Sector 111 Polycarbonate Speedglass Windshield

[perryeyges]

Glass shop received the windshield yesterday.
First impressions from the glass guy, "well under 20lbs" Thinks it is only 16 or 17lbs. Entire package was listed at 20lbs. Does anyone know weight of the OEM windshield? I was absent minded enought to forget to weigh it before sending it. I will call Percy's and try to get the #. I will guess that the OEM weighed in at approx 45-48lbs just by feel.
I will weigh the polycarbonate one early next week just before we install it. Apparently you have to trim approx 1" of polycarbonate off the edge so it should end up loosing maybe another 1/2 lb or so in the process.
Should end up being a sweet mod for those of us that are weight obsessed.

[Andrikos]

Wow!
That's fantastic news, Perry.
Losing 30 lbs up high is a great way to lose weight.

I just hope Sector111 will offer the whole package (windshield, 2 windows and rear 'glass') for well under four figures.
Am I hoping for too much?

What's the scratch rating on the polycarbonate speedglass? Is it easily scratched?

You are the trailblazer! You lead to the road of lightness and we will follow...

[gameson]

I don't see the price in sector111.com or even the section for it

[perryeyges]

You can go to percyshp.com and look up all the specs.
Sector111 is the exclusive US distributor though.
Sector111 should be getting their first shipment very soon if they are not already there...
They will be posting info and pricing next week. Everyone is at SEMA this week.

[darkSol]

Buhuhahaha!!! 30 lbs!!!! Heehee!!!

[perryeyges]

I am talking to the glass shop about cutting off the top windshield flange for less weight and increased visibility. He likes the idea since it is not a structural member of the car.
It will end up looking like this l____l with the polycarbonate attached at the sides and bottom but will be clear at the top like an old race car with a shortie windshield. If we do it right maybe I can use the roll cage as an alternative upper fixing point
Or even do a shorter windshield. The only problem with the short version is that I have a roll cage and I think it would look pretty weird sticking up above the windshield.

[cstetter]

Originally Posted by perryeyges

I am talking to the glass shop about cutting off the top windshield flange for less weight and increased visibility. He likes the idea since it is not a structural member of the car.
It will end up looking like this l____l with the polycarbonate attached at the sides and bottom but will be clear at the top like an old race car with a shortie windshield. If we do it right maybe I can use the roll cage as an alternative upper fixing point
Or even do a shorter windshield. The only problem with the short version is that I have a roll cage and I think it would look pretty weird sticking up above the windshield.

You MUST bring the completed masterpiece to one of the Santana Row meets!

Pretty please with a cherry on top.

[perryeyges]

Do they ever have the Santana Row meets on sundays? My only real day off...

[spider]

The front clam has to come off for the windshield replacement, yes? If the price is right, I might just get one myself.

[odeon]

is the plexiglass bullet-resistant?? if so, i want one!!

[JnC]

Originally Posted by cstetter

You MUST bring the completed masterpiece to one of the Santana Row meets!

Don't you mean his incompleted masterpiece?

[cstetter]

Originally Posted by JnC

Don't you mean his incompleted masterpiece?

Well, I meant once it is completed

I am sure we can arrange for a Sunday SR meet just for him if he gives each of us a ride

[Bill B]

Polycarbonate while tough scratches easily. Really just a PITA with light directly at it (sunrise/sunset headlights ect. ). Among other things I use polycarbonate lens covers for cameras that could/will take an impact (pucks baseballs). Use only soft cotton along with the Novus products (my favorite) for cleaning and scratch removal. Good luck Perry and keep me posted.

[RegGuy]

There are a number of coatings that can be applied to Polycarbonate that make it very scratch resistant. It has to be factory applied. I have a pair of sunglasses made with the stuff and coated. They have remained scratch free and unbroken even though they have been used and abused.

Otherwise the stuff scratches when you look at it the wrong way. I have 16 big windows made of it on my back porch. Lots of Novus used to clean and polish out the inevitable scratches.

[darkSol]

The Percys stuff is VERY scratch resistant.

Of course rock impacts are going to leave a small mark, but there shouldn't be the same grain effect that glass has.

[fitfan]

remove the wipers - that will cure most of the scratching issues

[rwarden]

Originally Posted by fitfan

remove the wipers - that will cure most of the scratching issues

Then what do you do in the rain? RainX?

[Eye Candy]

As far as I know there is no aftermarket product that does much to prevent scratches on plexiglass. Otherwise we would use it on airplane windshields. I don't let anyone touch mine. The only thing I use to wash it is my bare hand and reverse osmosis water I spray out of a little spray bottle. Then a microfiber cloth to gently dry it. Even a paper towel is death on them, swirl marks that ruin the clarity. Plexus and such are decent products to prolong the life of the plastic.

The weight saving is nice. And it seems the windshields in the Lotus are not as rock resistant. I have five little pings in my windshield. Not enough to see or fix but you can feel them. And my Elise took a rock chip to the glass that had to be repaired. Never had this on my other track cars. If the windshield is cheap enough to be replaced after a short time it may be worth it.

Yeah, Rainex if no wiper blades. I think it is a myth that it will turn the material yellow.

[dododge]

Originally Posted by Eye Candy

As far as I know there is no aftermarket product that does much to prevent scratches on plexiglass.

Bear in mind that Plexiglas (acrylic) and Lexan (polycarbonate) are not the same thing. They do both scratch if uncoated, though.

[RegGuy]

Originally Posted by dododge

Bear in mind that Plexiglas (acrylic) and Lexan (polycarbonate) are not the same thing. They do both scratch if uncoated, though.

Plexiglas will yellow with exposure to sunlight, Lexan will not. Plexiglas is also a little harder, thus natively more scratch resistant. Lexan is very clear, much more so than glass.