Weight of windows

[fzust]

Folks,

Does anyone know what the side window glass weighs? I am thinking of removing it and wanted to get the sense of the weight savings.

Thanks,

Fred

[cdn_alien]

I believe it's 15 lbs each side.

[ZJChaser]

From the Sector 111 blog:

Side Window Weight Savings: 34 lbs.
Rear Window Weight Savings: 3 lbs.

[Thomasio]

I'm assuming the Sector 111 weights include all of the hardware, not just the glass.

Thomas

[ace10]

Originally Posted by ZJChaser

From the Sector 111 blog:

Side Window Weight Savings: 34 lbs.
Rear Window Weight Savings: 3 lbs.

numbers possibly include glass, lift arms, motors/or cranks and interior trim pieces.

i'm really surprised that the rear window weighed only 3lbs.

[jlj3394]

Originally Posted by ace10

i'm really surprised that the rear window weighed only 3lbs.

Is there an easy way to get the rear window out without a hammer?

[Buz]

If you have the top on you will turn faster lap times on a road course with the windows up than with them removed due to aero drag. However, most organizations require that at least the drivers window be lowered while on track for safety. In an autocross the lighter weight would be more beneficial than the improved aerodynamics.

[TimMullen]

Originally Posted by jlj3394

Is there an easy way to get the rear window out without a hammer?

Yep.

You just have to remove the rear clam and the interior trim. Then the rear window should be easy to remove (it should be "glued" in place).

[kbob]

If anyone is removing their window mechanisms, I'd love to upgrade my Touring Pack car to manual-wind windows. (I just like the way manual windows look and operate.)

Thanks...

[Thomasio]

Originally Posted by kbob

If anyone is removing their window mechanisms, I'd love to upgrade my Touring Pack car to manual-wind windows. (I just like the way manual windows look and operate.)

Thanks...

My manual winders are one of my favorite aspects of the car! I love the reactions: "WHAT?! No power windows?" hahaha

Thomas

[Doghouse]

Originally Posted by TimMullen

Yep.

You just have to remove the rear clam and the interior trim. Then the rear window should be easy to remove (it should be "glued" in place).

Anyone know of a source of a replacement panel for the rear window? Preferably something composite aluminum / CF would be way cool.

I think the Exige 260 is going to do this. Been thinking about ditching the rear window for sometime.

Whenever people ask about the lack of a rear view mirror I tell them to look out the back window. Nice view of the engine ain't it. I then joke with people that it's there so you can see if the engine is on fire or not.

[tesprit]

Originally Posted by fzust

Folks,

Does anyone know what the side window glass weighs? I am thinking of removing it and wanted to get the sense of the weight savings.

Thanks,

Fred

I just shipped a side window without the mechanism and its shipping weight was 15.5 lbs. in the cardboard box with full padding to keep it from getting broken. The box measured 42" X 26" X 11" so it wasn't a small, light box. I would have to say the weight as stated by Sector 111 includes the mechanism with the glass.

[Thomasio]

Originally Posted by Doghouse

Anyone know of a source of a replacement panel for the rear window? Preferably something composite aluminum / CF would be way cool.

I think the Exige 260 is going to do this. Been thinking about ditching the rear window for sometime.

Yes.

[Doghouse]

Originally Posted by Thomasio

Yes.

Not another tease on parts that are $$$$+.

A few hundred bucks, I'm cool with that for a part such as this. But once you hit four figures (IMHO) the cost benefit balance starts to get out of whack vis-a-vis a sheet of 1/8 or 3/16 alloy aluminum that's been cut to fit.

Even with composite materials (hex aluminum with fiberglass or CF shell) I would not think it will be that big of a weight savings, to justify a $$$$ figure price.

IMHO, the rear window in an Exige S is akin to the appendix in a human, it is functionally useless, but not really worth the costs of removal unless you have something going wrong or your in there doing something else so you might as well...

At this point if I'm going to spend $$$$+ to mod my car, it has to provide a signficant new functionality that the car currently does not have and one from which I'll benefit. (e.g. tilting rear clam = major improvement in functional acess to engine bay).

The reason I'm asking about the rear window is that I'm hoping to the rear clam tilt mod (in the next six months) and while I have my baby ripped apart I might as well do this mod as well.

Otherwise I'm saving my soda can money for a thrash about the track car (like a spec Miata or MR2) that I can use to push beyond the limit and improve my driving skills without risking a $10K repair bill.

That is not to say you don't do super high quality stuff Thomasio, it's just that my Lotus seems like it is becoming more valuable to me with the drop in stocks and the number of pwned cars you read about in the forums. What was once an affordable exotic car might end up being a pretty rare bird.