. nm. [/thread]

[Edited on May 22, 2008 at 10:42 AM. Reason : .]

5/22/2008 10:29:11 AM

would scratch too easily

do not stay as clean or are as easy to clean as glass

5/22/2008 8:39:30 PM

Yeah... I've read where there are scratch resistent coatings that can be applied on it to help with that. I was mostly concerned because a Lexan window replacement is cheaper than a glass ($400 vs $800) (plus I wouldn't have to worry about rock chips and/or cracks :mad Doesn't matter since it's not DOT legal... But I believe I may be able to get a glass replacement for like $200 installed.

5/22/2008 8:47:34 PM

that's cool, man

I didn't think it would be cheaper, but now I know

5/22/2008 8:56:19 PM

Where would you fellow t-dubbers recommend to get a windshield installed? I was thinking Garner Collision Center may be the best place to take it...

I've found a local source that sells new 944 glass windshields for $220. A few other sources wanted $texas probably because it's an old Porsche I couldn't believe that lexan was cheaper either... But nm on that.

[Edited on May 23, 2008 at 12:43 AM. Reason : ...]

5/23/2008 12:40:48 AM

fyi, dot approved =/ what's legal or illegal. they're not a law making or enforcing body.

useless tww garage trivia for the day: who is the only manufacturer to offer a plastic based windshield on a production vehicle and what model was it?

5/23/2008 9:20:40 AM

gut instinct would be the tucker

5/23/2008 9:34:23 AM

pretty much any motorcycle.

My Ninja has a lexan windshield I think.

5/23/2008 9:35:54 AM

^^nah, the tucker was known for it's shatterproof/pop out glass

sorry, should have specified car. from the 80's.

5/23/2008 9:50:17 AM

i know i know i know

5/23/2008 10:17:00 AM

sounds like something delorean/brickland would do for safety but i don't think they did
I have no idea but would love to know

5/23/2008 10:27:21 AM

Quote :

" fyi, dot approved =/ what's legal or illegal. they're not a law making or enforcing body. "

Really? I figured since it would be hard as hell to break the windshield (in the case of an emergency), lexan windows would be illegal for "street use" on a car. A motorcycle is different (You dont have to worry about it breaking in any situation because your stuck or w/e. Actually, I can't think of a situation where you would want it to break.). Not to be sarcastic, but what are some examples (other than a windshield) where you can get away with something not being DOT legal?

I thought you needed to have DOT approval or else it wasn't street legal (ie: headlights). I understand headlights can be a different story since offroad headlights that aren't DOT approved could blind other drivers, causing a hazard to them and other people. Gah, w/e.


Oh and uh, wild guess here... Cadillac Seville???



[Edited on May 23, 2008 at 11:18 AM. Reason : I KNOW I KNOW ]

5/23/2008 11:13:09 AM

CMD wins again

5/23/2008 8:46:26 PM

^^do you think every part on a vehicle is dot approved? i can tell you definitely not. we all must be rolling around in some illegal ass cars!

the dot just provides their test results, suggested guidelines, etc. for goverments to adopt if they choose. they have no "real" power to make or enforce laws, but they certainly influence things heavily. manufacturers are required by the government to have the dot stamp on certain parts, but that doesn't mean it's illegal for the owner to replace that part for something that's not dot approved unless their laws say otherwise. for example, there is nothing in the nc motor vehicle statutes or in the inspection manual saying windshields must be dot approved. 9 times out of 10 the only reason a non dot approved part is sold under the statement that it's illegal for public roads, for off road use only, etc. is to remove themselves from any potential liability.

now, that certainly doesn't mean you couldn't get a ticket for it since things like this can be a "gray" area. the law is on your side, but you still have the hassle of a court appearance. in the event of such a part failing and causing an accident, the plaintiff has a case by saying you were negligent in not replacing the part with a dot approved piece since that's what the manufacturer used.

lexan is strong stuff, but have you ever tried to go through a modern safety glass winshield? they don't shatter, and puncturing one takes a decent amount of effort/force. you're not making any emergency exits from one, put it that way. on motorcycles, i'm pretty sure the majority of stock stuff is acrylic.

as for the useless trivia, you guys are right. i completely forgot about the old slantback seville. i had the last generation olds toronado in mind as being the first production vehicle available to the public using the plastic glazing deal.

5/23/2008 10:19:59 PM

^ I hear you. I know that DOT doesn't have a stamp on everything I don't want my car to be in any gray area.

5/24/2008 9:37:09 AM

uh, your car is already balls deep in that gray area... i don't think lt1 engines in 944's were dot approved or taken into the manufacturers design/engineering considerations.

5/24/2008 11:57:48 AM

I have a sticker that says it passed inspection. That means my car is DOT legal amirite?

lol, I even have a cat on the damn car so that no one could bitch about it and so I don't have to take it to shady inspectors (omg, polution, not street legal, blah blah blah...)

5/24/2008 6:05:14 PM

no, you're dmv approved. two totally different things.

see, the scenario would go a little something like this: you take someone for a ride to show them the awesome capabilities of the car with the new motor. tragically, you lose control and your passenger is killed in the resulting accident. it's not apparent that you were technically breaking any traffic laws, and the car is found to be compliant with all applicable motor vehicle statutes. as a result, you are free and clear of any citations or criminal charges.

however, the family of your passenger hires a lawyer and a civil wrongful death suit is brought against you for the amount of 3 million dollars. the plaintiff's primary argument lies on the fact that several aspects of your vehicle had been altered from o.e. some of these items are things that the federal government mandated to meet or exceed d.o.t. standards. this ultimately is designed to prove that you were negligent in your actions of doing an engine swap since that vehicle and those parts were never designed by the manufacturers to be used together. the d.o.t.'s required approval on certain pieces carried the exception of them being used in unapproved applications (clear as mud?). had you left the vehicle stock and only used o.e.m. level repair/replacement parts, the superior engineering of the manufacturer along with the magic seal of approval from the d.o.t. maintaining a certain standard would have resulted in a different outcome. there would have been no loss of life, and possibly no bodily injury at all.

obviously, there are a number of defenses, logical reasons, and hard facts that would defend this. the point is that by modifying a vehicle you've opened yourself up to that potential liability. such an extensive/one off custom setup like yours can complicate things even further, along with a worse scenario that could include traffic offenses/criminal charges. there's also the fact that even if the judgment is in your favor, you've still paid a price in money, time, and effort for your defense.

so, to sum all of this up, you might as well just go for the lexan if being "legal" is your only concern.

5/24/2008 7:35:39 PM

^ha, I didn't put much thought into all of this until I read that. This thread delivers. BECAUSE KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

5/25/2008 1:16:36 AM

this is relevant to my interests-

I'm interested in going for a lexan rear window when my cage gets fabbed - anyone know where to get said material? pre-cut or no?

6/26/2008 1:27:31 PM

^ What car again?

6/26/2008 2:06:43 PM

its a dodge ram. I'm thinking of getting a sheet and just cutting it myself

6/26/2008 3:32:47 PM

thats easy enough since its flat or damn close to it

6/26/2008 3:45:10 PM

my thoughts exactly. I've seen 1/8" and 3/16", anyone seen thicker?

6/26/2008 3:50:05 PM

Pre cut or sheet?

6/26/2008 3:54:58 PM

Here's what I found:
http://www.eharwood.com/catalog/catalog.php?make=BLANK&submit=Search&group=Lexan+Windows&category=LEXAN


would anything other than a sheet be considered pre-cut?

[Edited on June 26, 2008 at 4:17 PM. Reason : -]

6/26/2008 4:15:39 PM

I've have seen up to 1/4" for the windshield. Most other windows are the standard 1/8 or 3/16"

[Edited on June 26, 2008 at 4:53 PM. Reason : .]

6/26/2008 4:45:17 PM

I bought a 3/16" thick windshield sized piece from Warren down in Dunn. That was the thickest they carried. Set me back $70 or so.

6/26/2008 5:28:29 PM

we ran lexan for some visors in the kit car cobra. liked them so much we purchased some clear ones for the sides of the windshield for deflecting wind. clear ones were only good short term due to sun turning them yellow like plexi.

6/26/2008 9:45:02 PM