Question about lexan windows on the liftback

[arcticvitz]

I'm planning on making my own lexan rear windows for an 09 liftback and I was wondering if they would would need to be pre molded with a curve in them before re-adhering them back to the framing. My idea was to trace the windows on paper as a mock up then cut the sheets of lexan accordingly. My logic was that because lexan is flexible i could just bend it to fit the window frames however I'm sure I could be completely dead wrong :biggrin: Anyone know if that's possible or would I need custom shaped pieces to fit properly?

[PHXDEMON]

Lexan is very flexible so you should be fine. Only thing that sucks is that it scratches so easily.

[Brian]

When I had my truck about 5 years ago I swapped out all the windows including the windshield
for lexan. It came with a protective coating on it to resist scratching. I ordered them from a
company online that specializes in lexan windows. I wish I could find the website again cause
It only cost me about $1000 for all the windows. If you look on selectproducts.com they sell a
plexiglass bender or you can slowly heat it to get a slight curve out of it.

[kustom play]

there used to be this place called speed glass

but yea lexan scratches super easy and I have a good feeling on a DD it would yellow after a while

[arcticvitz]

there used to be this place called speed glass

but yea lexan scratches super easy and I have a good feeling on a DD it would yellow after a while

My plan was to have it tinted on the inside and out before installing it thus making it fade and scratch resistant! Thank you for your help I will be sure to post photos of the completed project and maybe even sell completed pieces if it all works out :cool:

[ezhacker1]

are you going for shatter resistant windows?

[Mouse]

It's for a weight savings

[kustom play]

i would be interested to see how the front window holds up

[Tamago]

question:

do you still have your air conditioning and stereo?

[Nexus1155]

No, but seriously.... is this for weight savings because unless everythign is gutted, you are doing the wrong thing first..

"More than you can afford buddy..... Ferrari"

[Tamago]

power window regulators + lexan is pimp!

[kustom play]

lol

[Sodium Duck]

Interesting project, post pics if you do this!

[Tamago]

Interesting project, post pics if you do this!

it already looks a lot like this:

http://www.renewal.ca/horse-cart.jpg

[arcticvitz]

No, but seriously.... is this for weight savings because unless everythign is gutted, you are doing the wrong thing first..

"More than you can afford buddy..... Ferrari"

The car is completely gutted including radio and AC....hell I even pulled out my side curtain airbags and cut off the roof mounts that they used to be attached to :biggrin: Basically anything that could be removed from inside of the car that didn't affect its structural integrity and didn't cost a fortune to remove is now gone. So to answer your question, yes this is for weight savings :wink:

[arcticvitz]

question:

do you still have your air conditioning and stereo?

Negative they are both gone :cool:

[ezhacker1]

well if you go ahead with lexan all around besides lightweight you would have good protection from thieves then again it'll be a death trap if you need to break the glass to get out.

[arcticvitz]

well if you go ahead with lexan all around besides lightweight you would have good protection from thieves then again it'll be a death trap if you need to break the glass to get out.

I'm leaving the front windows as is for two reasons!
A. So I can still get out of the car in an emergency
B. So i don't suffocate to death from burning plastic if my engine happens to catch on fire
:evil:

[Tamago]

and your purpose for destroying a 2009 yaris is? better handling? faster 1/4mile times? your logic amuses me so far, i want to hear why you're doing all this.

[arcticvitz]

and your purpose for destroying a 2009 yaris is? better handling? faster 1/4mile times? your logic amuses me so far, i want to hear why you're doing all this.

I'm going to answer that question as if it were positive and not passive aggressive (can't quite tell really:frown:). "Destroying" is a relative term in the sense that to you it may seem like I am ruining a brand new car where as to me I'm simply adjusting it to suit my liking. All of us on this forum have an idea as to what our car should be in the end, many people probably think you "Destroyed" your Xa by painting it panda color and putting a turbocharger on it but that's exactly what YOU wanted and not anyone else. Isn't that what car customization is all about?

My logic when I first began tearing the interior of my car apart was that I wanted to turn an otherwise mild mannered econo-box into a true competitor at the track as well as an exhilarating weekend canyon car. Although I may not have the budget for a new motor and a custom turbo kit, I can afford to be creative and think of cheap yet effective ways of improving overall driving performance even if that means eliminating certain comforts like air conditioning and sound insulation materials. In conclusion, yes this is all about better handling and overall performance on a budget! Well, that and possibly to inspire others to appreciate their car and realize that the only limitations are one's own imagination. :redface: I guess I'm just a little more extreme than others?

[kustom play]

i think you could spend the cash on better things than windows IMO

If this is just a straght track car then yea i guess

[ezhacker1]

well if hes gonna keep the windshield as glass, then im cool with it. least its not a death trap anymore. Thieves will have a harder time breaking lexan.

[arcticvitz]

well if hes gonna keep the windshield as glass, then im cool with it. least its not a death trap anymore. Thieves will have a harder time breaking lexan.

Thank you for being positive! It's refreshing to get encouragement instead of negativity :wink:

[Tamago]

My logic when I first began tearing the interior of my car apart was that I wanted to turn an otherwise mild mannered econo-box into a true competitor at the track as well as an exhilarating weekend canyon car. Although I may not have the budget for a new motor and a custom turbo kit, I can afford to be creative and think of cheap yet effective ways of improving overall driving performance even if that means eliminating certain comforts like air conditioning and sound insulation materials. In conclusion, yes this is all about better handling and overall performance on a budget! Well, that and possibly to inspire others to appreciate their car and realize that the only limitations are one's own imagination. :redface: I guess I'm just a little more extreme than others?

you're removing weight from the wrong end of the car.

[CTScott]

As an FYI, those rear windows only weigh 4.60 lbs. I have one from crashy sitting in my office and I just put it on the scale. If you want to save some serious weight, figure out some way to replace the doors. I couldn't believe how heavy they were when I pulled them off (I would estimate about 100 lbs each).

[Nexus1155]

Yeah if this works out well, i would play with fiberglass and do everything over with it. Then you can get a turbo kit. piece it together for under $700 can be very easy if you're a good shopper...

[talnlnky]

this is a HUGE undertaking to make your own lexan windows.... I would not suggest you using anything less than 1/4", else it'll break pretty easily.

Yes lexan is flexible, but you don't want your window popping out cause the adhiesive can't hold it cause its bent like a spring and you close your hatch/trunk lid. I could just see that... POP!!!!

I'd say take out the back window... lay the lexan over the top, and then heat it up and slowly mold it to the exact shape of the oem window.

[arcticvitz]

this is a HUGE undertaking to make your own lexan windows.... I would not suggest you using anything less than 1/4", else it'll break pretty easily.

Yes lexan is flexible, but you don't want your window popping out cause the adhiesive can't hold it cause its bent like a spring and you close your hatch/trunk lid. I could just see that... POP!!!!

I'd say take out the back window... lay the lexan over the top, and then heat it up and slowly mold it to the exact shape of the oem window.

Interesting! The rear window seems like it would be a much larger chore however bolting down the rear side windows would be much safer than adhesive I'm sure. I didn't know that lexan was so brittle if it was under 1/4" as well so thanks for the info!

[arcticvitz]

you're removing weight from the wrong end of the car.

In that case would your recommendation be to leave in the spare tire as well since it adds weight to the rear and makes a better balance? Losing 30 pounds of weight below the center of gravity in the rear probably makes a pretty profound difference as well does it not? If better handling means making the back end heavier since there's nothing left to pull out from the front then why not even put a sub woofer box back there on top of the spare tire and make it nice and heavy? Sure acceleration suffers but essentially that would give you a better weight balance correct?

[kngrsll]

i think its a cool idea.

but i am too lazy.

[PHXDEMON]

As an FYI, those rear windows only weigh 4.60 lbs. I have one from crashy sitting in my office and I just put it on the scale. If you want to save some serious weight, figure out some way to replace the doors. I couldn't believe how heavy they were when I pulled them off (I would estimate about 100 lbs each).

Damn they are light. Not worth it at all to save less than 8 pounds :frown:

[Tamago]

In that case would your recommendation be to leave in the spare tire as well since it adds weight to the rear and makes a better balance? Losing 30 pounds of weight below the center of gravity in the rear probably makes a pretty profound difference as well does it not? If better handling means making the back end heavier since there's nothing left to pull out from the front then why not even put a sub woofer box back there on top of the spare tire and make it nice and heavy? Sure acceleration suffers but essentially that would give you a better weight balance correct?

what i'm saying was, that's an awful lot of work and risk for such a small amount of weight loss, especially when it's from the wrong end of the car. in this case a carbon fiber hood actually makes more sense :laugh: