Whats the weight of 3rd gen rear hatch glass?

[Blacdout96]

Just as the title says, anybody got figures on how much the rear hatch glass weights for a 3rd gen?

[wretched73]

I'll be tinkering with my thrid gen tonight. I'll let you know if I have time to weigh the hatch glass. Or try tgo, they have a lot of info like what you're looking for

[Blacdout96]

yea keep me filled in, not the whole hatch, just teh glass alone.

[Tru2Chevy]

yea keep me filled in, not the whole hatch, just teh glass alone.

FYI - the glass is easily 95% of the weight of the hatch, unless you have some giant aftermarket spoiler on it. There is only a small bit of metal at the base of the glass that makes up the rest of the hatch.

You could prolly talk to the people at Percy's Speedglass or one of the other replacement companies to find out what their product weighs and how much weight it saves (since it sounds like this is what you are interested in doing anyway).

- Justin

[//<86TA>\\]

that little metal strip at the base of the hatch where the spoiler would be, weighs a freaking ton! its a lot heavier that people think.

[dugeman]

I found this online , I saw on of these installed on an 8.50 index Camaro it sagged in the middle. Percy's speedglass is much nicer.

[BonzoHansen]

that little metal strip at the base of the hatch where the spoiler would be, weighs a freaking ton! its a lot heavier that people think.

Agreed. I never thought that until i had to move one. I expected it to be featherlight.

[Blacdout96]

58lbs.?! holy smokes, so just about 30lbs. weight savings? I can't wait to do thsi mod.

[V]

my hatch is SO much lighter now, obviously its a 4th gen though. I even gutted the stock hatch underside and used a repro SS spoiler which is lighter than the oem one.

I have the percys speedglass, forget what thickness but i really like the quality.

[PolarBear]

You could prolly talk to the people at Percy's Speedglass or one of the other replacement companies to find out what their product weighs and how much weight it saves (since it sounds like this is what you are interested in doing anyway).

- Justin

I remember reading on TGO about someone that used the lexan window in place of the stock glass. He removed the rear latch and made the metal "deck" as minimal as possible and uses hood pins to keep the hatch closed.
If you take the time you can make it look like a factory deal. If you go the way of hood pins you could even remove the extra bracing and catch on the body side in the rear storage area and probably lose a few more pounds.

[Blacdout96]

Thats what I was looking to do was to build the rear hatch glass myself. not too hard IMO

Take off the existing glass ( we have a spare rear hatch glass) put the lexan on top of the glass, see where you can flex it and hold it down, heat up the rest so it lays on the glass, and continue to work the edges till they seat flush with the sides, allow to cool. Cut excess lexan off, and rivet or adhear to the hatch, and your set. Lexan that large can be about 100-150, but consdiering it goes for around $450, and it's a learning experience, it's worth doign it yourself, just need patience.

[PolarBear]

It would be overly large if you were to do it that way, you would be using the outside as a template so it would be a lot bigger than the stock one. Would probably be better if you were to use the INSIDE of the stock glass or make a template out of steel or aluminum sheet from the inside of the stock glass and then mold your new lexan one from that. I thought about this all a long time ago....

[Blacdout96]

Yeah I just thought about that a little but ago. still too easy compared to buying it premade, and as far as my usage for it goes, I don't care if it comes out perfect.

[Blacdout96]

anybody know the measurements of the reear hatch glass? I got a price quote at Gnome Depot, adn 3/32 is $184, 1/8 is $257 for a 48X96 sheet, so I'd like to know whatthe length and width is to see if a sheet would fit, or if I gotta contact a couple other people who can custom cut a piece for me.

[V]

IMO 3/32 is way too thin. i think i have 3/16(i think) and it is good.

[Blacdout96]

Yea, 3/32 was bending no matter how you tried to keep it straight, I'd have to attach support brackets to keep it from concaving and flexing too much. 1/8 is on the border line of too thin, but I'd go that route because 3/16 is astronomical, but still worth it, just my budget won't allow me to get that lol