Lotus 7/Locost Aero Rebody

[Christ]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

That could be... who's gonna check?

The inspection authority when he tries to get the custom vehicle titled and registered, I'd imagine.

[Frank Lee]

Oh... right!

[lunarhighway]

on the topic of split windows, perhaps the split doesn't have to be at the center.

the citroen c3 picasso has an interesting setup


while this is pretty new in the front many cars mainly hatchbacks and fastbacks, have something similar at the rear, so perhaps existing side and windows could be used. some 80's and 90's cars might have some thing in the back that would be perfect flipped around. the ford probe comes to mind but i think some toyotas might have this too... rear windows could be a problem due to the defrosting wires but perhaps they won't block vision that much, and would give you a heated front windshield! but otherwise i think combining rear side windows with a portion of a front windshield could give you the shape you want using cheap, replacable and possibly law complient parts

[Bicycle Bob]

Defrosting conductors can be scraped off with a razor.

Many areas require laminated glass for the windshield, while tempered is used for rear and side windows.
Tempered glass is much like tempered steel - It gets quenched while hot, although the glass requires more support. It is usually done with blasts of air, and the pattern of the jets used can be seen in polarized light. The process causes the glass to shrink first on the surface, so that you wind up with the surface in compression and the interior in tension. Since cracks start from the surface, they are held shut instead of progressing, up to a much higher force than usual. However, when one does get going, it sets off the whole piece, and the internal stresses turn it all to small, harmless pieces. It is interesting, when carrying a single patio door panel, to touch it to a bit of concrete patio. You hear a bang, and suddenly, the weight is gone.

[COcyclist]

[QUOTE It is interesting, when carrying a single patio door panel, to touch it to a bit of concrete patio. You hear a bang, and suddenly, the weight is gone.[/QUOTE]

I got a chuckle out of this. How does one know such things?

[Christ]

Originally Posted by Bicycle Bob

Defrosting conductors can be scraped off with a razor.

Many areas require laminated glass for the windshield, while tempered is used for rear and side windows.
Tempered glass is much like tempered steel - It gets quenched while hot, although the glass requires more support. It is usually done with blasts of air, and the pattern of the jets used can be seen in polarized light. The process causes the glass to shrink first on the surface, so that you wind up with the surface in compression and the interior in tension. Since cracks start from the surface, they are held shut instead of progressing, up to a much higher force than usual. However, when one does get going, it sets off the whole piece, and the internal stresses turn it all to small, harmless pieces. It is interesting, when carrying a single patio door panel, to touch it to a bit of concrete patio. You hear a bang, and suddenly, the weight is gone.

I just did this a few weeks ago, actually. The pile of glass was just large enough to make me think that some of the glass must have come from the Nexxus or something, because it seems that the tempered glass spreads everywhere once it breaks.

[winkosmosis]

Why can't windshields and side windows be made of polycarbonate/Lexan?

[Christ]

Originally Posted by winkosmosis

Why can't windshields and side windows be made of polycarbonate/Lexan?

It doesn't break easily, and creates a trap hazard to vehicle occupants.

When it does break, it turns into sharp shards of plastic that can impale/cut you. Tempered glass breaks into small squares and odd polygons, and is far less likely to kill you, either directly or indirectly.

[Frank Lee]

It scratches when you try to scrape ice off it, or even clean gritty dirt off.

[JackMcCornack]

Long time no post--here's a progress photo, got in a bit of a time crunch 'cause I was otherwise engaged (long story) and am cutting some corners. Here's progress to date.

I widened the nose so the wheels would get maximum benefit from the fenders and wouldn't you know? Right after I finished sawing I remembered the suggestion of narrowing the front track instead. Oh well, there are multiple effective cat skinning technologies, as the saying goes.