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Lexan windshield in stock gasket? #939336
02/27/11 10:53 PM 02/27/11 10:53 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
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Out West
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408strokerdart Offline OP
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Ok, who has done this? And how did you do it? What thickness lexan did you go with? Did you have to use a spacer to make the fill the space? Got the windshield out (thanks for the help ChargerCuda) on Saturday, dash came out today. Getting ready to finish adding the rest of the tabs to the chassis and paint it so I can get it back together.

Any pointers on how you did yours would be appreciated.

Thanks.
Re: Lexan windshield in stock gasket? [Re: 408strokerdart] #939337
02/27/11 10:57 PM 02/27/11 10:57 PM
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SOUTH JERSEY
HEMIFRED Offline
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I think it will give you some trouble because the lexan is flat.

home of the
Sox and Martin Hemi Duster
Re: Lexan windshield in stock gasket? [Re: 408strokerdart] #939338
02/27/11 10:58 PM 02/27/11 10:58 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,257
gulfport, ms, west mi
rowin4 Offline
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What's the weight of your windshield? If your looking to replace it with the same thickness on lexan , the weight will almost be the same.

it's ok to butt heads, just don't do it with a butthead
Re: Lexan windshield in stock gasket? [Re: HEMIFRED] #939339
02/27/11 11:15 PM 02/27/11 11:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 449
Wisconsin
sjs64polara Offline
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Quote:

I think it will give you some trouble because the lexan is flat.



Heat gun, welding gloves, beer, and a lot of four letter words. You may have to buy 2 sheets, I remember a few of them breaking. I recall my dad installing a lot of them in the late 70s early 80s on stock cars. I think the thickness was ¼. He was a PBR man back then, now hes like everyone else drinking light low calorie stuff. Man I had a great childhhod
Re: Lexan windshield in stock gasket? [Re: rowin4] #939340
02/27/11 11:20 PM 02/27/11 11:20 PM
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Out West
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408strokerdart Offline OP
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Quote:

What's the weight of your windshield? If your looking to replace it with the same thickness on lexan , the weight will almost be the same.



Was wanting to go 1/8" thick. On a Dart it doesn't have to much of a curve to it (not like an early B) so just asking the question.
Re: Lexan windshield in stock gasket? [Re: 408strokerdart] #939341
02/27/11 11:28 PM 02/27/11 11:28 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,363
Las Vegas
Al_Alguire Offline
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Both my front and rear windshields are in thier stock gaskets and the stock trim is in place. My Lexan is from Pro Glass and both of them are formed. Not cheap but IMO it is the best stuff out there.

"I am not ashamed to confess I am ignorant of what I do not know."

"It's never wrong to do the right thing"
Re: Lexan windshield in stock gasket? [Re: 408strokerdart] #939342
02/27/11 11:47 PM 02/27/11 11:47 PM
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Florida
Locomotion Offline
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Personally, I wouldn't consider anything less than 3/16" for a windshield. I had a 3/16" winshield and 1/8" in all the other windows on my old bracket Challenger.

Al,

How thick is yours?
Re: Lexan windshield in stock gasket? [Re: sjs64polara] #939343
02/28/11 12:16 AM 02/28/11 12:16 AM
Joined: Jun 2003
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Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY Offline
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Quote:

Quote:

I think it will give you some trouble because the lexan is flat.



Heat gun, welding gloves, beer, and a lot of four letter words. You may have to buy 2 sheets, I remember a few of them breaking. I recall my dad installing a lot of them in the late 70s early 80s on stock cars. I think the thickness was ¼. He was a PBR man back then, now hes like everyone else drinking light low calorie stuff. Man I had a great childhhod



If you broke it you should have bought Lexan instead
of plexiglass..... two different worlds
Re: Lexan windshield in stock gasket? [Re: Locomotion] #939344
02/28/11 12:17 AM 02/28/11 12:17 AM
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Out West
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408strokerdart Offline OP
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Quote:

Personally, I wouldn't consider anything less than 3/16" for a windshield. I had a 3/16" winshield and 1/8" in all the other windows on my old bracket Challenger.

Al,

How thick is yours?



Good question.....how thick is the ProGlass? I just re-checked the stock windshield and it is 1/4" thick.
Re: Lexan windshield in stock gasket? [Re: HEMIFRED] #939345
02/28/11 12:31 AM 02/28/11 12:31 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,363
Las Vegas
Al_Alguire Offline
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Las Vegas
The windshield is 3/16" the back is 1/8". No bracing on either windshield.
Car has been 169 and cahnge with no issues.

"I am not ashamed to confess I am ignorant of what I do not know."

"It's never wrong to do the right thing"
Re: Lexan windshield in stock gasket? [Re: Al_Alguire] #939346
02/28/11 12:40 AM 02/28/11 12:40 AM
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408strokerdart Offline OP
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Thanks Al.
Re: Lexan windshield in stock gasket? [Re: Al_Alguire] #939347
02/28/11 12:47 AM 02/28/11 12:47 AM
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Ontario, Canada
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Stanton Offline
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Stanton  Offline
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Ontario, Canada
I sell this stuff so I know "a little" bit about it ...

1) Forget the heat gun. Unlike plexi, polycarbonate (Lexan) has a lot of moisture in it. If you heat it up enough to bend it you will get so many air bubbles in it you won't see out that area. Polycarbonate can be cold-bent in excess of a 90* bend with a corner radius its own thickness ... getting it to take the shape of your windshield shouldn't be an issue at all. Cut it, lay it in place, fasten it down.

2) minimum 3/16" for a windshield

3) I suggest Makrolon brand - its less expensive and clearer than Lexan (Dow Corning brand name). If you can find it, buy "abrasion resistant" material - usually only coated on one side so you want that side OUT.

4) clean with MILD detergent ONLY - no Windex and especially NO SOLVENTS OF ANY SORT.
Re: Lexan windshield in stock gasket? [Re: 408strokerdart] #939348
02/28/11 12:52 AM 02/28/11 12:52 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 62
Glendale AZ
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Comp Chassis 2 Offline
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I Have done this before, Used 1/4 lexan, still much lighter than safety glass! Works great. I'm sure you could use 3/16 and have similar results,might be a little loose in gasket, if so and you are worried about it popping out,you could seal it in with some black silicone. As for the shape there is very little curve to an A-body windshield so you wont have any trouble getting it to form! I think this way of doing it looks the best, cant tell it's lexan without really looking hard. P.S NICE car! always enjoy reading posts about it.
Re: Lexan windshield in stock gasket? [Re: Comp Chassis 2] #939349
02/28/11 02:31 AM 02/28/11 02:31 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
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Blue Ridge, VA
Plumb Wired Offline
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I had a 3/16" thick Lexan windshield and 1/8" rear window installed with the stock gaskets in my former Outlaw 10.5 Barracuda. It was no fun when the windshield came into my face at 160+ mph and blew the rear window out of the car as well. Second time around they were installed with fasteners.

Mike Gray

Last edited by OutlawFish; 02/28/11 03:33 AM.
RIP Monte Smith

aka: OutlawFish
'98 Bickel Dodge Dakota PST
Re: Lexan windshield in stock gasket? [Re: Plumb Wired] #939350
02/28/11 02:46 AM 02/28/11 02:46 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
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Renton Washington
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Triple Threat Offline
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I watched what Mike Just described happen to a local guy and his Demon. his was just in the stock gasket as well, not sure the thickness. It was a low mid to low 8 second car 165ish . Blew in the front windshield and out the back. No fun.

Last edited by Triple Threat; 02/28/11 02:47 AM.
-Dustin
67 Dart, 9 second, 392" G3 Hemi
68 Barracuda 340 F/SA
Re: Lexan windshield in stock gasket? [Re: Triple Threat] #939351
02/28/11 06:00 AM 02/28/11 06:00 AM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,910
Eighty Four, PA
B G Racing Offline
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1/4" Lexan(aircraft quality)scratch and impact resistant.We put it in place and use small rachet straps to hold the form, apply heat with a heat gun and set heat lamps by the curved areas.After it is good and hot we allow it to cool.Sometimes we repeat the process if the curves are tight.AS mentioned some of this is onesided,so make sure that side is facing out.

Last edited by B G Racing; 02/28/11 09:05 AM.
[IMG]http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/qq21/ajcasini/max_zpsdppwd9km.jpg[/IMG]
Re: Lexan windshield in stock gasket? [Re: Al_Alguire] #939352
02/28/11 06:09 AM 02/28/11 06:09 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,595
On the south side of Nowhere
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S/ST 3040 Offline
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S/ST 3040  Offline
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Quote:

Both my front and rear windshields are in thier stock gaskets and the stock trim is in place. My Lexan is from Pro Glass and both of them are formed. Not cheap but IMO it is the best stuff out there.





I have ProGlass windshield in OEM gasket. A little loose but, not
going anywhere. It is thicker than 1/8" too.
Re: Lexan windshield in stock gasket? [Re: S/ST 3040] #939353
02/28/11 09:02 AM 02/28/11 09:02 AM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 83
Southern IL.
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jafr Offline
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I have a 69 Dart with 3/16" lexan windshield installed in the stock gasket. Go to a windshield installer and get a tube of urathane glue the stuf is tuff as hell. If you try to install the windshield without it it will blow in at around 135mph I KNOW. We also put a round tube brace in the middle, you never know it's there.

6501189-100210244w.jpg (243 downloads)
Re: Lexan windshield in stock gasket? [Re: jafr] #939354
02/28/11 09:12 AM 02/28/11 09:12 AM
Joined: Nov 2009
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ill
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dennismopar73 Offline
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ill
mine in stock gasket as well
dont see ant problems made mine very tight
with a small brace off mirrow
Re: Lexan windshield in stock gasket? [Re: Plumb Wired] #939355
02/28/11 10:19 AM 02/28/11 10:19 AM
Joined: Feb 2003
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Out West
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408strokerdart Offline OP
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Quote:

I had a 3/16" thick Lexan windshield and 1/8" rear window installed with the stock gaskets in my former Outlaw 10.5 Barracuda. It was no fun when the windshield came into my face at 160+ mph and blew the rear window out of the car as well. Second time around they were installed with fasteners.

Mike Gray



Did you have a center support installed when the windshield came in? Just wondering if that would have prevented it.
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