Double-glazed trackday car-need to replace glass- with what?
Discussion
Yeah, so a 1997 S-Class might not be everyone's first choice as a track-day weapon, but it owes me nothing, and was just sat there doing nothing. It's RWD, reasonably fast and actually goes around corners surprising well.
Only trouble is that's it tyre destroyingly heavy. Of the original 1880kg, I've lost 282kg from just removing the interior and a few other little bits (70kg in the original front seats alone)! I'd like to lose the same again, and I reckon the double glazed windows (sides and rear) will go a good way to achieving that goal.
I'm guessing there must be around 100kg of glass that needs to come out.
What is the best type of plastic to replace it with?
Perspex? Acrylic? Polycarbonate?
What thickness and quality?
Is there anything else I need to know?
Oh, and where is the best place to buy it?
Thanks in advance, Chris.
Only trouble is that's it tyre destroyingly heavy. Of the original 1880kg, I've lost 282kg from just removing the interior and a few other little bits (70kg in the original front seats alone)! I'd like to lose the same again, and I reckon the double glazed windows (sides and rear) will go a good way to achieving that goal.
I'm guessing there must be around 100kg of glass that needs to come out.
What is the best type of plastic to replace it with?
Perspex? Acrylic? Polycarbonate?
What thickness and quality?
Is there anything else I need to know?
Oh, and where is the best place to buy it?
Thanks in advance, Chris.
4mm polycarbonate and expect to pay £25 - £30 per M³. The firm below are reasonably competitive and at the least they provide a benchmark agianst which to compare local suppliers.
I have considered moving to acrylic/Perspex because it seems to be more scratch resistant in some applications, although it is less hardy (that said though its still far far stronger than glass)...
I have considered moving to acrylic/Perspex because it seems to be more scratch resistant in some applications, although it is less hardy (that said though its still far far stronger than glass)...
Wow, cheers for all your comments!
Thank you GC8 for your advice. I will look into prices next week.
legend!
Isn't it an auto though?
Cheers. Auto yes, but it's a later 5-speed with control over every gear.
I'm looking into a manual box. Some of the Cosworth Mercs of the same era apparently had a Getrag 265, and they are the same basic block, so maybe. That's a long way in the future though. The autobox is fine for now.
However, I have managed to get the ESP/BAS/ABS disabled without it dropping into limp mode, so sideways action a plenty!
Wiring loom has been fun!
I went from this
via this
to this
saving around 12kg on wire. There is still loads to come out from behind the dash...
Thank you GC8 for your advice. I will look into prices next week.
GC8 said:
The window regulators wont be light so all four will add up and be easy to remove when youre fitting plastic windows. I bet that you can save the best part of 15 kilos (if not more) by fitting an Odyessy battery too. Does it still have airconditioning?
Window regulators will obviously go when windows replaced. I've replaced the massive lorry battery with a much smaller one, as most of the electronic chaff is now removed. Air-con and heater etc is next on the list to come out.Ferb said:
Great car, something different. What engine/power is in the beast Chris?
It's only a 3.2 straight 6 - 220 Bhp apparently. I've got a 5l v8 (322Bhp) one too, but that's a bit nice to cut up. If I can get it down to 1200kg (possibly a bit too much of a challenge) it'll be around 180 bhp/tonne, which should allow it to go rather well!MrFlibbles said:
legend!Isn't it an auto though?
I'm looking into a manual box. Some of the Cosworth Mercs of the same era apparently had a Getrag 265, and they are the same basic block, so maybe. That's a long way in the future though. The autobox is fine for now.
However, I have managed to get the ESP/BAS/ABS disabled without it dropping into limp mode, so sideways action a plenty!
sniff diesel said:
There's got to be half a tonne to shave off that car. The E36 loom weighs 50kgs, bet that one must be double.
I hope so.Wiring loom has been fun!
I went from this
via this
to this
saving around 12kg on wire. There is still loads to come out from behind the dash...
Perspex is FAR more durable than people make out on internet forums and its far far stronger than glass. Polycarbonate also shatter into shards you know? Acrylic is far more resistant to scratching, its lighter (though only just) and it can be film covered if youre really worried about being impaled on deadly shards...
Id advise against using Margard type polycarbonate: its far more expensive and the b*stard stuff still marks easily, just not as easily as before. With PC being so cheap (if you buy it right), itll work out cheaper to replace the damaged sections when necessary.
Id advise against using Margard type polycarbonate: its far more expensive and the b*stard stuff still marks easily, just not as easily as before. With PC being so cheap (if you buy it right), itll work out cheaper to replace the damaged sections when necessary.
Utterpiffle said:
If I can get it down to 1200kg (possibly a bit too much of a challenge) it'll be around 180 bhp/tonne, which should allow it to go rather well!
I don't know what you're comparing it against, but 180 bhp/ton is pretty unremarkable for a performance car. Are you sure you're starting in the right place? At the end of the day it's going to have a huge frontal area so it will have lots of drag, even if you get it down to 1200 Kgs (optimistic in my view) that is no better than your average road car let along a stripped out track day special, the suspension will still presumably be the original comfy soft (and well worn) and with the interior stripped it will be unusable for anything anything off the track.The stuff you take off will probably be quite valuable (especially the glass) and this could turn out to be quite a lucrative way to dispose of the car, I just don't see the end result being anything special on the track.
GreenV8S said:
Utterpiffle said:
If I can get it down to 1200kg (possibly a bit too much of a challenge) it'll be around 180 bhp/tonne, which should allow it to go rather well!
I don't know what you're comparing it against, but 180 bhp/ton is pretty unremarkable for a performance car. Are you sure you're starting in the right place? At the end of the day it's going to have a huge frontal area so it will have lots of drag, even if you get it down to 1200 Kgs (optimistic in my view) that is no better than your average road car let along a stripped out track day special, the suspension will still presumably be the original comfy soft (and well worn) and with the interior stripped it will be unusable for anything anything off the track.The stuff you take off will probably be quite valuable (especially the glass) and this could turn out to be quite a lucrative way to dispose of the car, I just don't see the end result being anything special on the track.
I know it's not quick compared to modern cars, but it's something a little different that is a bloody good laugh to throw about. It started at 117 bhp/tonne, so even as it is now, it's made quite a difference.Agreed, 1200kg is optimistic, but I like a challenge!
I am not sure I agree with you in the frontal drag (yes I know I need headlights or covers in), but this shape Merc has a drag coefficient of 0.32, which according to google is the same as an Alfa 147 and better than an '04 Impreza. On saying that, it's not a subject I've ever really read up on, so you may correct me there.
At the end of the day I bought the car cheap for it's sequential LPG system which is now on another of my Mercs, so the car owes me nothing. Anything I sell is a bonus.
It will never be "track day special" as you put it, but that's really not what I'm aiming for - It's a cheap way for me have some fun at the Marham track days and possibly a few others.
On saying all this, I think you'd be surprised at how well it actually does go around corners, even with an inexperienced driver such as myself behind the wheel - one of the professional drivers who sat beside me at Marham last weekend was certainly impressed.
Edited by Utterpiffle on Saturday 25th April 18:20
Utterpiffle said:
Berger said:
Bin bags.
?Keep the front screen and smash the others. Extra "rat look" points too.
Edited by Berger on Saturday 25th April 20:41
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