Cracked Windshield

[jwebb]

Anyone had any luck or try to repair the crack with a windshield repair kit? Next step is a lexan replacement...

[EZ$]

Just went through this. Tried a windshield crack repair kit. Money would have been better spent on a case of beer! Decided to go with a lexan replacement from 520 Speedworks. I believe they are a vendor here on the site. There are a few possibilities for a glass replacement. The cheapest one I found was from the cobra parts operation at the Cobra Experience museum in Martinez, CA. If you search for **********, the opening page gives you two choices, pick the one for original cobras. I believe theirs was around $300. The lexan was $350 with free shipping from 520 Speedworks.

I will say that while not as easy as I would have liked it to be to replace with the lexan, once I figured it out and made some minor adjustments it went together pretty easy. They have a video on their website that details how to install it. Make sure you won't be going through any vehicle inspections because lexan in not legal in any of the 50 states I believe.

[CaptB]

2nd vote for 520 Speedworks, Greg Allan (520) 400-3584

[Planecrazy1976]

Jwebb, Here is the link to our website. https://520speedworks.com/shop/ols/products/cobra-lexan-windshield

[jwebb]

My car is supposed to go thru MA inspection, haven't the past 2 years do to cracked windshields. How durable is the Lexan and is it's appearance that different from glass? How obvious is Lexan?

[GoDadGo]

Take a look for yourself & then you can make an informed decision:

.........................https://youtu.be/Sfu9JoGZKR4

.I Hope You Find An Acceptable Solution!

[OVCobra]

jwebb
The lexan windshield (I have one from Fast Freddie's) is largely indistinguishable from the original glass windshield (WITHOUT the crack) and has proven quite durable (in use since 2015). Lexan is "softer" so take extra care cleaning it to avoid scratches, windshield wipers are the biggest source of scratches (IMO) but not an issue as most don't drive in the rain.

I have absolutely no concern regarding the safety the lexan provides...if it can stop a hockey puck it will definitely stop a stone. I seem to recall that they claim(ed) it can/would stop a 22 calibre bullet?

The big issue is that lexan is not safety glass (tempered & laminated) so it does not have a DOT number. I would say it will come down to those who do the inspection...hopefully they don't notice it and/or knit-pick about it. We don't have annual inspections in Ontario, Canada do it is not an issue.

Good luck

[Jeff Kleiner]

If you must have glass as of about a month ago Factory Five had more than 50 replacements in stock. I think they're $350. The thing to remember with the glass windshields is that you absolutely must not have them stressed when they are installed ---shim as necessary between the windshield frame arms and chassis so that the glass remains relaxed. Glass doesn't like to bend so if you just take up the clearance by tightening the bolts to close the gap you've pretty much guaranteed that the glass will eventually crack.

Good luck,
Jeff

[GoDadGo]

If you must have glass as of about a month ago Factory Five had more than 50 replacements in stock. I think they're $350. The thing to remember with the glass windshields is that you absolutely must not have them stressed when they are installed ---shim as necessary between the windshield frame arms and chassis so that the glass remains relaxed. Glass doesn't like to bend so if you just take up the clearance by tightening the bolts to close the gap you've pretty much guaranteed that the glass will eventually crack.

Good luck,
Jeff

..........The Jedi Master (aka: Sir Jeffski / Obe-Wan Kenobi) has spoken.

[boat737]

In addition to the shims I added, I found that the mounting pads on the frame had a slight angle difference relative to the windshield edge. It was probably only a couple degrees, but you could see a slight stress when tightening both the windshield screws and the bolts to the frame pads.

What I did was to put a bend/twist in the upright arms near the bottom of the arm, just above the 1/2" bolt holes. This way, the frame-to-arm are parallel to each other, and the arm-to-windshield frame are also parallel. Those arms are some sort of brass or bronze, and the chrome plating is pretty fragile on them. So when you twist them at all, the chrome will start to flake. I wasn't too worried about that since I put the twist as low as possible and still have a flat, parallel mounting surface on the frame pads, as well as below the body hole as much as possible and out of sight. To be clear, it wasn't a vertical bend, but a twist in the arm.

When installing the shims, I used the body holes as a guide, which gave me a very thin 1/16 or so shim on the drivers side, and somewhere in the neighborhood of 1/8" to .200, or so, on the passenger side. I can't quite remember the exact thickness.

On top of all that, I ditched the fragile little screws in the windshield edge, and used set screws and nyloc nuts instead. Got rid of the brass insert and used the the stainless insert as well. I just put the set-screws in finger snug, and then tightened the nut securely. This made mounting the wind wings and mirror mount easy by putting in the correct length set screw. Of course the set screws threaded into the stainless insert aren't parallel to the out side surface, so I used counter sunk washers and self leveling washers.

During my build, I read quite a few threads about the windshield crack issue. That had me pretty nervous, so I worked very hard to get those arms flush, parallel and stress free. Probably had that windshield and the mounting arms in and out a dozen times.

Been 4 years, and all seems nice and snug still. Time will tell.

[efnfast]

jwebb
The lexan windshield (I have one from Fast Freddie's) is largely indistinguishable from the original glass windshield (WITHOUT the crack) and has proven quite durable (in use since 2015). Lexan is "softer" so take extra care cleaning it to avoid scratches, windshield wipers are the biggest source of scratches (IMO) but not an issue as most don't drive in the rain.

I have absolutely no concern regarding the safety the lexan provides...if it can stop a hockey puck it will definitely stop a stone. I seem to recall that they claim(ed) it can/would stop a 22 calibre bullet?

The big issue is that lexan is not safety glass (tempered & laminated) so it does not have a DOT number. I would say it will come down to those who do the inspection...hopefully they don't notice it and/or knit-pick about it. We don't have annual inspections in Ontario, Canada do it is not an issue.

Good luck

I have one too from Fast Freddie - was his first customer - I think I bought mine in 2006 or 2007 .... still looks brand news. Just take care of it and don't use wipers on it.

[john42]

I got and installed my 520 Speedworks windshield today. It is spot on fantastic!

[wrenchhead]

My car is supposed to go thru MA inspection, haven't the past 2 years do to cracked windshields. How durable is the Lexan and is it's appearance that different from glass? How obvious is Lexan?

I have the Lexan and went through MA inspection, np.

[Planecrazy1976]

John, That is awesome.

Greg
520 Speedworks