DIY Happich Pop Out Windows?

[CHRIS_MC]

y'all know the ones..... i'd quite like a set of these as would most with a 3 door no doubt, but as time goes by they seem to be fetching silly monies these dayz eBAY.de has them for about £600 sometimes

what i wanted to know is.... is there any reason you couldnt make a set from reinforced perspex (like the race/track window material)?  if the perspex is thick enough it surely it would be possible? at a fraction of the cost.....

discuss

[Mr Blue]

Cant see why not. You mgiht have to sorce some brackets and they must be VAG ones 

i dislike about popout windows because of the security and they ruin the lines on a mk2. Soo not worth the money. I opened my mates happich window from the outside using a few random tools when his alarm locked the car and he left his keys inside it.

The glass/perspex will have to be slightly bigger. Ive seen a thread where a guy used bmw seals which looked and fitted well.

[CHRIS_MC]

i suppose if an alarm is fitted that detects pressure change, (im sure thats what all the tiny pods are for on my mk3) the security issue wouldnt be as bad, plus perspex would be harder to break, and far less expensive to replace, it was just a thought really,

although originals would be needed to make templates,

if they came in at under £150 the pair plus fitty bits, it would be worth a stab.... it was only when i was trying to source replacement from windows for my mk3 i saw a pair of perspex track windows for a mk3 and thought about it

arnt lupo or punto seals supposed to fit? are the seals one piece?

maybe one day

[danny_p]

problem with perspex is when some git decides to write in the dust on them ,  perspex scratch easy

[CHRIS_MC]

problem with perspex is when some git decides to write in the dust on them ,  perspex scratch easy

depends where you leave your beloved dub tho, i wouldnt mind replacing it, as opposed to sourcing new Happich's if the got smashed....

[bomp]

I've been considering making a set up myself, the hardest part would be forming the bend, so I would use an old rear glass window as the form shape. And build some kind of make do oven to get the plastic to bend in.

Acrylic glas sheets can be bought from here http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/Trent-Plastics

A pair of old mini rear window handles would do, and some window seal from here http://www.automobiletrim.com/index.html or somewhere.

[Ben Lessani]

You could always get a happich rear window and make a mould of it. Then make a plug from the mould in a 2 pack plastic. Then drill a series of small holes in it at 1cm gaps. Heat a sheet of perspex in an oven, then vacuum form the sheet over the plug.

I'm pretty sure I could turn them around pretty quick just with in home DIY forming.

[wampablo]

use poly carbonate perspex its the same stuff used for riot sheilds and is bullet proof not that any one will be trying to shoot you   or will they ?

[CHRIS_MC]

use poly carbonate perspex its the same stuff used for riot sheilds and is bullet proof not that any one will be trying to shoot you   or will they ?

depends is it thursday?

yeah thats what i thought, perspex is tough, although i didnt realise the windows had a bend/indentation to them thought they were just flat triangley shaped...

still think if done properly it could be lucrative...

[bomp]

You could always get a happich rear window and make a mould of it. Then make a plug from the mould in a 2 pack plastic. Then drill a series of small holes in it at 1cm gaps. Heat a sheet of perspex in an oven, then vacuum form the sheet over the plug.

I'm pretty sure I could turn them around pretty quick just with in home DIY forming.

Plaster of paris would be a good media for the plug as it wouldn't be effected by the heat of the plastic that's been put in the oven. Then spray a layer or two of heat proof varnish on the plaster to stop the ingress of water and keep a perfect sheen.  Vacuum bagging it would give a great result. 

Once you have a template for the shape, they could be cut from sheet with a router, and the edges cleaned smooth with a blow torch.

There could be some money made by it, as long as the quality is good, but is there much demand for them?