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Here's an idea that may or may not work, replacing the side windows on a Z3 softtop with one's from the "coupe". I need to do some photoshopping....
Filling on the wooden buck is still plodding on, pun intended!
Good find. The rear of the glass looks much too high though for the roof line of the Swb. But if the window runners allow it to be that angle at the rear what about one made from polycarbonate?
Good find. The rear of the glass looks much too high though for the roof line of the Swb. But if the window runners allow it to be that angle at the rear what about one made from polycarbonate?
But if it fits with the glass a bit lower in the door is that a real problem? Much better than plastic ones surely!
But if it fits with the glass a bit lower in the door is that a real problem? Much better than plastic ones surely!
Think about it.
If the glass didn't rise as much there'd be a gap at the front top.
If the top face was angled back so as not to appear so high there'd be a gap at the quarter light and the angle of both runners would need to be altered to allow for the new position.
Of course, there's no reason why a custom sized glass window couldn't be made. But one in polycarbonate could be cut and rolled at home.
And the race cars had Perspex side windows. Good enough for SEFAC, good enough for me.
I should have read your note more carefully - I thought you meant too high (ie all along, not just the rear). Could swap it L to R so the shorter edge is at the rear if the curve is uniform and will therefore match with the quarter light frame?
The MGB tailgate from Geoff's car had all the excess metal removed and then placed on the wooden buck to give a better fit with the surrounding curves.
The existing SWB window opening is left undamaged for future use:
TVR Taymar doors were sectioned, the top edge will need lengthening and roling to fit the SWB opening:
Cobra boot skin widened and edges reshaped is a pretty good fit:
Lots more filling and sanding still to do, but with a black guide coat on it is taking shape:
A progress update.
The MGB tailgate from Geoff's car had all the excess metal removed and then placed on the wooden buck to give a better fit with the surrounding curves.
The existing SWB window opening is left undamaged for future use
That looks absolutely superb.
I hope the z3 allows the shape to transfer purely over to its new home.
Good job, and good luck
This does look truly awesome I purchased a mx5 to do the mx250 kit but that is on the shelf until I see how this kit turns out unless this can be adapted for the mx too? :-)
Thanks for all the comments , i will be sticking with the existing side window glass (rather than two pieces of sliding lexan) for the following reasons , pros , more secure than lexan , more weather tight than lexan , cons , will not be as the original . I am not having a exact replica made but something that can be used (not on a daily basis) but more than sunny Sundays . I dont have a garage/large shed (or front garden) available to work on the car , but probaly more important i do not have the skill to carry out the work reqd , also the car is going to be sitting outside the front of my house , this was one of the factors in picking the SWB shape rather than something like WCA`s convertible . If anybody has experiance of having a piece of glass cut to a specific shape for car use i would be interested in hearing , Geoff .
If it's flat then a glass place should be able to cut to a template, grind/polish the edges and then send it for tempering. You may need to hunt around before finding someone able/willing to do it. I got some done 25years ago.
So I had to know, having bought an MX5 with the view once all mechanicals are sorted in doing the mx250 kit but having seen this it has given second thoughts to the whole project.
So out came the laptop and a couple of pictures downloaded I came up with this..... not quite the success I was hoping for! the nose just is too short and thus the car looks unbalanced
You could bond a bit of perspex/lexan which the standard window overlaps (see below). Might not be 100% water proof, but it is either this or expensive custom windows cut to size (v expensive). I think you somehow need to replicate to the 250 side window shape...
