Lexan hatch window

[bornslippy73]

Hey everyone,

I emailed LS automotive on purchasing their 240sx Lexan window Hatch Kit. I haven't gotten a reply yet. I don't see a telephone number on their site. I'll just send another email.

Does anybody know of anybody else selling Lexan hatch windows or a kit similar to LS automotive?

I checked two hardware stores and they sell pieces that are of course too small and both said they would have to special order my window size. I even found Orchard Supply/hardware selling a Lexan spray cleaner. I should have taken a picture or at least written the name of it. I'm going back so I'll post again.

Anyways, I have the Seibon carbon hatch and just asking around if anybody knows something I haven't come across.

Thanks for any advice you can pass along.

[burnsauto]

unless its a track only car, i wouldnt advise doing it.

[genericforumname]

yeah, it may be crazy light but lexan windows wont last long, I dont know the technical name of the process but the surface gets "etched" very easily and will fog up (the "glass" itself, not actually fog) and you wont be able to see properly

there IS a company that makes a glass/plastic polymer thats supposed to be 40% lighter than glass but retains all other features, I cant remember who makes it though and I have no personal experience with it so it may be crap also.

[bboyoracle]

http://www.peak-performance.net/content/view/211/130/

Acrylic windows?

http://www.rhdjapan.com/jdm-low/HPI-Clear-Acrylic-Window-Full-Set-S13-S14-S15-Silvia-180sx-50791

[koukimonster139]

what?????//


if glass is too heavy for your car,, your motor sucks dicks in hell

[Andrew Bohan]

well
100% of car glass is above the center of gravity, and glass is kinda heavy

so it makes sense to switch it to something lighter for better handling.


on the other hand, you have to be doing some pretty competitive stuff for that to even make a difference.

[bornslippy73]

Haha! My motor is still a stock KA! So there is one question answered! I'm of course going to turbocharge it but really going about purchasing the parts and how I want to approach in a "measure twice cut once" method. Know what I mean?

Anyways, one of the reasons I'm getting a lexan is well spending on the CF hatch and then reinstalling the glass. I figure why? I might as well go "light" all the way. Another reason is my entire suspension is redone with RUCA, TC rods, arms, etc. coilovers, Poly bushings, sways, struts, pwer brace and its super stiff and I can feel almost evry crack on the road and knowing I got a heavy glass on a CF hatch..I'm not sure if all that vibration can be handled by CF. I run a lot of autocross more than drift so weight is something I consider.

I still appreciate everyone's advice and comments (positive or negative)...why take this too seriously right? Its all about how much fun we all have driving what we love.

Thanks again to you all!

[origin_s135]

chargespeed has acrylic windows for the hatch. that, and a cf trunk.

[FRpilot]

just wondering, are there wiper holes and 3rd brake lights holes on the seibon cf hatch.

[bornslippy73]

Yup, I checked Chargespeed. Compared to LS Automotive and Seibon CF hatch Chargespeed cost more. Thanks Bro. I checked the other options mentioned from the other members too. As long as the Lexan does not crack or shatter under the stiff suspension vibration then I'm already committed to getting the Lexan. I'll figure something out to protect the surface.

Seibon does have the wiper hole punched out and "cut-away" sections for the 3rd brake light. BUT I've seen a couple without the "cut-away" sections so I'm not sure if these are the new versions or what. I've had mine for a while just never installed cuz I was figuring out if I'll stick with the stock glass or go Lexan.

I'm gonna contact Peck Performance on Monday to see what kind of Lexan kit they have and for how much?

I'm not using my 3rd brake light or the wiper unit. Check www.moonface.com/mfr/wiper/index.htm cuz they have a rear wiper hole cap. Its made out of silicone and heat-resistant. It has MFR stamped on the cap. Be aware they offer two sizes.

A little patience and diligence and anyone can find a inexpensive alternative instead of buying this wiper hole cap.

[bornslippy73]

Oops. I mean Peak Performance....not Peck.

If anybody has a Seibon rear CF hatch I'd like to know if you have the wiper hole punched out or not and the 3rd brake light "cut-away" section or not.

[Flybert]

Kevin from LS should get back to you. They've been busy with Formula D stuff. I think he sells the seibon hatch with it for a special price too.

[bornslippy73]

Yippie skippy!

Perfect timing! Good thing you told me.

If Kevin can cut me a deal with a Seibon CF hatch and Lexan kit together then I could sell my CF hatch to my buddy.

Thanks bro for the status on LS Automotive.

[CSil80]

what?????//


if glass is too heavy for your car,, your motor sucks dicks in hell
It's not the motor that's in question for this.

Basically if the glass is too heavy, then the carbon will crack when closing the hatch or over a nice sized bump, and end up looking like shit.

Like giving a big BIG girl a piggy back ride. It hurts.
Then try jumping up and down. Something is bound to break.

Carbon fiber hatches tend to be fiberglass with a carbon fiber overlay anyways, so they aren't the strongest things out there.

[a_ahmed]

LS Automotive sucks I had very bad experiences with them. Had to have paypal file a claim on them to give me money back. I don't know if they even exist in this world anymore as they never ever respond to emails.. EVER... or I just had one real bad experience, but another two guys had the same issue on nico... I was just ordering bloody steering column bushings :-/

I would like to get a couple of things from them but they NEVER respond :-/ I bought a few things online through the site, I sent the money, paypal took the money, and they never emailed me once despite me emailing them several times over a period of a month...

[bboyoracle]

Csil80 do you know that from personal experience?

I have a vis cf hatch with glass in it and have no problems cracking whatsoever. In fact it helps in locking the trunk which is considerably light from stock. Id imagine anything with less weight......acrylic, lexan....you would definately need trunk pins to keep it down.

Here is a picture of my vis hatch with stock glass. I dont know how seibon is but my hatch had no third brake light hole. If you look closely you can see an indent where the hatch wiper would be. So if you wanted to run one its marked for you.


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/bboyoracle/RPS13%20Build/DSCF0007.jpg


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/bboyoracle/Vis%20Hood/HOOD-06.jpg

[a_ahmed]

^Yes from personal experience a year ago... even after paypal filed a claim and got my money back they never emailed me. That is really lame :-/

[bornslippy73]

It's not the motor that's in question for this.

Basically if the glass is too heavy, then the carbon will crack when closing the hatch or over a nice sized bump, and end up looking like shit.

Like giving a big BIG girl a piggy back ride. It hurts.
Then try jumping up and down. Something is bound to break.

Carbon fiber hatches tend to be fiberglass with a carbon fiber overlay anyways, so they aren't the strongest things out there.


Thanks CSil80. That is exactly whats on my mind. Some assume people go the "lightweight" route to be just faster (to compensate for other areas lacking in performance) and nothing else, but when you commit to CF there are other issues to consider like mounting and the hardware used to install the CF.

If anybody buys CF hoods and trunks just for looks and doesn't research all the long term issues then you are setting yourself up for a headache. Always good to ask around. Thanks again bro.

[LB.Motoring]

The new owner of my s13 has a carbon hatch on it,


I cant remember if he put lexan or glass into it.

[bornslippy73]

^Yes from personal experience a year ago... even after paypal filed a claim and got my money back they never emailed me. That is really lame :-/


What!? Yikes! I haven't ordered from LS yet, but What The Deuce!!?? I'm still waiting on a reply from them (Kevin). I already sent two emails the past week.

That doesn't sound reassuring at all. Did you install that stock glass yourself? Looks clean. Faded stock burgundy with JDM tails and lower panel in black....that is a mirror image of my RPS. hahahaha!

So you don't see any integrity issues with your CF hatch with a glass? Any other pics of your hatch inside and out? You used the stock hinges and hardware too?

[fromxtor]

I have a LS auto lexan rear window, its just made of GE high performance lexan. I would remove the stock glass measure the hole and cut yourself one, it would be cheaper.

[bboyoracle]

What!? Yikes! I haven't ordered from LS yet, but What The Deuce!!?? I'm still waiting on a reply from them (Kevin). I already sent two emails the past week.

Looks clean. Faded stock burgundy with JDM tails and lower panel in black....that is a mirror image of my RPS. hahahaha!

So you don't see any integrity issues with your CF hatch with a glass? Any other pics of your hatch inside and out? You used the stock hinges and hardware too?
Car should be painted with new aero soon so shouldnt look like yours for too long. :)

No integrity issues at all. Yeah i used the stock hinges to mount the hatch. To get to the hinges just pull back the headliner closest to the hatch (opposite from the headliner towards the front window) Theres just a panel holding it up after that you should be able to pull it back.

I inplugged the harness rather then splicing them.

Here is the hatch off:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/bboyoracle/RPS13%20Build/IMG_2180.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/bboyoracle/RPS13%20Build/IMG_2181.jpg

Hatch back on!

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/bboyoracle/RPS13%20Build/IMG_2184.jpg

FYI!!!!! When i got the back window removed I had to get new molding (existing molding cannot be used again) I had to buy new molding from the dealer. The price was......ready for this......200 dollars. A lot but it got the job done. Just something to think about.

[fromxtor]

^^Thats weird its only like $35 on courtesy's site:
http://www.courtesyparts.com/betasite/90320m-welt-back-door-window-240sx-s13-1989-1994-p-65571.html
Unless you referring to the metal trim and thats still not $300 through them.

[bboyoracle]

Edited but it was about the same price on courtesy parts. The piece i was refering to is a 8pc set(4 corners and 4 sides):

http://www.courtesyparts.com/betasite/90330-moulding-set-back-door-window-240sx-s13-07/1988-12/1990-fedfb-calfb-12/1990-fedfbdohc-calfbdohc-p-184464.html

The part you are referring to goes underneath the window.

[fromxtor]

^^ Yea I dont think I'm even going to re-install that trim stuff as I will be getting a FPR hatch as soon as I can afford one.

[SimpleSexy180]

running just a lexan window is almost as light as a carbon hatch.

every lifted a stock hatch without the glass? shit is light as fuck.

[silviaguy240]

hopefully you save your stock hatch for inspection.

[bboyoracle]

Are you referring to the third brake light? I'm sure you can add one rather then resort to switching hatches.

[silviaguy240]

no, lexan windows = illegal. euro gt3 rs has lexan rear window, us version doesnt. why they arent in US standards i dont know.

[bboyoracle]

Just another way for the US to dick us over :(

[FRpilot]

I dont know how seibon is but my hatch had no third brake light hole. If you look closely you can see an indent where the hatch wiper would be. So if you wanted to run one its marked for you.


the fitment looks pretty spot on. might want to rub that tape adhessive off. can you take some pictures of the wiper hole indent?

[bboyoracle]

Tape adhesive has been taken off as seen on the first pictures i posted. Cant find pictures of the indent. Car is in the body shop so cant take pix sorry :(