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If there isn’t already a source:
When I bought my 59 Dorsett Catalina (Boat) it had a broken window. I talked to this guy about making a replacement. I’m sure he could make you a single plexi shield.
@dlearl476 posted:If there isn’t already a source:
When I bought my 59 Dorsett Catalina (Boat) it had a broken window. I talked to this guy about making a replacement. I’m sure he could make you a single plexi shield.
Thanks, I asked the dude and he said he could make a "Sneeze Guard" that would work and he wouldn't tell anyone if I didn't! I'm sneezing, I mean, teasing!
I'll send an email. Thanks
@americanworkmule posted:ARAJANI? or anyone else that can help.
I was wanting to have a Speedster windshield and ability convert back and forth to this Single Driver plexi windscreen. Days my wife wants to ride, very few, we can have a windshield, or when I want to be cool I can have a half hardtop tonneau and a single plexi screen.
Can Special Edition do that? if so, where do we obtain a Single Driver plexi windscreen?
Thanks,
Special Edition did that for Anand. He can use the single plexiglass windscreen and tonneau when he's by himself. I'm pretty sure his full window is also a plexiglass windscreen as well. The tonneau Carey made him is another story altogether but he made it and it's exceptional.
@dlearl476 posted:If there isn’t already a source:
When I bought my 59 Dorsett Catalina (Boat) it had a broken window. I talked to this guy about making a replacement. I’m sure he could make you a single plexi shield.
you must have a thing for 50's fiberglass! that boat looks old school cool!
oh, plastic guy said he would need an original windscreen to use as a template. so I'm back to the beginning, kind of
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@americanworkmule If you have a glass Speedster windshield with the aluminum frame, be forewarned, installing and uninstalling one of those windshields is a multi step process with chances of cracking the glass. It comes apart in many pieces. Popping it off and popping on a plexi windshield whenever you feel like it, is a dream of mine too, but unfortunately not a quick thing.
I think they might have a plexi windshield that would hide the holes of the glass windshield, but I might be wrong. Those plexi windshields look so badass. On Arajani's car, you can see the full plexi windscreen holes when the single shield is on. Look at the picture you posted.
I bet Plastic guy could use a glass windshield and make a plexi version. It'd make our cars even lighter.
@Carlos G posted:@americanworkmule If you have a glass Speedster windshield with the aluminum frame, be forewarned, installing and uninstalling one of those windshields is a multi step process with chances of cracking the glass. It comes apart in many pieces. Popping it off and popping on a plexi windshield whenever you feel like it, is a dream of mine too, but unfortunately not a quick thing.
I think they might have a plexi windshield that would hide the holes of the glass windshield, but I might be wrong. Those plexi windshields look so badass. On Arajani's car, you can see the full plexi windscreen holes when the single shield is on. Look at the picture you posted.
I bet Plastic guy could use a glass windshield and make a plexi version. It'd make our cars even lighter.
Thanks, My wife wants a full windshield, can't blame her. I'm used to motorcycle windscreens.
I don't know the complete process of taking a windshield on and off, but I was thinking I would use my ceiling winch, that I use to use for my Jeep's hard top, and some suction cup handles as an extra set of hands.
I'm just day dreaming waiting in line.....
waiting, waiting, waiting, ....
OK, the single plexi is available from Vintage for $600 or so.
As Carlos says, switching back and forth with the Speedster glass is a little tricky, but I have found that winches and suction cups are not needed. It's done like this:
First, install the glass windscreen completely and perfectly. The tricky part is the end frame pieces, which leave about a half-inch oval home in each side. Your builder will do this as a stock, no-extra-cost thing.
To remove the glass you loosen the bolts on each end, and lift the glass and rubber from the thin aluminum channel which will have been riveted to your cowl.
To make the whole thing convertible you have to carefully drill out every rivet and replace them with 6-32 nutcerts (AKA RivNuts). Then use small head stainless screws to install your screens.
(Don't worry, on yours they'll be more evenly spaced).
You'll want to remove the wipers and maybe cap the shafts as well.
Then you install the little racing screen and try to get at least one or two of those holes lined up with your existing nutcerts. Drill and riv-nut those as well.
If you paint the riv-nuts body color they'll become less prominent. In the photo above you see riv-nuts for the glass channel and the full-screen plexi screen, and with either windshield installed they're all hidden under weatherstripping.
—Which reminds me: a lot of Speedster windshields are installed with a good bit of black silicone goop to fill any gaps under the aluminum channel. That's good for water-proofing but bad for convertibility. Use a bit of fender welting instead.
Finally, about the big holes where the wide screen bolts in: I sliced a bit of synthetic black wine cork to fill mine. It sits flush (and hides under the full-width plexi screen. You could also make plugs and paint them body color.
All done, you'll be able to swap windshields in about an hour. Not as quick or easy as you really want, but not impossible.
Oh and PS: I believe our own @Cory Drake has a plexi screen in a normal Speedster frame in his Hoopty. He may be able to advise on how practical that is to do.
Wow, Thanks edsnova.
I sent a message.
Carey made the screen for Cory. He may have some left, but I'm not sure how many he made.
I don't think there's any reason to rig up any complicated mechanism for the glass windshield. They simply aren't very heavy. If you had plexi, it is laughably light.
Most guys with the plexi screen don't have the whole glass frame to contend with either. Depending on what car you end up buying or ordering you may not have any windshield posts or wipers to even worry about.
I've been listening to the horror stories about broken and fragile windshields for years. I haven't had the problem, and I've had my windshields off and on both Spyders several times each.
@DannyP posted:....I've had my windshields off and on both Spyders several times each.
Were you changing between a racer single screen like I'm thinking? I guess anything is possible, I just didn't know if what I'm thinking is unreasonable, to us. My daydreaming is becoming that way to the missus. I'm just thankful she didn't want a Speedster when we visited the shop. She liked the Spyders right off.
Sorry, glass full windshields. No swapping for single or full plexi, just took them off for painting and defroster vent installation.
@DannyP posted:....defroster vent installation.
on a spyder? you have to share pictures of that please.
@edsnova posted:First, Finally, about the big holes where the wide screen bolts in: I sliced a bit of synthetic black wine cork to fill mine. It sits flush (and hides under the full-width plexi screen. You could also make plugs and paint them body color.
I lucked out. My Spyder was fitted with the plexi screen when I bought it and I immediately drove to Bremen to have it checked out. Among the things I had Carey do was install the Speedster screen, thinking it would be better protection for my drive to New York in October. Carey warned me about the windshield header being in my line of sight, and he was right, so I put the lexan screen back on two summers ago.
Unlike Ed, I have no intention of going back to the Speedster windscreen, so I installed the lexan screen a little different. Luckily, because the guys had used as many previously drilled holes as possible, it was pretty easy. I found some hard plastic plugs at my local Ace that fit the large holes for the side pieces perfectly, I drilled a hole in them to accept a long machine screw backed with a fender washer and that anchored the two ends. For the rest I used oval head machine screws and finish washers backed with speed nuts on the inside.
It worked out well. The leather gasket for the windshield covered every one of the extra holes for the aluminum base of the Speedster screen and the only sign the other windshield was ever on there is about half of the hole for the middle support/mirror mount.
@DannyP posted:I've been listening to the horror stories about broken and fragile windshields for years. I haven't had the problem, and I've had my windshields off and on both Spyders several times each.
I made up for you. I've broken two. The original one they installed cracked on my way home to New York and I broke the improved one Carey gave me by using the windshield frame as a grab handle one too many times.
I had posted yesterday, but apparently it didn’t take. Carey did have a friend in the biz make my Lexan windshield, one of a small-batch run, because my front end opens. Glass would be too heavy and would just not work.
it’s not a single screen, and it mimics a glass Speedster windshield otherwise. I can’t use wipers, and don’t have a top anyway, so it’s fine for me. 
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@americanworkmule posted:Thanks, My wife wants a full windshield, can't blame her. I'm used to motorcycle windscreens.
I don't know the complete process of taking a windshield on and off, but I was thinking I would use my ceiling winch, that I use to use for my Jeep's hard top, and some suction cup handles as an extra set of hands.
I'm just day dreaming waiting in line.....
waiting, waiting, waiting, ....
Or put on two single plexiglass windscreens. You can do whatever you want, you know, since it's a replica.