is knock out the windows in an attempt to open the car door. If they can't knock out the window because of some kind of security laminate or tinting laminate, they go straight for the jaws of life to cut the roof off or pry the door open. Granted, if you're in an accident that knocks you out or gets you unable to remove yourself from the vehicle, the car is probably screwed anyways, but it's something to think about.
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310 Posts
Lexan is a polycarbonate plastic, aka "shatter proof glass" its used because its lighter and in an accident it will crack into big pieces(if it cracks at all) instead of shattering or spidering. Yes is does scratch easily. And yes I know what Im talking about, I have sheets of lexan sitting in my room...I get it for free.
Perspex is just acrylic glass it's known for it's ability to bend instead of chip or shatter but when you bend it too far it shards off into huge and dangerous pieces just like non-safety glass and carbon fiber...
Lexan is stronger than glass but as badger said it's also not safe if it shatters you can put anti scratch coatings on it to help it's softness problem but it's quite expensive
Lexan is stronger than glass but as badger said it's also not safe if it shatters you can put anti scratch coatings on it to help it's softness problem but it's quite expensive
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It makes it safer because it doesn't shatter... but on the opposite as somebody else stated if ur in a really bad car accident an officer cant break urwindow. They have a special tool which is basically a steel nail but has a spring and is almost like a clicky pen so the point isnt out in the open all the time. All they do is hold it like a knife and back hand the window. The point spiders the window and then their fist goes through to break the window into thousands of pieces.
I can get lexan all you would have to do is pay shipping, BUT I cant garuantee what size I can get. The pieces I have now are about 8x14, Im sure I could get bigger but idk about winshield size cuz then I would probably get somebody fired . But then you run into the problem with I can only get stragith sheets so it wouldnt have the curve and mold of a windshield...so I guess if u wanted those small side windows I could probably hook you up with two sheets and then you would have to cut the shape. It bents some so those would be really easy to do, but then again those little windows probably arent going to save u much weight at all.
I can get lexan all you would have to do is pay shipping, BUT I cant garuantee what size I can get. The pieces I have now are about 8x14, Im sure I could get bigger but idk about winshield size cuz then I would probably get somebody fired . But then you run into the problem with I can only get stragith sheets so it wouldnt have the curve and mold of a windshield...so I guess if u wanted those small side windows I could probably hook you up with two sheets and then you would have to cut the shape. It bents some so those would be really easy to do, but then again those little windows probably arent going to save u much weight at all.
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psssshhh. i have no glass. noobs.
j/k it does sounds like too mucht ime for such little wieght reduction :dunno:
j/k it does sounds like too mucht ime for such little wieght reduction :dunno:
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Yea...all you would have to do is trace the window on paper then trace it onto the glass and cut, but still that alot for basically nothing.
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Yeah, unfortunatley thats what i was affraid of, i guess i'll just look into security tint... thanks for all the info. once i make my millions maybe i'll do this, lol.
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Well, what i'm in process of doing is adding something similar to this wireless GPS in a fin on the top back of my car, where that rear windshield sprayer is. ('97 integra) So any bluetooth device in the car has GPS. And, yes, a dash mounted PDA/phone. 
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