Suggestions for donor (van) rear window

[composimmonite]

For a project (not road vehicle) I'm after a small window to use as a windscreen. I reckon a van item could be suitable. I don't go out much (health reasons) so can't trawl scrap yards, carparks or just look around for something so wonder if people might have recommendations ?
A lot of windows are asymmetric / "sided" ie if you draw down the middle then the sides are different -

What I'm after is unsided / symmetrical. Preferably unheated as I think the elements would be distracting.
No set size, say, 15" - 18" wide at bottom tapering to 12" - 15" at top and anything from 12" - 24" high.

Any idea ?

Thanks.

Paul H

[sparkyt]

If it's flat glass you can get laminated glass cut to size ..

[composimmonite]

Oct 30, 2013 19:43:16 GMT sparkyt said:

If it's flat glass you can get laminated glass cut to size ..

Thanks for suggestion.
I'm after side / rear window glass because it's toughened and a lot thinner than proper windscreen glass therefore lighter. I don't really want to use plastic either. The reasoning about using "off the shelf" van rear door glass is the ease of getting a replacement (or sourcing and keeping another as a spare) in the future.


Paul h

[optimusprime]

Does it have to be tapered?
I was going to suggest the rear cab glass from a truck, but they tend to be mostly square in shape. or the side window from a minbus.

[composimmonite]

Oct 30, 2013 21:15:31 GMT optimusprime said:

Does it have to be tapered?
I was going to suggest the rear cab glass from a truck, but they tend to be mostly square in shape. or the side window from a minbus.

It's for an enclosed Velomobile / legal mobility buggy along the lines of a Pedicar (it's from 1970's so retro ?) -
lefthandedcyclist.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/pedicar-technology.html



At 2.34 is that a MKII Cortina estate at the filling station - if so didn't realise they were sold in US. ?

Not a copy - just using the vague concept. The glass would give me a starting point to work on the body width. I'm already thinking that a standard domestic bath might be an ideal mould for the base !
It'd be 24v electric power with option of having a small petrol engine driving a lorry alternator as a range extender. Because of mobility problem, especially left leg (from birth) I can no longer ride a conventional pedal cycle but am considering using a military hand generator operated by feet as another way of extending range, albeit not very much

Paul H

I suppose really this should be in reader's other modifications ?

[colnerov]

Hi, when I read this earlier I thought of a Land Rover series or defender rear door glass but it was too wide. But in light of your intended use I think it could be suitable, it is 30" wide at the bottom, 28" at the top and 18" tall. The extra width over your original spec would give you a bit more room inside, and these are readily available and likely to be for some time to come. Good luck with this project.

Colin

[composimmonite]

Oct 30, 2013 23:54:13 GMT colnerov said:

Hi, when I read this earlier I thought of a Land Rover series or defender rear door glass but it was too wide. But in light of your intended use I think it could be suitable, it is 30" wide at the bottom, 28" at the top and 18" tall. The extra width over your original spec would give you a bit more room inside, and these are readily available and likely to be for some time to come. Good luck with this project.

Colin

Doh.

I've had numerous Land Rovers but never thought about the rear glass ! The legal max width I can build to is 0.85m / 33.5" so LR item within the required size.
Cheers.

Paul H

[composimmonite]

After a hospital appointment today dropped by the local scrapyard and was shocked to see 02/52 reg is probably the most common. I'd say 90% of the vehicles were also accident and rust free. No suitable windows though

paul h

[burnleye21]

What about a caravan window? Albeit an old one there's loads of breakers about

[Mr S]

I have a couple of flat dayvan windows in the back of my Jeep at the minute - I'll see what shape they are when I get home later tonight!