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Organized Drag Racing and AutocrossDrag racing and autocross discussions and questions. Techniques, tips, suggestions, and "what will I run?" questions.
While I've no direct experience with replacing the rear hatch glass (other than remove and replace an OEM original), I've an interest in trying the Optic Armor Windows replacement.
Seems they have a decent product selection.
Nothing on the decklid itself though.
Car has been a race car for decades now. Windshield and door glasses are Lexan already. Car weighed 2750 without me last time it was weighed years back.
Car has been a race car for decades now. Windshield and door glasses are Lexan already. Car weighed 2750 without me last time it was weighed years back.
That IS a lightweight.
If you do decide to check out the Optic Armor, I'd be interested in your feedback.
It should be lighter now and it will be even lighter soon. That weight was with a T350, now it has a PG and I've trimmed a little more here and there. That was also with an iron headed SBC which I have a new aluminum headed motor going in along with a tubular K member and control arms with a Pinto rack and coilovers.
Mine is a gutted out race car and cosmetics don't matter. When I took off my rear window, I was always wondering what the best way would be to install some Lexan. Finally decided to just cut the window lip right off and slide some lexan under the body skin. Wasn't a perfect fit but it worked. The lexan is held in place to the body with some pop rivets. I made a channel at the back for the lexan to sit on. There are some supports on the rear roll cage tubes to help hold the lexan up into place. The deck lid is just a sheet of aluminum. The aluminum deck lid is held on with Dzus fasteners so I can get access to the battery if required.
Nothing pretty but it cuts off a lot of weight. Won't win any design points but it still looks good in pictures and going down the track. Since it's a track only car, weather proofing isn't required.
Looking at that design, it wouldn't take much to make the rear window in multiple sections. The middle pieces could be straight and only the sides would need to be bent. The easiest way to bend lexan is with heat such as putting it in an over A heat gun can't produce enough heat over such a large area that needs to be bent. You only have a small window of time to get it bent.
I went to a local plastics supplier and had them cut out a section big enough for what I needed. Can't remember the price but was also well over 10 years ago.
You don't need the expensive Marguard. I don't even use that for a windshield. Just regular normal lexan.
Just checked the website. 1/8" x 24 x 48 is just under $100 and that's for a 24 x 48 which isn't going to be big enough for a rear window. I know they have larger sheets. They just don't have all their products on the web pages.
I wouldn't do this for the front window on a street car, I'd imagine OpticArmor or not, it would eventually get scratched up from basic cleaning, wipers...etc.
But a rear window doesn't have wipers, is usually never in the direct line of fire for rocks. So if you were careful about cleaning it, it should hold up for a while. So if you had a more performance oriented street car, aka not show car, it might make a good replacement to lose some weight. TA/GTA owners combined with a fiberglass rear wing that would probably be nearly 65lbs off the car. Move the battery to the trunk, combine with a fiberglass hood.
FAQ - Racing Shields
This company does make a hatch for F bodies but it's $500 + shipping. If you read about their products they make windshields also and say you can use wipers on.
As I said my car is a dedicated drag car so wipers have been deleted decades ago. My other windows are all Lexan and I have cleaned them for 20+ years with products like Plexus and they look fine.
10-10-2022, 12:06 PM
