Desperate for ideas on windshield replacement

wmoses wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:
I would think that making a DIY double panel like OEM would be a bit of a stretch so I would think you are going to have to settle on single pane.

Isn't that the reverse of what he has? I believe he has a one-piece and some are advising that a two-piece would be easier.

I think you have a SPLIT PANE window confused with a double pane window.

SPLIT pane would be dividing the window in half (think double hung or slider window where you have two distinct separate window panes creating a divided window look).

Double pane (which is what the OEM window is) is known as a "thermo pane" window. Basically put you have two pieces of glass (in this case plastic) which have a gasket in between the outer edges of the window. This keeps the inside glass physically separated from the outside glass and typically a vacuum is drawn then a dry inert gas is drawn into the space in between the glass. This creates a higher R value than a single piece of glass can achieve.

Typically a thermo pane window is not a DIY type project since most home owners simply do not have the place nor the equipment to execute the project. The glass surface must be spotless, you must have a good clean room, good gasket material and the right inert gas. Fail on any one of those items and the glass will fog up..

The OP most likely could get a glass place to make a bent plastic thermo pane window but I am not sure if is going to be any more cost effective to do that over simply buying the OEM window which would be a ready to go drop in place part.