Glass... Weight...

[NHRABill]

Thought I bring this up for consideration,

In here I see many great project and all out Eco modded cars but did not notice if many of you are removing the glass and replacing it with Lexan. The weight on a Hatchback for Glass is extreme in many cases someone can easily shave a few hundred pounds by doing so.
When i was building my cars for the drag strip I would always replace the door windows and sometimes the rear window. I had a 87 Firebird I replaced the rear hatch window and I know it was a extreme weight savings well over 100lbs. wish I could recall the exact figure but that was 15 years or more ago.

Well anyhow, on those crazy ecomodded cars has anyone gone to extremes? cause I know a bunch of tricks to shave weight like no ones business

[Zerohour]

Well if you are really serious about going for weight savings, then swapping out those tiny quarter windows and rear windows is a good option. Not every mod needs to have a pay back, sometimes you do it for the sake of doing it. If you find 10 different ways to clip off 5 lbs, then take out the obvious weight items, you might see a serious improvement.

As mentioned, you really can't and shouldn't be changing out the safety glass of the windshield and doors.

[RobertSmalls]

Camaro Tech: Transparencies and Windscreens
"Lexan Camaro rear hatch "glass". Weights: Lexan transparency and moldings: 26.3 lbs, Stock rear glass and molding: 58.4 lbs."

It's not quite 100lbs of savings, but 32lbs is a big deal.

[NHRABill]

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

Camaro Tech: Transparencies and Windscreens
"Lexan Camaro rear hatch "glass". Weights: Lexan transparency and moldings: 26.3 lbs, Stock rear glass and molding: 58.4 lbs."

It's not quite 100lbs of savings, but 32lbs is a big deal.

Really! I remember it took 3 of us to remove it due to its weight.. I replaced the 2 side windows and the Hatch in that car as well as many other parts looking for weight savings. I remember that I got it below 3,000lbs. and that was my goal and even maintained the stock seats front and back. The car was just over 3400lbs when we started.. so 500 lbs drop was a tall order but very doable with all of the unnecessary crap + adding in a roll cage and other safety items was tough to overcome.

I was playing with an old wind Screen for my bike last week I am going to cut it down and shape it to fit my bike and it got me thinking about lexan and the benefits of it. Many people that are unfamiliar think that Lexan and Plexiglas are the same thing but there is a HUGE difference in safety and cost Lexan.

Anyhow guess no one is using it just thought I toss the idea out there if someone was looking to cut weight on a radical eco project.