Anyone have a fiberglass hatch ?

MCRParts.com · Feb 9, 2004

Looking to replace the hatch on my 92 (yes its starting to let go at the lip). I was thinking about buying a fiberglass hatch from Cervinis.

Anyone using one,if so was it easy to put on, and did it fit right ? Also I drag race the car in the summer so I was also concerned about dumping to much weight off the back for traction purposes.

Any pros/cons would be helpful.

StangBangRicers · Feb 9, 2004

From what I hear... most of the weight comes from the glass, unless you are replacing it with lexan I don't think it wouldl be a worthwhile weight loss.

5spd GT · Feb 9, 2004

I'm interested also...do they make just bolt-on hatches or do they make some that actually use the supports and all...

David

MCRParts.com · Feb 10, 2004

5spd GT said:
I'm interested also...do they make just bolt-on hatches or do they make some that actually use the supports and all...

David

I'm going to put the glass back in it. I think you can get a hinged one. Anyone have a hinged one, if so is it finished on the inside or is it rough.

I know that the pinned ones aren't smooth.

GAU89LXStang · Feb 10, 2004

I have heard that the fiberglass isn't really good for street car. The reason being that the fiberglass doesn't stand up well to the opening and closing, and that the shocks for the hatch will actually break the fiberglass hatch. The only fix I could see would be the get weaker shocks, and find a way to do a power assisted latch closing, so you wouldn't have to slam the hatch to close it. My Cadillac has a trunk assist, so maybe you could junkyard it and get one and somehow adapt it to work on your Stang.

To be honest your best bet might be keeping the normal hatch and adding a lexan window.

Mo' Town

stang1989 · Feb 10, 2004

Go w/ polycarb, not glass. It will save a lot of weight and is 250 times stronger than lexan. Polycarb is also highly scratch resistant. The Cervini's hatch is well designed. I have a pin on version with four pins and welded aluminum brackets for the pin threads running polycarb and DZUS fasteners.

TheUser · Feb 10, 2004

be careful what you do, depending on what class you drag in, adding a fiberglass hatch and/or lexan windows might put you in a different class or so i've heard. Is lexan legal for street use? I don't know why it wouldn't be, but just making sure. I'd check the NHRA rulebook before I got one though...

MCRParts.com · Feb 10, 2004

The main reason for considering a hatch replacement is due to the lip under the spoiler starting to rot.

I don't really want to loose to much weight off the rear because the car is already breaking them loose at the track. I only go up for street night.

I might just bring it to our body shop,sand blast it and weld in some metal, then have my dad squirt it for me.

I just figured with a glass hatch that it would never rot again, but I wasn't sure of the quality, I show the car allot and just don't want it to look like a rat box.

90mustangGT · Feb 10, 2004

Muscle-Mustangs said:
I know that the pinned ones aren't smooth.

Why arn't they?

StangBangRicers said:
From what I hear... most of the weight comes from the glass, unless you are replacing it with lexan I don't think it wouldl be a worthwhile weight loss.

I agree. I think the fiberglass hatch with a lighter window would be a good combo. I think the heavy glass would stress the fiberglass.

GAU89LXStang said:
I have heard that the fiberglass isn't really good for street car. The reason being that the fiberglass doesn't stand up well to the opening and closing, and that the shocks for the hatch will actually break the fiberglass hatch. The only fix I could see would be the get weaker shocks, and find a way to do a power assisted latch closing, so you wouldn't have to slam the hatch to close it. My Cadillac has a trunk assist, so maybe you could junkyard it and get one and somehow adapt it to work on your Stang.

I doubt you would need hatch struts because it would be so much lighter you would have no problem lifting it. A prop rod might be a good idea. Fiberglass does tear up easier.

Stang1989: Who makes polycarb and where can you/I/we get it?

TheUser said:
be careful what you do, depending on what class you drag in, adding a fiberglass hatch and/or lexan windows might put you in a different class or so i've heard. Is lexan legal for street use? I don't know why it wouldn't be, but just making sure. I'd check the NHRA rulebook before I got one though...

I don't think legality on the street is an issue, but some classes of racing consider plastic windows as a major alteration of the car. I've noticed that most classes of racing where there are plastic windows they are listed as "pro". Everyone knows that glass is a major sourse of weight, and I think most racers would do it if it were allowed.

Anyone have a fiberglass hatch ?

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