Track car windshield defogging - HEAT needed?

[briansjacobs]

liquid soap on the inside of the window is better than any commercial anti-fog stuff, but I would echo Jim's statement of if you can have the heater going, do it.

This X1000 but it is still not as good as having a proper defroster in the car. THe trick with liquid soap is to apply it to a rag and cover the entire interior glass. Let it sit for 30-40 min and dry and wipe off just enough of it to leave a clear film on the glass, works better than anything else I have ever tried, it is very cheap, but still not as good as a defroster in Florida during an August rain in Sebring.

If you have already removed defroster unit you can buy a small hair dryer and wire it to run on the cars electrical. I should snap a pic of this set up on the GTL car

[Kershaw]

+1 for liquid soap. in the scuba diving world, we use baby shampoo for defogging our masks. it works very well.

so does spit. but thats only manageable for your mask. not an entire windshield.

[NigelStu]

link to heated windshield? driver probably doesn't need heated air in a racing suit + nomex under layers. be careful where you get the air from if you are directing it to the driver.

Heated windshield as in keeping the heater core in the hvac unit for def purposes. All air will come through the hvac system, no extra plumbing from strange places.

The unit is currently in the car, but will be coming out and then put back in during the build.



Rcb - didn't think you were poking fun, just didn't now what you were referring to. Proper prep is what I'm all about. Racings a lot more fun when the car is ready before you hit the track. :)

[kishg]

gotcha, btw, i've had a 91 325i called louise and levent (zmbluedevil) had a 325is named thelma :)

[RangerGress]

Something else for you to do. With all of the side and rear glass out of an E30 exhaust fumes will build up in car in heavy traffic. Add an NCAA duct to the upper corner of the left and right front doors to push air into the car and keep the fumes out. Those will also help cool the driver on a hot day.

IMO the exhaust in the passenger compartment was caused by the lack of a rear window. I think that the low pressure zone over the trunk was allowing exhaust fumes to come in. Jim and I are talking about our Lemons car and this was an issue at a ChumpCar event we were at last Summer.

OP: Unlike Jim, I've pulled all elements of the heater. When the day comes that there's so much window fogging that some soap on the inside surface won't do it, I'll pull out the heavy artillery. The $15 12V hairdryer. Just have to flex tie it to the cage such that it points at the windsheild and i'll be good to go.

[e30s50dan]

^^^ I also use rainex antifog works great. When I was racing a 911 this was a must the 944 never gave me any trouble but do use it on da bimmer

[FredK]

I retained the defroster on the previous and current Spec E30 and would never consider not having them. Even with a working defroster you'll get some fogging in heavy rain on a cold day.

With new heater hoses, a good heater core, and a cooling system that is working the way it is supposed to the risks and weight penalty of the defroster are minimal compared to the benefit.

Hi Jim,

I'm wondering how you were able to retain a heater core with a SpecE30 cage. I'm assuming you have a dash bar pressed close to the firewall upper "beam". Did you retain the stock E30 heater box, but modify it near the top where it attaches to the vents?

Thanks!

[cheapthrills]

Here's Jim's nice solution:

http://spece30.com/forum/9-interiorsafety/43428-whats-the-best-defrosterdefogging-recommendation?limit=10&start=30

Here's my ghetto solution:

http://spece30.com/forum/51-cages/43146-roll-cage-put-a-bar-under-the-dash?limit=10&start=10#64316

[FredK]

Great, thank you for posting pictures of some re-routing solutions.

[dreeves]

Great, thank you for posting pictures of some re-routing solutions.

This was my VSR-built cage, which kept the heater box.

[iwantspeed]

Hey guys i noticed this duct running into the engine bay on i believe is a 6 series possibly.
picture found in this thread for the dtm revival in germany.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=137568&highlight=dtm+revival

• maybe they are not using a heater core
• & possibly left the blower motor
• & it can get hot air from radiating heat off the headers?

[TobyB]

With interior and exterior temperatures equal, you shouldn't have much trouble with foggy windows.

hahahahhahahahahahahahahahha....>hic< heeehehheheheeehehehehh....>sigh<

ah, thanks, that was good... needed a laugh....
But seriously, stock heater with heat, and blower on high.
AND a squeegee that you can get ahold of.

Because when the rain starts getting on the inside of the windshield, it all starts
to get a bit fuzzy, no matter what you have. There are quite a few youtoob videos
of drivers with the 'rag on a stick', and you laugh, until you discover you really need it.

Full course cautions are the worst...

The one real drawback to heat is when the heater core explodes on your feet,
which they have been known to do. Worth starting with a new core, if you can.

I didn't.

t