Overkill?

[Panoz60]

So after much deliberation, I opted for a lexan windshield. Understanding it had to be braced, and in compliance with SCCA Rules, here is my solution for bracing. I got the idea from NASCAR, and used Five Star Racing Bodies hardware. All I have left to do is attach the stay-rods to permanently to the lower dash bar and powdercoat them. Maybe it's overkill, but it is remarkably strong. I can lean my entire upper body weight on any single brace and it does not move.

[NZGTRA17]

Originally Posted by Panoz60

So after much deliberation, I opted for a lexan windshield. Understanding it had to be braced, and in compliance with SCCA Rules, here is my solution for bracing. I got the idea from NASCAR, and used Five Star Racing Bodies hardware. All I have left to do is attach the stat-rods to permanently to the lower dash bar and powdercoat them. Maybe it's overkill, but it is remarkably strong. I can lean my entire upper body weight on any single brace and it does not move.

Mark, I use 3 stays on my car and they are really required!!

I am not getting to the same terminal speeds on the tracks I run as say Brian at Daytona. We are regularly running the car to 150mph each lap and the lexan screen just starts moving in around 140 - 145mph. The stays keep it in place nicely above that. I have also filled in the base of the screen with expanding foam so it is supported all the way along the bottom edge. This helps prevent the plastic screen surround from distorting inwards under pressure.

Kel.

[Cobra4B]

Timely post... I have a similar 5 star bodies support kit with the 3 braces. I was wondering where exactly to attach them but haven't gotten that far yet. It appears the top/bottom just bolt to the roof piece and cowl?

I have the GTS cowl support waiting to go in the car so it will be fully supported vs. the old setup.

[NewToPanozGTS]

Originally Posted by Cobra4B

Timely post... I have a similar 5 star bodies support kit with the 3 braces. I was wondering where exactly to attach them but haven't gotten that far yet. It appears the top/bottom just bolt to the roof piece and cowl?

I have the GTS cowl support waiting to go in the car so it will be fully supported vs. the old setup.

When I got my GTS it had a lexan windshield and two metal straps. The lexan would flex inward at, I would guess, about 130 or so and stay there. I replaced the steel strap with two of the Five Star aluminum braces with no further issues. I don't know if two straps would hold up at Daytona speeds but if not the down rods may be in my future as well.

[Panoz60]

Originally Posted by Cobra4B

Timely post... I have a similar 5 star bodies support kit with the 3 braces. I was wondering where exactly to attach them but haven't gotten that far yet. It appears the top/bottom just bolt to the roof piece and cowl?

I have the GTS cowl support waiting to go in the car so it will be fully supported vs. the old setup.

I got mine about a week ago and have been moving them around in mock-up trying to find the best placement. What I ended up doing was centering the middle one. The top is sandwiched between the body and steel strap/roof support that extends from the "halo" of the roll cage up to the windshield lip. That joint is bolted. At the bottom, I centered it with the brace underneath the "lip" and trimmed the rubber on the brace. I then used a 1/4" shank pop rivet. On the other two- they are spaced 10" off of the center support and pop-riveted top and bottom. I had to bend the last inch of the brace at the top about 15-20 degrees (on all three) to get a nice, flush mount. I simply clamped them in the bench vise and pushed them to the angle I wanted. I tried placing the braces on top of the lip rather than under it, but it seemed to be too great of a "bump" for a flush window mount. The only obstacle now is the thickness of the rivet head itself, but it is minimal. I plan to use 1/4" adhesive foam weather strip between the body and the lexan, so I do not think the rivet heads will be an issue afterwards.

As far as using two straps vs. three. SCCA GCR is very clear that three are required/mandatory.

My last dilemma is the so-called "GTS brace" under the cowl. After installing the braces and stay-rods, there doesn't seem to be any flex or deflection in the cowl when I lean (heavily) on the braces. But- so many of you have said that 'cowl flex" is an issue, I think I'll fabricate something anyway. While I truly love fabricating, I strongly dislike having to improve or redo something I did that didn't work.

[Cobra4B]

Thanks for the info... Good idea using the center top roof support. You probably don't need the cowl support with those rods going to the dash like that. Plus cowl flex isn't a big deal with lexan... With the glass it'd make it crack in short order.