Hey all,

Yep cheap Lexan, and I'm not selling 'em so you can consider this post totally a heads up for a great discount on lightweight replacement front windshields.

Here's the story. The weekend from hell!

As a result of this w'end, I now need the rear glass for my car. Why? I knew you'd ask. I was on my way to Summit Point for a three day event--FATT followed by the SCCA driver school on SAT and Sun.

I tow the car tail end first to get the heaviest part primarily over the dual axels rather than over the tongue. The hatch latch came loose. The spoiler caught a gust. Up went the hatch, broke the support struts and slammed into the roof. Glass all over the highway. Not a piece in the car--the only good point. I stood on the trailer and lifted the now very light hatch and swung it around and it slammed down. This time it latched very securely!

Well, several months ago I printed out the lexan web sites from a discussion. I found the one from Percy's High Performance.

http://store.percyshp.com/speedracwin.html

They had the rear glass in lexan 1/8" and I decided to spring for the front glass too, given I'd be having the shop do the work--I might as well have 'em do it all.

New 3/16 Lexan scratch resistant front window costs $400 beans. A lot but I went for it.

They called me back--there was a horizontal line about 12 inches up from the bottom and it went across the entire window. It is approximately 1/8" in height. Resembles ruler marks. I can live w/it given the discount.

This stuff w/its special Dupont (?) coating is windshield wiper safe, unlike Lexan with a Mar resistant coating.

Blem Price: $140.

If interested, contact Chuck at:

888 737 2970 or sales@Percyshp.com

Oh yeah, the w'end from hell? I took the car onto the track anyway. It lasted two laps--diff broken again.
My mechanic is fired.

Regards
Steve

Is this stuff Lexan or something else? They call it Lexan in the link at the left side of their page, but then go on to compare the product to Lexan as though the product they are marketing is not Lexan.

My SWAG is it is Lexan with a special coating. It is enticing to consider the weight savings of a polymer windshield, even at 400 dollars.

As I understand it, there are two types of "Lexan" out there having scratch resistance. One type is plain old Lexan that a dealer takes and cuts and forms to your needs, he then applies the Mar resistant coating. Very thin. Offered by Alston Racing. Their front 3/16 Mar Resistant window is about $300

The other type of process is to obtain Lexan from GE with the scratch resistant coating already applied. More complex to deal w/it and cut it. But the finish is harder and resistant to scratches. It is wiper friendly unlike the above.

Call 'em to get the straight scoop. I hate to misstate the process involved.

Steve

How much for the rear window?

REAR "GLASS"--Lexan

Alston Race Cars -- 877 64-racing; 847 395 3500:

1/8" plain lexan $320
1/8" Mar Res lexan $420



Percys High Performance -- 888 737 2970

1/8" $355

SD

Lexan is GE's trade name for polycarbonate plastic.

It's been a long time, but back in '97 I was working for a small composites shop in Vermont, and we got a contract from GE Plastics to mold car windows out of Lexan. We were thermoforming prototypes for testing, and GE and Bayer AG were forming a joint venture to injection mold them.

After a few months we were molding some great windows, to the point where we were adding less defects (pinholes, etc) in the window per sq ft. than the optical glass GE was supplying us. So GE started selling us their competitor's polycarbonate (Sheffield Sheet) since it was higher quality

Where was I? Oh, coatings. That was the biggest sticking point from market acceptance, since you can scratch virgin sheet with a fingernail. For test cars back then, we were sending them to a shop in Connecitcut who would apply (dip coat or spray) a silicone-based scratch coating. It worked ok, the cool part was it acted like a permanent layer of Rain-X. Rain would bead off, and in the winter you'd never have to scrape your windshield - just get inside, thump the windshield a couple times with your fist, and all the ice and snow just slid off.. Bayer was working on different processes for coatings, including plasma vapor deposition and a couple other fancy methods.

In general the coatings could take some flexing from handling, but I'm not sure how far you could bend it before it started crazing on you.

-Jeff

I have Percy's front and rear. The 'coating' is awesome for track weekends--the only thing stuck on there permanently is the scratches from my dumb ass with the hod. Tire rubber, bugs, series banners, etc, come right off. That's an awesome price, thanks!

Christine

Steve,

So the blems are ok? Or are they going to block your view? Does the 1/8" require any additional supports? These are ok for a little street (usually dry) and track outings?

Later,
Dennis

Blems (I believe they had three or four) are in the 3/16" variety. They may have others in the 1/8' thickness, but I don't know.

I don't expect a line of 1/8" thickness across the window will block anything. Hell, I went all last year and didn't even clean the glass. Even w/the mark, it'll probably be easier to see.

I just wanted something a little thicker. As to whether the 1/8" requires a brace, you'd have to ask.

Steve

Steve,

Your 3/16" doesn't require a brace?

Thanks,
Dennis

They said no it doesn't. Rules for a particular series or class may, however.

Steve

Here in Ontario, the CASC rules specify a 1/4" front windshield with 3 braces. That's what I'm planning for my car. There are no specs for the rear window. I'm afraid I don't know what rules the U.S. series have.

Feed back on the install and use of Percy coated Lexan--Blem front and regular back.

Works great. I don't use a brace on the front. Not required under SCCA rules for the front, only the back where I have two straps.

The window does flex a little over 125mph, but its OK, nothing radical.

Very clear and distortion free. Only time a little distortion is introduced is when the window begins to "shake" a little at high speed, but that's only for a very short time.

As for the 1/8" line across the window rendering it a "blem"---- I have yet to find it. I can't believe they sold it as a blem. If sold to me as new, I'd not have noticed a bit.

I have used the wipers on the car and its fine. Just be sure to use the wipers on a cleaned window and when its fully wet. Better than other windows out there where they have to rely on rainX.

Overall, it was a cheap and effective upgrade for the front and a necessary fix for the back. If interested, I highly recommend it.

BTW, here's their new website: http://percyshp.com

Regards
Steve

I should have my Percy's windshield on in a couple of weeks if all goes well. I got it around Christmas but haven't had a chance to install it yet. It's not a blem, but at least I didn't pay full price for it.

Interesting thread . . . I just thought I would add that the same nasty problem can occur if you ever spin out at high speed. Last year a Pantera spun out on the Salt Flats at close to 200 mph. As the car spun around tail first, the hatch blew up and the whole deck lid was ripped right off the car!