s13 carbon fiber hatch weight reduction

[danield319]

this isnt really that neat of a post, but i was just wondering a approximate total weight reduction for getting a carbon fiber hatch?it doesnt seem like there isnt really that much to the hatch, so it doesnt seem like the $500+ you would spend on it would be worth it in the end, other then to wow your friends with your jdmness, lol.

lame post. dinner time
Modified by danield319 at 6:27 PM 1/4/2010

[Bumnah]

the weight on the hatch is due to the glass more than the hatch itself.

[FolkertSX]

yea good question. i personally dont like the way they look on most cars. i almost bought a s13 that had one. i should have tested and saw how heavy it was. when i painted my car i took the hatch off and it was heavy as hell. that might have been because of the glass though

[spank044]

There was about an 8lb difference in the frame and about 34lbs with the lexan. So a total of 35-36 lbs of weight savings.

[S13_love]

the weight on the hatch is due to the glass more than the hatch itself.

Yep.

The hatch without the glass in it is pretty damn light...

[SolaraOnBronze]

When I had a cf hatch with oem glass, the difference was 12 lbs.

[TwoJayZee240]

Also eliminating the ugly rear wiper and motor would sure help a lot in weight too. Does anyone make a lexan rear window for the hatch?

[SolaraOnBronze]

I know there is a company out there that does, but I can't remember what the website was. Try google, I think I found a thread with a link on FreshAlloy when I was looking into it for my car...

[safin]

SRB power sells polycarbonate winow replacements for a wide variety of cars including the S14, S13, etc. but it's in euros.....

If you can get that rear window in plastic you dont need the carbon fiber hatch, you have alreay saved a lot of weight....

[simmode1]

Can anyone comment on the transparency of Lexan? Is it as clear as normal glass or is it a little cloudy? And I don't suppose they have defrosting ability, do they?

[car nut]

It's not as clear as glass, but it's pretty damn good. Also, I feel it's one of those technologies thats always getting better. Not sure on the defrosting.

[spank044]

When I had a cf hatch with oem glass, the difference was 12 lbs.

One of our scales must be off or you had a wiper because when I bought your hatch I weighed it with against mine when I got home and only had a 8lb difference. Thin lexan is almost as clear as glass, but the way the sun reflects through it is different. I think I paid almost $400 for the 3/16th lexan from a company in Chicago. The only thing that made it cloudy was when I got some brake clean on the very edge.