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I tried searching "windshield removal" and didn't find what I was looking for but I'm sure there's a thread somewhere. I am hoping to consider the following:
- Who runs a track-day car without a windshield? These seem more common at my local track events. I know Moti has Creampuff and Morpheus. I'm thinking more along the speed of a "low cost track day car" - I got a new cruiser and want to take the saw to my multi-duty NA for a more fun and hopefully a much faster track experience by elmininating the windshield, removing the soft top, gutting, and adding additional aero elements (9LR with a low wing mount).
I am hoping to work with what I've got to get speed and aero benefits, as well as the nostalgic feel of a chopped triumph or datsun 2000. The alternative might be to sell the NA at some amount close to 8k in the current market, and to get an old Sports 2000 / Radical / ESR - which seem to price around 18-25k in my area, but I think those may be less fun in an average HPDE situation as there will be a lot of catching up to slower vehicles, and then waiting for point bys.
- Is aero, with a windshield removed better or worse with cabin turbulence? I've read the various test about Soft-top / Hardtop / side windows up and down, but nothing about windshield removal.
- For wing placement, I imagine the wing can then be much lower on the trunk? Has anyone considered roll bar placement? I imagine the air might be pretty clean there without a windshield.
- Does anyone still produce the EP cowl to bridge from the hood, over the dash? or a hard Tonneau to cover the passenger seat?
- For an HPDE car - what do you think about doing such a thing with just a roll bar and door bars (what I currently have)? I know this setup is considered "safe" for HPDE and don't see it being less safe after removing the windshield.
- will a vehicle with a seam welded window/door frame be much stiffer than one with a chopped window?
I think these are pretty n00b questions - how have you gone through these considerations? I guess the bigger question is - is a speedster type vehicle faster than one with a top by a significant margin as a result of drag reduction? Thanks Hive Mind.
Last edited by chitty chitty bang bang; 07-01-2021 at 01:13 PM.
- For wing placement, I imagine the wing can then be much lower on the trunk? Has anyone considered roll bar placement? I imagine the air might be pretty clean there without a windshield.
Until you put a seat and a human and a roll bar in the flow and then the air wouldn’t be so clean…