As we are working on the engine, a big long crack showed up on the windshied.... Coming from one of the many, many rock impact minicraters (this one was right by the top corner).

I see that regular windshields are now at around US$280, Any reason not to go to a Optic armour 1/4" windshield?...... Other then the engine ate all the money? roughly double the price.

trying to come up with good reasons...... I though safety was one my wife might let me get buy on... And that it should last longer.

Safety & weight are the main reasons. If you are going over 150 mph you may need additional support for the front.


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I'm planning to put an OA 1/4" panel in the front to replace the glass. Mainly for weight reasons. Saves 15lbs supposedly. As noted, you'll need at minimum a center support. @ajaquilante have a pretty trick setup on their car where it has a turnbuckle so you can adjust the support precisely.

thanks... the additional support was a surprize/(...dissapointment...) I calculate that will not be going over 140 in any of our tracks down here.. Was hoping to avoid a window brace if possible..... The JPC website states upto 200mph with the 1/4" windshield, was that to optimistic?

It will need a brace. At 160mph with a brace at Daytona I've still had them slightly cave in. The $197 windshield is too flat. Also you don't want the windshield fluttering and warping your view at lower speeds. Something else to thinking about is tear-offs to protect it from pitting. (I would recommend these on a glass windshield as well to prolong the life of it) But they add another cost, and need to be done before the windshield sees any action.

@ajaquilante, Do you have a preferred source for the tear-offs?

In for info on tear offs (never heard of them before).... and looks like a stock window for me then...

I used Protint on one of my cars. Great product. At 6 layers the view was a little hazy if you focus on the screen rather than looking through it, but at 5 or less its virtually clear. Wish I'd used it on the 350 -- that glass screen is pitted to hell and you have the added pain of having to replace the header when it's time for a new screen....

Weird.. a local outfit was a windscreen here in Chile for 200 bucks.... shocking... Things here are usually 2 or 3 times more expensive... But its about time for a new windshield... mine looks like a it took a blast fromm a shotgun... pitted to hell.

Those tear off screens are neat though......

How does Optic Armor stand up to pitting as opposed to glass?

At that price I would just get a new windshield. Another option is getting it covered with Clear Bra or similar. I had that on my Viper ACR for 8 years and no cracks or anything. Now it was a little scratched , but I was more concerned about breakage, as the goofy windshields were usually over 800 -1000 bucks. Peeled it off when I sold the car and other than little pits around the edges , it looked brand new.

Most of the guys I know who get the Optic Armor figure on replacing it every 2-3 years , so not sure the weight savings is that big a benefit for you, imho?

( and you do need a brace or two ).

I have optic armor 1/4" front and rear.
Fits in the stock molding better than the thinner versions and at only 1 pound more than 3/16's it also reduces the need for braces. About a 30 pound weight savings for the pair.
So far no regrets.

I put a new lexan windshield in before last season. Like a dumb ass I did not put tear offs on it . Pitted very bad in less than a season on it.

Sad/Glad to hear the feedback on the tearoffs. I just ordered a set.

I have OA 1/8" installed in the rear of the car, stuff looks great.

steeda5 said:

I put a new lexan windshield in before last season. Like a dumb ass I did not put tear offs on it . Pitted very bad in less than a season on it.

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This isn't very encouraging news, but news nonetheless.....I'm going to have to look into these tear offs.

Fabman said:

I have optic armor 1/4" front and rear.
Fits in the stock molding better than the thinner versions and at only 1 pound more than 3/16's it also reduces the need for braces. About a 30 pound weight savings for the pair.
So far no regrets.

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30 lbs? Wow. Did you weigh it or go off factory specs?

the5 said:

30 lbs? Wow. Did you weigh it or go off factory specs?

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That figure is according to the optic armor website.
About 15-16 lbs per windshield, depending on the thickness of window chosen.
The rear glass is actually less weight savings now that I look at it.
13 pound savings for a 3/16's window and 11 pounds for a 1/4" rear window.
You can save 15 pounds by going to an 1/8" rear window, but most of the 1/8" windows I have seen looked wobbly and I feel like the stronger thicker window will be smoother and more consistent aerodynamically without all the dips and bumps changing with different wind loadings at various speeds.
If I have to add 5 pounds of bracing to support a window that's 3 pounds lighter, have I really done anything?
Maybe it doesn't matter, but that was my thought when it was my decision to make and the obsessive/compulsive part of me took over.
At least the windows look good, and that's important.

I went with 1/4” front and 3/16” rear on both my cars.


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Correction, I just checked and my rear window is 3/16" not 1/4".
Only the windshield is 1/4". The fit and contour is very nice.