Temporary Windows?

[Marty Rogan]

Does anyone have suggestions for how to make temporary windows for a race car?

I just need something that will install and unistall easily. It doesn't need to be watertight, but should be able to keep out 90% of the water in the event that the weather turns bad on the way to/from the track.

I fabbed up some plexi-glass ones a couple of weeks ago. They were a real PITA to cut. I then drilled a couple of holes on the weather strip edge at the roof line and screwed it into there. That was not exactly an easy install/uninstall. One of them blew out on the way to the track and broke it in two. The other side worked ok, but something fell on it and broke it. I am back to square one on this.

I appreciate any suggestions you may have.

TIA,

Marty

[BrianL1987]

My boat has canvas windshield wrap that covers the both side & windshield. It has snaps to hold in place. This stays in place while on freeway & would keep out critters & most rainfall

[ajmcforester]

How about using the tracks for the windows and have it slide up and down. To save weight the drag racers used a strap to pull the window up and down, it also clip to the door to hold it up.

[Marty Rogan]

How about using the tracks for the windows and have it slide up and down. To save weight the drag racers used a strap to pull the window up and down, it also clip to the door to hold it up.

I was going to post a picture of the current set up, but I don't have it on this computer. The car has only fiberglass shell doors and no window tracks.

I made a track at the top of the door with some 1/4" aluminum channel pieces. I just need to come up with a better material and a way to secure it at the top and front.

[ajmcforester]

Can you post a picture of the door even without the new mods I have some ideas but I need to know what you have first? I'm thinking a frame you mount the Plexiglas to, and make the frame and the Plexiglas one piece. I used Plexiglas in my first car 84 200sx it took a little to make the side windows work. Plexiglas needs support around the sides otherwise it will crack, you also want to make it easy to get out to replace it.

It might cost more, but how about using polycarbonate, you still will need some support but it is a lot stronger?

[jmortensen]

Lexan is MUCH easier to cut than Plexi and much tougher too. I have a friend who made Lexan windows and just drilled a hole through the inside of the door frame and window in front and back. He would then lift the window into the track and put a couple wooden dowels in there to hold the window in. He did have the top track of the window in place. Sounds like you may not have that track installed. Might reinstall it if possible, doesn't weigh that much.

Edited April 28, 2010 by jmortensen

[Marty Rogan]

Lexan is MUCH easier to cut than Plexi and much tougher too. I have a friend who made Lexan windows and just drilled a hole through the inside of the door frame and window in front and back. He would then lift the window into the track and put a couple wooden dowels in there to hold the window in. He did have the top track of the window in place. Sounds like you may not have that track installed. Might reinstall it if possible, doesn't weigh that much.

So how do you cut Lexan?

[Marty Rogan]

Can you post a picture of the door even without the new mods I have some ideas but I need to know what you have first? I'm thinking a frame you mount the Plexiglas to, and make the frame and the Plexiglas one piece. I used Plexiglas in my first car 84 200sx it took a little to make the side windows work. Plexiglas needs support around the sides otherwise it will crack, you also want to make it easy to get out to replace it.

It might cost more, but how about using polycarbonate, you still will need some support but it is a lot stronger?

Here is what the window opening looks like. I installed a 1/4" aluminum channel on the top of the door. I had the plexiglass slid into that and attached to the weather strip lip at the top. I made it long enough that it would lay on top of the quarter window piece.

Any and all ideas are welcome.

Thanks,

Marty

[ajmcforester]

I think you are going to need to cut two holes in the door. What I'd do is make a frame to hold the plastic of choice out of L bracket material. On the front and rear bring the L bracket material down enough to weld to some square stock to mount inside the door to a solid point you will only need two bolt mounts place for front and two rear.

The other thing to consider is making a bracket in the front so the bars slide in perpendicular to make it easier to take out. If you wanted to get more industrious, how about making to receiving brackets mounted in the door that you slide the stems into to hold the window and use pins to hold them in, making it really easy to take in and out.

[jmortensen]

So how do you cut Lexan?

With a jigsaw, sawzall, hacksaw, bandsaw, etc. It's really easy to cut and drill holes in. REALLY easy. Cuts like a very soft wood. Clean up the edges with sandpaper. I recently used some in my home, below are some pics. I have a two year old who liked to throw toys down the stairwell and was starting to climb the banisters. I installed Lexan everywhere she is able to get to. Just took a 4' x 8' sheet, cut it wide enough to fill the space between the columns, actually notched around the base boards with a jigsaw, drilled a couple holes and zip tied it to the wrought iron. No, I didn't have any black zip ties...

Lexan is the GE brand of polycarbonate. You might also find it under just polycarbonate if you're looking at a local plastic supply.

[Marty Rogan]

With a jigsaw, sawzall, hacksaw, bandsaw, etc. It's really easy to cut and drill holes in. REALLY easy. Cuts like a very soft wood. Clean up the edges with sandpaper. I recently used some in my home, below are some pics. I have a two year old who liked to throw toys down the stairwell and was starting to climb the banisters. I installed Lexan everywhere she is able to get to. Just took a 4' x 8' sheet, cut it wide enough to fill the space between the columns, actually notched around the base boards with a jigsaw, drilled a couple holes and zip tied it to the wrought iron. No, I didn't have any black zip ties...

Lexan is the GE brand of polycarbonate. You might also find it under just polycarbonate if you're looking at a local plastic supply.

Ok, that's great to hear. I did a quick test with a jig saw on the lexiglass and it did not fair well at all. It broke easily and got too hot very quickly. Lexan sounds like the way to go.

Thanks!

[John Coffey]

Cut some Lexan in the exact shape of one of your side windows, slide it up into a small channel at the top of the window opening in the body, and use on of these to hold it in place at the door top.