Next project will start this week: Lexan rear windows (just the back doors and quarter windows). I managed to score a reasonably cheap 36x36" piece off ebay (as luck would have it, the e30 rear window area, including the frame, is about 18"x36") and ordered 2 pairs of pop-out lexan vents from an aircraft supply place for $30 or so. So if the weather cooperates, that will be this weekend's project.
I'm taking a guess that doing these windows in 1/8" Lexan replacing the glass, vertical support, and cranks/tracks will net me about a 20-25lb weight loss up high in the back where I don't want it. I know there are other places to lose weight, but this is specifically meant to offset part of the weight of the rollbar, which is roughly in the same area of the car.
Other weight-reduction would cut into the street legality of the car (bumpers, lighting, etc). I may do the rear windshield at some point, but for the time being I prefer to keep the rear defrost for winter events, etc.
Another thing I plan to do is drop another 10lbs or so from each end of the car by replacing the piston-style bumper supports with some simple steel L-brackets, but that's down the road a ways.
In other news, with season membership signups for this season open for 4 days now, we have 21 season memberships already - which is pretty strong (I think last year we had around 25 or so). So I foresee full events all season again, though probably less people from the eastern DC/Baltimore areas and more from Pittsburgh/Western Maryland area.
Also 2 new e30s signed up for the full season - one is Alp Seyvan running initially in PR, who is a Fairfax County local that I've met and a newbie to rallycross. The other one is an 86 ETA but I don't know the owner (I don't think!) who also appears to be from the DC area.
More updates in a few days!
I'm taking a guess that doing these windows in 1/8" Lexan replacing the glass, vertical support, and cranks/tracks will net me about a 20-25lb weight loss up high in the back where I don't want it. I know there are other places to lose weight, but this is specifically meant to offset part of the weight of the rollbar, which is roughly in the same area of the car.
Other weight-reduction would cut into the street legality of the car (bumpers, lighting, etc). I may do the rear windshield at some point, but for the time being I prefer to keep the rear defrost for winter events, etc.
Another thing I plan to do is drop another 10lbs or so from each end of the car by replacing the piston-style bumper supports with some simple steel L-brackets, but that's down the road a ways.
In other news, with season membership signups for this season open for 4 days now, we have 21 season memberships already - which is pretty strong (I think last year we had around 25 or so). So I foresee full events all season again, though probably less people from the eastern DC/Baltimore areas and more from Pittsburgh/Western Maryland area.
Also 2 new e30s signed up for the full season - one is Alp Seyvan running initially in PR, who is a Fairfax County local that I've met and a newbie to rallycross. The other one is an 86 ETA but I don't know the owner (I don't think!) who also appears to be from the DC area.
More updates in a few days!
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