Post by centralvalleygter on Feb 23, 2010 0:13:54 GMT -5
As a lot of you know, I fabricated a door side window system (if you are not familiar with it and are curious you can click on the following link - www.swrnet.life/bradley/list14.html ). However, I now consider that an experiment. While I am completely pleased with the rear window cowl, I've been dissatisfied with the doors since I finished them. Both in terms of concept and "fit & finish".
The issue for me is that I generally want to drive without the door/windows - but need to have the enclosure available if it starts to rain, or is just too cold. You really cannot carry the plexi-doors in/on the car. Sooooo, something closer to a convertible solution is required. I've been thinking that if the windows were flexible, the tops could be hard and still be stowed in or on the car somewhere. Clear shower curtains are fairly cheap and could work. I thought about fastening it to the edges with velcro, but repeated attaching and detaching eventually shreds the carpet side. Then I thought maybe magnetic strips would work. It turns out that Home Depot has 10' foot rolls of 1/2" wide flexible magnetic strip for less than $5.00, and as long as you observe the polarity the strip will stick to itself with surprising force. The following diagram shows the installation. Note that the leading edge of the window tucks behind the permanent edge and the top edge tucks under the hard edge of the top, the bottom and rear sit on top of the permenent edges. I'm currently using my top, but if it works well, I'll likely buy a half door from Ray. I'll post a pic when I get a chance.
The issue for me is that I generally want to drive without the door/windows - but need to have the enclosure available if it starts to rain, or is just too cold. You really cannot carry the plexi-doors in/on the car. Sooooo, something closer to a convertible solution is required. I've been thinking that if the windows were flexible, the tops could be hard and still be stowed in or on the car somewhere. Clear shower curtains are fairly cheap and could work. I thought about fastening it to the edges with velcro, but repeated attaching and detaching eventually shreds the carpet side. Then I thought maybe magnetic strips would work. It turns out that Home Depot has 10' foot rolls of 1/2" wide flexible magnetic strip for less than $5.00, and as long as you observe the polarity the strip will stick to itself with surprising force. The following diagram shows the installation. Note that the leading edge of the window tucks behind the permanent edge and the top edge tucks under the hard edge of the top, the bottom and rear sit on top of the permenent edges. I'm currently using my top, but if it works well, I'll likely buy a half door from Ray. I'll post a pic when I get a chance.
