Author Topic: Wind screen fabrication  (Read 2202 times)

Offline tcoupekyle

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 354
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 4.70 1/8
  • Your Track: Houston Motorsport park
  • Your Vehicle: 225" slip joint FED
  • General Location: Houston
Wind screen fabrication
« on: June 30, 2022, 06:07:32 PM »
Anyone build windscreens for dragsters mine has the bottom broken where the bolts attached

Offline tcoupekyle

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 354
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 4.70 1/8
  • Your Track: Houston Motorsport park
  • Your Vehicle: 225" slip joint FED
  • General Location: Houston
Re: Wind screen fabrication
« Reply #1 on: June 30, 2022, 06:09:51 PM »

Offline Paul New

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 743
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 6.47 @ 214 MPH SBC
  • Your Engine: 387" SBC
  • Your Track: Woodburn Dragstrip
  • Your Vehicle: 2005 FED
Re: Wind screen fabrication
« Reply #2 on: June 30, 2022, 07:49:14 PM »
Just buy some polycarbonate they aren’t to bad to build use yours as a template

Offline tcoupekyle

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 354
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 4.70 1/8
  • Your Track: Houston Motorsport park
  • Your Vehicle: 225" slip joint FED
  • General Location: Houston
Re: Wind screen fabrication
« Reply #3 on: July 01, 2022, 05:43:50 AM »
Any tips?

Offline lake_harley

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 262
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 7.06 @99.58 - 1/8 mi.
  • Your Engine: Carbureted, gas mild 305 Chevy
  • Your Track: Jeffers Motorsports Park - Sikeston, MO
  • Your Vehicle: 145" FED
  • General Location: SE Missouri
Re: Wind screen fabrication
« Reply #4 on: July 01, 2022, 06:16:48 AM »
I did a windshield for an ultralight airplane I built. After I made a pattern I cut the polycarbonate with a fine-tooth jigsaw blade and sanded the edges to knock off roughness that might lead to cracks. Drilling mounting holes, I used a regular drill bit but ran the drill backward so the bit was more like melting through the material rather than cutting, which can cause stress and cracking. It's been a few years ago but that's what I recall of what I did.

Lynn

Offline tcoupekyle

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 354
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 4.70 1/8
  • Your Track: Houston Motorsport park
  • Your Vehicle: 225" slip joint FED
  • General Location: Houston
Re: Wind screen fabrication
« Reply #5 on: July 01, 2022, 06:58:52 AM »
Thanks Lynn I really like that idea with the drill. Any advice on bending?

Offline Paul New

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 743
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 6.47 @ 214 MPH SBC
  • Your Engine: 387" SBC
  • Your Track: Woodburn Dragstrip
  • Your Vehicle: 2005 FED
Re: Wind screen fabrication
« Reply #6 on: July 01, 2022, 12:54:32 PM »
Bending it will just bend to the shape needed it is very flexible

Offline JEFF/21C

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 122
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: N/A
  • Your Engine: 306 SBC INJECTED ALKY
  • Your Track: NONE
  • Your Vehicle: 23 T ALTERED
  • General Location: eastern canada
Re: Wind screen fabrication
« Reply #7 on: July 01, 2022, 01:40:21 PM »
 I've used polycarbonate LEXAN brand on my late model for the wing bent it in a brake drilled it never cracked also window wings on a cobra kit car cut on a band saw drilled for brackets it's not the same stuff as plexiglass which will crack and break but people have heated it to form and use washers when screwing it in place

Offline lake_harley

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 262
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 7.06 @99.58 - 1/8 mi.
  • Your Engine: Carbureted, gas mild 305 Chevy
  • Your Track: Jeffers Motorsports Park - Sikeston, MO
  • Your Vehicle: 145" FED
  • General Location: SE Missouri
Re: Wind screen fabrication
« Reply #8 on: July 01, 2022, 03:44:57 PM »
+1 on LEXAN/polycarbonate. I also would avoid plexiglass. Seems brittle. Drilling the holes, I would suggest drilling a bit oversize for the small machine screw or whatever your fastener might be. That allows for a bit of wiggle and expansion without stressing the hole. And yes, use washers to spread the clamping of the fastener.

Post a photo when you're finished!

Lynn

Offline wideopen231

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1911
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 1/8 3.70@ 198 1/4 5.78@245
  • Your Engine: Hemi 526 ci alcohol
  • Your Track: Piedmont
  • Your Vehicle: 225 CMC FED
  • General Location: NORTH CAROLINA
Re: Wind screen fabrication
« Reply #9 on: July 02, 2022, 05:20:30 PM »
I semi cheated on mine. I did aluminum with engine turning finish. Figured cheaper and heck I look over it anyway. I wanted to combine new with old and do a canopy style, but my financial advisor was against it.LOL
Relecting obama is like shooting right foot because it did not hurt enough when you shot left foot