Gamezilla

How much would it cost to replace the door windows with lexan ones? Also, how much would it cost to have a lexan window custom molded for the rear hatch? I'm just looking for a price estimate.

nashman69g

iTrader: (3)

what is lexan????

Gamezilla

Its like bullet proof glass...but not quite bullet proof. Its meant for racing so the glass wont shatter if the car rolls. I'm more interested in using it for anti theft if it isnt really expensive.

nashman69g

iTrader: (3)

here is a web site i just found!!!
call them up
http://www.proglasswindows.com/

FC Drifter

isnt lexan more prone to scratch than glass is? i think thats why only race cars have lexan windows. they scratch a whole lot and fade and make it nearly impossible to see out of.

Gamezilla

Truthfully what I'm looking for is something along the lines of bullet proof glass. To help prevent theft I'm shaving off the keyholes and I want to do something to prevent the windows from being broken. Granted, if someone really wants my car they'll figure out how to get it, I can at least make it hell for petty theives. One of the fastest way into cars is by breaking the glass and climbing in. I'd rather avoid this.

I'm just looking for something that will hold up against any amount of force a human can put out (throwing a brick, hitting it with a crowbar, etc). It doesnt have to be bulletproof.

FC Drifter

i think youre thinking of plexiglass. plexi is nearly indestructable, but its also expensive. lexan is fairly weak in comparison and is used mostly because its light weight. i dont know of anything you can install ona car that would keep people from breaking in. the best thingi can think of is to get one of those alarms with the pager feature. there is a little light on the pager that comes with the alarm, the closer someone gets to your car the faster the light blinks, if someone tampers with the car the pager goes off. best way to keep people out of your car is to not let them get near it.

Gamezilla

People mess with those motion sensor alarms. I see it all the time at school. I'm not so much afraid of them messing with the car as I am taking it. Wouldnt plexiglass fog up and not be as crystal clear as glass? I could always get bullet proof glass, but I doubt thats cheap.

FC Drifter

you worried about the whole car being stolen? there are a thousand different ways to keep that from happening without having to even add an alarm. do a search for fuel pump cutoff switch. hook up a switch to your fuel pump so you can de-activate it, then hide the switch. also i got a friend who rigged up his turbo timer to work as an antitheft device.

West TX RX-7

get good insurance and don't worry bout it. If someone really wants your car they will get it. Bottom Line.

10 seconds and a tow truck and it'll be gone.

midi

I think you're mistaken... and a bit bass ackwards.. Lexan fades? Harley Davidson has used Lexan for their windshields for years and I havent seen a faded one.. Plexi nearly Indestructable?? Plexi gets VERY brittle when old. My grandpa totaled his Harley last year, slid 100ft on asphalt, his Windshield was the only thing that even resembled what it used to, and what was it made of...? Lexan? Right. Lexan is fairly expensive, because of it's Light Weight and Durability. Plexi...cheap, and if you've worked with it before you'd know why.

zelgadiss-san

Lexan is extremely easy to break (maybe not as easy as glass, but still easy). and yes, it is prone to scratching. The bins for the toppings we use at Papa Johns are all made of lexan, some are missing corners, all are scratched to hell.

TKE

Im not sure about how tough lexan and plexiglass are, but all plastic based glass type materials scratch and discolor pretty quick. Thats why hockey rinks are surrounded with real tempered glass. Lexan and plexiglass discolor and scratch and in a very short time you can't see **** through them.

poor college student

hahaha, you click on pricing on that lexan website, and everything just says call... call... call...

attomica

You have it reversed. Plexiglass is a brand name for acrylic sheet. Lexan is a brand name for polycarbonate sheet. Acrylic is quite a bit heavier and more brittle than polycarbonate. They make eyelass lenses out of polycarbonate and not acrylic because of its light weight and strength properties. When you're talking about the kind of surface areas associated with automotive windows glass is really the best choice. It may be brittle, but its abrasion resistance is quite a bit higher that any of the plastics and it naver has fading problems.

I think should reevaluate your anti-theft approach. It would be cost-prohibitive to even consider bullet-proof glass. It's not pre-made for our cars so a company would have to initiate a research and development program just for your car. Then the production...a one-off project would be hugely expensive. You should probably just invest in a good electronic anti-theft system along with good anti-theft behavior. You know, don't go into 7-11 and leave the engine running, don't park with the windows open, stay away from areas that are more likely to house the thieves you're trying to thwart, etc.

Barb_wire

Racers use lexan because it dont Shatter

FC Drifter

i honestly dont know what plexi and lexan are good for. i havent ever worked with or used either. the point i was trying to make was that it isnt going to work on a street car for anti theft.