seats

Has anyone ever weighed their back seat in a fairlane before? [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]

Also has anyone ever put in lexan instead of glass? My 65 fairlane weighs a TON!!


Thanks

Rick

The back seat isn't as heavy as you think. Would say less than 50 pounds for both halves.

A lot of weight comes from the undercoat and sealers Ford put on the cars and the windows.

You can make your own windows from lexan but they are going to scratch and weather. I have heard that the No-Mar is better on being scratch resistant. There is also another company that makes the 'plastic' windows but their product is very pricey.

If you decide to make your own, take some cardboard or poster paper (multiple sheets taped securely together for the size needed) and then using your old windshield marke the cardboard. Cut out the cardboard, transfer it to the lexan and then cut out the lexan. Trim the lexan as needed and install. Use lexan that approximates the thickness of the orginal windshield/back glass. Lexan will bow and flex from the air pressure as you drive. You won't be able to use wipers to drive in the rain else it will scratch up the lexan over time.

Hint, get the lexan in a 6x8 sheet if you are doing all the windows. Most places don't sell half sheets.
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Great thanks. How much weight do you think the back window being lexan would save? Also what do the rear side windows weigh?

Thanks again for all your help [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

I doubt if you would save nearly as much weight as you want to save. The rear glass is single layer and not that heavy as the front glass. I would think you would only save a total of 100-125 pounds by removing the seats and replacing the rear windows with lexan.

To really improve performance and traction, the key is removing weight from the front of the car not the rear.

If you know some one with the round track car scales, I would weight the car and figure out where the middle is and remove weight from that point forward. Shifting as much weight to the rear as I could. If your car isn't a daily driver and you aren't planning on driving in the rain or winter, remove the heater, the wiper mechanical parts, replace the windshield and front door glasses with lexan (no-mar), remove the sound deadner from inside the doors, any front undercoating, etc.
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I'm takin out my back seat too, but I doubt I'll save any weight, maybe gain some. I'm makin a speaker box to go where the back part of the seat would be and a storage box to go from where the bottom of the seat would be to the floor, I'll post some pics when I get it done.