Why does lexan have such a bad rap?

is it because its not traditional?

the reason i ask is i was truely worried about the lexan after hearing how many people thought i ruined my car by only being able to run lexan windshields instead of gl*** ( i widened it so it would need custom gl*** is about the only way to have gl*** in it) .

anyways i put the lexan in and it looks GREAT. the **** is real sturdy and ive put about 50 miles on the car with the lexan and so far and i havent even been able to tell the difference from gl***. who knows how lexan got such a bad rap cus its working out awesome for me.

plus only had about 80 bucks in both windshields.

ive added some pics to show it really looks good.

 

get a good rock kicked up...

 

My experience with lexan is that most cars that I have seen it used in look ****ty. Poor installations and it looks it.

Auto gl***, especially windshields, is designed to break and yet absorb impact by not shattering, in most cases. Lexan, depending on the grade, might actually not break, but break you neck instead in the event of head banging accident, or it could pop out and cause you to become a identifiable flying object.

Plus in most states with vehicle inspection laws, lexan might not p***.

 

Or a pheasant.

 

It scratches, stains, yellows, cracks, is hard to see out of when the sun glares on it when it is scratched from washing or wear and presents a danger to p***engers and pedestrians in the event of a collision. Other than that it's fine.

It's more acceptable on side windows and back windows, but windshields are considered a no-no.

 

Might be a small point, but it's not street legal.
Larry T

 

Must not of logged enough miles on it yet to see the downsides.
Really not trying to start ****, if this is one of those ****ons not to push, I just wondered.

 

a full set of properly installed gl*** with roll up windows in a chopped car is what separates the craftsmen from the wannabe's.

may as well be asking "why does 2" thick bondo have such a bad rap?"

 

I say run it. For that kind of $ if it yellows 5 years from now change it out for a new one. Wear a seatbelt though because you don't want to go through that thing in the event of a crash.

Who did it? I was thinking of doing this on my Model A truck. Maybe I could send the frame to 'em and have it done?

 

Hunh... Flat gl*** is super cheap to do. And easy.

 

It doesn't look bad installed properly, but like others said, it scratches, yellows, and a little rock flying towards you at 70 mph it's likey to go right through. But hey, If ya ain't rich ya gotta do what ya gotta do right? I cant imagine how much a custom windshield must cost to have made. Or who would make it for that matter...

 

go outside and scrub it really really good like there where bugs on it and you will see
it just scratches too easy way too easy
speedway sells a type of plastic for windows that you can actually use your wipers on
it,s alot more But like they say

 

^^^^There's your answer^^^^

 

+1000
and he will be asking about the two inches of bondo when it comes time to try to smooth that thing out .

 

Could always make it a split windshield by using two standard windsheilds cut to fit with a post in between.

 

Motorcycle windshields are made of lexan. Their not nearly as durable as gl***, but will probably last a long while if you take care of it properly. Go to a Harley shop and buy their cleaning products.

 

You're grown. Suit yourself.

Just wear some safety gl***es when you're driving, because if a truck kicks a rock at you that Lexan won't even slow it down.

 

Aren't you suppose to have safety gl*** in your windshield ? I know you have to in Pa . I sure wouldn't want to be in an accident with that stuff in my car .



As for the other person wanting this stuff for their Model A , flat gl*** is dirt cheap and you can get flat safety gl*** most anyplace ! It's not hard to find at all .

 

i dont understand why you just cant cut down a regular windshield??? if it was chopped proper then there should be no reason to use lexan.. btw render gl*** on st joe avenue does all mine and they do an awesome job...

 

Now THAT's good thinking! It'll still cost hundreds of dollars (2 one-piece windshields, plus cutting both in half off-center and chopping both down to fit the new height), but still probably less than a custom-built windshield.

If you are really broke and/or cheap, you could pick up two USED '53-54 Chevy/Pontiac windshields that have damage on one side and use the other 2/3. That's cut your cost down to close to zero, other than all the cutting and fitting. When I was looking for one, I found several that had a crack or BB-gun hole on one side or the other. You could mix-and-match and come up with one good left and one good right.

I think you've already learned why most people don't widen their cars!

I say drive it as it is and see if you can live with the lexan.
If it really is Lexan (NOT plexigl***), it's bulletproof and won't crack or shatter but it will scratch up. You'll find out how quickly and have to decide if you can live with it.

 

I guess Jimmy White of Circle City Hot Rods is a wannabe. I am pretty sure he built a 30 or 31 A coupe with blue lexan windows with a bunch of holes in it.

I run both lexan windows and primer paint. Both are temporary solutions to a semi-permanent problem: Not enough time or $. An acrylic polycarbonate is okay for temporary use but, just like primer, it has a shorter useable lifespan. It will scratch much easier than gl*** so use lots of Rain-Ex and don't turn on the wipers. LOL. I would run it and try to save money to buy the gl***, especially for the front windshield. The others would come later.

I guess no one here has ever wanted to drive their cars for a little while or used what was available to them while they saved money for gl***/paintjob/bear claw latches/new chrome/etc/etc/etc.

 

Hey, Jimmy White is a real craftsman. I don't think you'll find Lexan used for a windshield in anything from his shop.

 

Dosn't lexan break into large dull shards? Most state laws are against plate type gl*** (atleast Kentucky's, as I understand) that will break into about 100 knife like shards on impact.

 

The problem with using Lexan is like said above, cheap 'fix' instead of the right way. There's a right type of plastic to use but I'm sure at $350-400 per sheet gl*** is a better choice. We used MR4000 and MR5000 in race cars and nearly couldn't scratch it. After about 5 years there were a few cobwebs but for 9sec runs you can deal with it. Hours on the road? I dunno.

I also agree with the bondo comment. Same/same

 

He has already explaine that the car was widened, and that is the problem.
Scratches can be polished out but safety is the concern.
Don't worry about going through Lexan, worry about it snapping in shards, upon impact, and impaling or slicing you, or your loved ones.

 

18 months ago- a bunch of **** fell off a truck right in front of the 32. A 2 foot long 2x4 hit the windshield & frame. Thank god it was safety gl***. Bent the frame, shattered the gl*** & made a nice end-of-the-2x4 dent in the gl***, thanks to the membrane between the 2 sheets of gl***.

If I had lexan in mine- I'd be wearing that 2x4 in my skull.

Just because you can install lexan doesn't mean you should.

Besides- doesn't a windshield have to be DOT approved?

 

As James said, it does all of those thing over time especially if it is exposed to weather.


True this window has been treated way worse than one would usally treat a custom car or hotrod window but it has turned opaque and is scratched beyond use.
Even when it was new, that piece of lexan had a lot of distortion in it when you were looking out going down the road.

The only advantage I can see is that the little thugs who decide to throw a rock through the window are in for a big surprise when it comes flying right back at them.

 

I guess Jimmy White of Circle City Hot Rods is a wannabe. I am pretty sure he built a 30 or 31 A coupe with blue lexan windows with a bunch of holes in it.

uh... you talking about the black coupe? that is a guy looking for that 60's drag race look, not someone who built a car where you can not put gl*** in it. I'm certain the windshield is gl***.

 

Federal law requires all windshield for cars and trucks to be made from laminated safety plate gl***. The side and back gl***es may be the same or of tempered gl*** which shatters into 100s/1000s of small pieces when broken.

 

I was talking about the roll up windows. The windows in that coupe I believe are blue lexan. Correct me if I am wrong.

That coupe is meant to be like an old drag car, but that doesn't mean the owner never drives it on the street. I'd bet the car has seen more street time than dragstrip time, but that is just speculation on my part.

And yes, Chilly Phil, I believe Jimmy White is a true craftsman. I never said he wasn't. The stuff his shop turns out is something I can only dream of achieving.