Club Valley PolyGlass windshield (Lexan MR10)

[AdamIsAdam]

Are our FFR windshields the Type-1 (http://performanceunlimited.com/cobravalley_interior/windshield.html#templates) size from Cobra Valley?

From inside the frame posts, not counting the 1/4" they suggest adding when the glass is still mounted, I measured on the outside of the windshield as follows:
12 5/6" top to bottom center.
Top across inside frame to inside frame along outside of glass: 46" (need to double check this one since it's supposed to be 1" from top of glass)
Bottom across inside to inside along glass is 49.75"

Seems very tough to measure exactly when mounted on the car. I was using a metal tape measure, so I may try using string tomorrow.

[rich grsc]

I says, type 1 fits Superformance

[AdamIsAdam]

Type-1 also says:

Replacement for most original Cobras, and most replicas
and chassis #200 to #1100-ish Superformance Mk-III's

I've been emailing with the company last night. He explained how to measure. I'll do that again later today and report back so you all know.

[AdamIsAdam]

Circling back: I just had my Club Valley windshield installed by HRE Motorcars in NY. It looks great. Billy did a perfect job. I also asked him to look over the car and give me his input and any suggestions he may have in terms of improvements. He said this was the best built FFR he's ever seen! I take this as extremely high praise from a guy who has built over 200 Cobras and rebuilt countless more of all brands. he's currently got 4 or 5 Shelby's in the shop now, I think all continuation series. From street to race. Plus an original GT500, a T-Bird being rebuilt and much more.

Just wanted to share.

[CraigS]

Adam, thanks for posting this. I have filed it for future use.

[AdamIsAdam]

You're welcome. Oh, BTW, Billy did say he needed to trim the windshield a bit to make it fit perfectly, which is something disclosed on their web site too, so I wasn't surprised. I thought you should file that tidbit away as well. ("file", get it? ;-)

[ChasNMe]

did you end up with the type-1? is it club valley or cobra valley?
thanks, jake

[AdamIsAdam]

I got the TYPE-3 PolyGlass.

[TriPower]

I got one and just installed it about a month ago. I got the largest one he had.

Note just because the old windshield fit does not mean it had the correct clearance to the frame. I dry fit my new windshield after I cut it to be close to the old one, but found the clearance on one side was less than he recommended. I had to trim off some more. Then it worked out great.

Lee

[AdamIsAdam]

After a day of highway driving (high speed) I noticed my windshield seems to flex a lot more than it did before. All bolts to the frame are tight and there doesn't appear to be any movement of the `glass within the frame. It's the entire thing across the top that flexes and the bottom moves fore/after as the top flexes since the sides are not moving.

https://youtu.be/Zc-kohQuTqY

Thoughts?

[silver_pilate]

The flex is one of the drawbacks of poly over glass. That and the swirl marks and scratching.

[AdamIsAdam]

So it's normal? It didn't do it until after I did some high speed driving though.

[silver_pilate]

Yes, from everything I've heard from folks over the years. It has to be thin enough to flex to fit the windshield frame, and the thinner poly or lexan is going to bow or distort at higher speeds, usually about 80-85mph. Thicker lexan does better, but it doesn't flex to fit the frame as easily.

It shouldn't be an issue, though some have added a center support to the windshield if doing higher speeds track events just to prevent it from bowing in too much.

[CraigS]

I agree w/ silver_pilate. I believe most of the Lexan w/s are 3/16. I was autocrossing w/ Fast Freddie when he developed his and he told me he had tried 1/4" lexan but it was too stiff to easily bend to the slight curve that it needs to match the frame. The frame is not strong enough to force the 1/4" lexan to stay at the needed curve. So he used the 3/16 also.

[AdamIsAdam]

Yea, I get that. But what's odd is that it was much stiffer when first installed and after about an hour of high speed driving it developed the flex shown. When I reached out to Randall at Club Valley he was very helpful and said to install one of those angle brackets at the center, bottom of the windshield to provide an anchor point in the middle of the windshield. I get that, but I still wonder why it developed the flex when it was not there originally. The glue he supplied was used and seems to be well installed. Randall thinks it may have separated a bit, but honestly it doesn't look that way.

As long as this thing isn't going it fly off on me, I guess it's not the end of the world!

Anyone know where to get the right angle bracket like this one?

150198

[Hoooper]

Was it sunny on the drive, and is it still just as flexible after cooling down? It will get a little more flexible when warm but should go back to normal after cooling. It's going to flex at speed though, 3/16 and even 1/4 will flex even on cars with full frames around the windshield, since the roadster has no support at the top its going to flex that much more

[AdamIsAdam]

Yes, it was sunny on the ride, but no, it didn't not go back to being as rigid as it was right after installation. If the flexing is normal, I can deal with it. I may try to find or fabricate that angle support. Randall suggested to try using 3M tape for the install if I don't want to pull the windshield, which I don't.

Like I said, as long it's not a dangerous situation, I feel better.