lexan rear windows

[Nothinspecial]

Ive been searching the forum for a while and cant find much on it. All im wanting to do is replace the side and rear window. Ive found where someone just went to home depot for the lexan and cut to fit it.

I was just wondering what process would need to be done for the rear? Should i do it in 2 pieces?

anyways thanks for any advice.

flame on! lol

[Nothinspecial]

Anyone even seen an article on this?

[conrad_s13.5]

like,..the whole rear window?

ive never seen it done it 2 pieces. Just take measurements that will obviously fit,. and cut to shape. Think i hear of some people heating it up to 'shape' it slightly.

i have seen people add gusset type things down the middle just to give it a little rigidity.

.....again tho, ive never done it,. anytime i asked people about it tho, they explain it as if its no big deal and i was over thinking it..hahha

[JFoxx]

ok.....this was a fun project a while back......

look up a plastics company in your area.....ask them for polycarbonate.... lexan is just a brand name.... this will save you some money..... make a template from your existing windows to trace onto the polycarbonate sheet.... the only way to shape it is by putting the sheet on a clamped mold then putting it in an oven. using a heat gun will work breifly in small areas, but as soon as it cools it straightens back out..... there are several ways to cut the sheet, find out what works best for you. i used a jigsaw, then polished the edges with a torch CARFULLY! for the rear window you will definately need a brace(s) i used 2 1"x1/8" strips to brace. i riveted the window on placing a small bead of silicone to seal it.... if you want it to lokk better, paint the black border on the inside, before mounting..... here is a picture of my rear window before i did the sides.......




it is pretty easy to do....


*edit* if you use a similar brace, make sure you cut it long and bow it into place... it will probably take 2 people to do this.....

hope this helps! good luck!

[rcdad123]

i don`t know if the rear s13 hatch window is still available, but DRIFTSPEED used to carry them.

[sofargone561]

^ i just check they have it in stock and its on sale

[BTplaya]

Nice! Can prob save a bit of weight pulling that glass out.

[Nothinspecial]

forgot to mention its for a coupe lol. but im sure its about the same idea.

[hOngsterr]

y u no put plexi on QP glass.

[TheRealSy90]

I found a place in Japan that carried lexan coupe windows but they were very expensive.

[JFoxx]

Originally Posted by hOngsterr

y u no put plexi on QP glass.

i put in the post that these pics were taken before i got to the quarter glass..... i did do those.....

Originally Posted by TheRealSy90

I found a place in Japan that carried lexan coupe windows but they were very expensive.

please do not buy the pre-cut ones...... it is really easy to do and costs 1/4 the price.......

[Nothinspecial]

i figured making your own wouldnt be that hard. just some good cuts and being real gentle with the mounting part because you dont want it to crack.

anyone have any idea what the rear window of a coupe weighs?

[Black240Ct]

get hte glass and bend it around your glass rear windsheild.. once its out trace, cut and rivet it on

dont think home depot has the correct stuff.. but as mentioned before fine a plastic company.

and dont wash with windex.. bad news

[conrad_s13.5]

jfoxx....awesome stuff
gracias

[JFoxx]

Originally Posted by conrad_s13.5

jfoxx....awesome stuff
gracias

no problem..... glad i could help....the only difficult part is when you do your front side windows, you have to fabricate window frames for them.....

[Nothinspecial]

So is heating them to fit with a heat gun impossible? Never tried to shape lexan before

[JFoxx]

heating it will bend it temporary.... but as it cools it will straighten back out.... the only way to shape it like your stock windows is to place it on a mold and bake it in a huge oven.....

[Nothinspecial]

does it look retarted if skip the baking part? does it look too flat?

[JFoxx]

Originally Posted by Nothinspecial

does it look retarted if skip the baking part? does it look too flat?

not at all, i didnt bake mine......but the only way to mount it without baking it is with rivets...... baking is only required if your trying to mount it like stock windows.........

polycarbonate is flexible...long as you support the rear window, when you mount with rivets the window will take the stock curve very nicely

[Nothinspecial]

hell yeah. thanks for the tips!

[Nothinspecial]

so just to let anyone know the rear glass on a s13 coupe doesnt weigh as much as i thought. maybe 5-10lbs.

[Def]

Originally Posted by Nothinspecial

so just to let anyone know the rear glass on a s13 coupe doesnt weigh as much as i thought. maybe 5-10lbs.

Just for reference, the S13 hatch glass is HEAVY. Someone with a shipping scale weighed a stock rear hatch at 56 lbs, I took the glass out of mine and cut a bit of the skeleton out (about 1.5 lbs), and mine weighed 25.5 lbs. So about 30 lbs or so. I believe it. I collected about half the glass after it shattered and it was around 14-15 lbs. It's about 3/16" thick.

[Duke89]

So there isn't rly much point in replacing the glass in a coupe

[Nothinspecial]

i would say no unless your trying to shed every bit you can.