I for one, do not want to purchase the OEM wind deflector.
For one reason, I do not like looking through the dark screening material in the rear view mirror, and the price does not thrill me.
I have the first prototype of a 3/16" thick clear plexiglass deflector on my cab now.
The deflector attaches at four points to the roll bar and has a clear top panel and a frosted lower panel that form a 90 degree angle, like the OEM unit.
The long seam is reinforced with a 1/2" frosted square rod with 2 additional 1/2" ribs that run along the lower fin for rigidity.
I ran the deflector on the freeway today and there are no visual obstructions and the airflow into the cabin is greatly reduced.
Any plastic fabrication shop can make this unit for about $ 150.
The upper panel has 13, black, self-stick, 1/2" rubber pads that keep it from scratching the bar or rattling. The unit attaches to the roll bar with 1/2" velcro straps.
I expect the finished deflector to be done this week. I will post pics and offer fabrication information to any who are interested. All that you will need are 2 pieces of 3/16" foam core illustration board and a roll of velcro that is "loop" on one side and "hooks" on the other and some 1/2" diam. pads.
Very interesting - awaiting the next update.
Interesting. I too was thinking along the same lines. Velcro to fasten it for quick installation / removal.
I'd be interested in seeing your fabrication info.
Maryland968
Where in Maryland are you?
Curious to see the Bar installed in your car.
Mark
I live near Sykesville and work in Millersville. Where are you located?
Phil
Damascus so Sykesville is way closer. That's a hell of a commute you have.
Yup - but I get to drive the 968 more :-)
If you're up for a beer sometime I'd be happy to show you the rollbar. It fits like a glove - I love it.
Phil
Final wind deflector installed into cab with roll bar and cover installed.
Cover stays attached at the front and the rest can be pulled under the horizontal panel. No need to remove anything to go topless and put on the cover.
Last piece is 3/4" black vinyl electrical tape along the bottom of the wing to cover the glue line where the two pieces meet.
Clear top panel, frosted lower panel, velcro four point attachment. Final plastic cost $ 100 if you want to drill the four holes and have the shop cut and glue up for you, $ 140 if they fab it all.
DIY ... about $50 in parts.
Spring is here and the top is coming down more often.
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Nice job. This also looks like a nice improvement from a security standpoint. I would feel more comfortable leaving the top down when I run into a store real quick with this wind deflector installed and the windows up. Pretty much now if the car is out of my sight I put the top up.
I decided to spend my fun car money budget last year on doing the 60k preventative maintenence (waterpump, front engine seals, belts, cooling system rubber, variocam inspection, etc) instead of getting the chassis stabilizer and definitely regretting this decision a bit.
Cheers, Glau
Glau,
Thanks.
If you are going to fab this wind deflector, consider this change and addition:
Change the way the horizontal piece attaches to the clear vertical piece. Place the 1/2" bar at the lowest part of the clear panel and attach the horizontal above it. Also glue the 2 ribs below the horizontal piece. It has a more finished look if you do not see the 1/2" pieces on the top of the frosted panel.
Adding a 3/4" piece of black plastic ( professional ) electrician's tape along the bottom of the clear panel adds a nice touch and hides the glue lines from the driver's vision. Extra nice if your interior is black. Colored tapes in this size may be a better match for other interior colors.
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how about tinted plexi, especially on the horizontal piece?
I thought about it, but I prefered no change at all from looking thru the rear view mirror with or without a wind deflector.
It seems clearer on sunny days!
sure - i get that - no fun looking through tint - the horizontal piece could be dark though, give you a bit more security, and hide all the reinforcement
just a thought
Good idea. I thought about black when I was at the shop but it looked to heavy, if you know what I mean. Frosted seemed the next best choice. Next time I'll ask if they have anything between frosted and solid black.
i know it exists - i've bought it before at TAP Plastics - i think they called it "smoke" - it looked like fairly dark tinted windows, but not limo black
Crap, that would have been better. My fab shop is TAP plastics, so I am sure that they would have it.
Well, next summer I'll make another with these changes instead of buffing all of the scrathes that the deflector will pick up this summer.
THX
[quote name='SILVY968' date='Apr 16 2006, 06:36 PM']Crap, that would have been better. My fab shop is TAP plastics, so I am sure that they would have it.
Well, next summer I'll make another with these changes instead of buffing all of the scrathes that the deflector will pick up this summer.
THX
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There is a material called acrylite that comes in all different colors, browns, all shades of black, etc.
Mark
Does anyone know how important the horizontal section is to the proper functioning of the windscreen? Since a vertical section could be mounted to the chassis stiffener, is the horizontal section still needed?
the horizontal section provides security for the rear section, and decreases the backflow quite a bit - i've had just a vertical section, in a couple of different cars, and while it did a decent job, it was not as calm inside as with the additional horizontal section
Same here, my first unit was vertical only and it was OK. Adding the horizontal almost stills the air at street speeds....spooky.