Lexan Windshield fabrication

Being a glutton for punishment, I am starting the fabrication of a lexan windshield for my MGB. It is not an open car (factory hardtop); I'm fabricating a stock MGB windshield out of lexan MR-10 (margaurd). Most likely I'm going to waste a $200 piece of expensive plastic, but I've got to try. I'm tired of replacing my heavy glass windshield every season. My plan is to trim the piece to slightly oversize, then place it over the old windshield in a large oven I have access to, slowly heating it until it conforms to the shape of the glass. Does anyone have any suggestions?

There's at least one company out there that produces a polymer film application that provides 100% UV protection and will stop rocks from chipping your glass, I've ordered from them before for another application, last about 1 year, would probably cost $100 to do a MG windshield (applies with soap and water). I'll post a link when I find it

won't lexan haze like crazy? it's not used on aircraft for that reason - they only use an acrylic based product as you can polish that clear -

William:

Contact Hap and have him put you in touch with some of the SCCA sedan folks. They typically buy used NASCAR windshields and then cut them to fit (after conforming them to the shape of the stock windshield as you suggest). The last post I read on one of the SCCA on-line forums suggested you could do this just by laying the prices out in the sun (especially in NM!). The NASCAR sedans have bigger windshield area than the B, so you can shape the Lexan and then cut it to fit. I think the slightly used NASCAR Lexan windshields sell for about $25 or something like that.

Rick

William:

Sorry, just remembered the NM, not the Santa Fe part!

Rick

Instead of MR-10, spend the extra and get FMR-10. That "F" stands for "Formable."

Count me out, I'm clueless to this topic, never had a hardtop race car. I'd listen to Basil on this, and maybe journey over to the SCCA prod racing forum, where tons of folks have done this.

Bill, it's time to get rid of that top heavy hardtop so you can go faster>:D<

BTW, have you tried your new carbs yet?

Love beating the open cars with my hardtop!

Mike Kusch made my lexan windscreen.

http://prodracing.com/prodcar/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=12391&hilit=lexan

http://prodracing.com/prodcar/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=12287&hilit=lexan

For our MGB Grassroots challenge car we used a plastic for the windshield we did not have a problem with conformability . We also installed a set of tearoffs << >> www.tearoffguys.com is my website . Hit me up I have premade mgb and midget and GT teareoffs . I will gladly give you the mg x deal Karl

Anyone ever try "Speedglass"? It's in the Summit Racing catalog.

I spent a lot of time working on lexan inspection window panels on one of our a military helicopters at work. We were using lexan riveted in a curved form between two pieces of aluminum. One vendor was not heat-forming the lexan, where another vendor was forming it cold and mechanically holding it in shape. The lexan what about 1/8th thick and formed in an approximate 9" radius.

Interestingly, both worked fine initially. However, we soon discovered that the non-heat-formed lexan was extremely susceptible to chemical contamination and cracking.

Basically what would happen is one drop of acetone would get on the un-heat-formed window, and the the window would immediately craze and crack. The acetone would locally weaken the stressed lexan panel and it would form a crack.

The heat-formed window that was lower stressed could take a drop of acetone and survive. Of course there would be a haze spot where the acetone touched, but the lexan would not craze or crack.

Suggestion here would be to stress-relieve whatever windshield you use by heat forming somehow.

John Targetts mgb roadster has a lexan windscreen.... check with him.

John Targett's was made by Mike Kusch

The guy who owned the #9 Huffaker MGB before me was the last guy I can recall that wore a open face helmet in open car in SCCA prod classes, we always kidded him and called him Dan Gurney, which I guess there's alot of things worse you could be called.

William, I just got me a set of the Nitto NT-01, they look good, I'm eager to try them, thanks again for your feedback on those.

Hap, I turned dad on to the Nitto. Not sure when his first race will be, but he's been living off my cast offs and ready to get some fresh rubber.

speedglass

speedglass