Filling window openings

[Gary Perkinson]

Hey, everyone...quick question. In altered, can I fill or cover a window opening with sheet metal (so that it's essentially not a window anymore), rather than replace the non-laminated glass with polycarbonate? I'm thinking primarily of the rear side windows on a wagon (in my case, an HHR) and basically just doing a homemade panel wagon conversion by eliminating the rear side windows. I know that rule 5.D.2 says "No taped or filled body, door or window seams are allowed from the firewall back," but I'm not talking about filling the seams, I'm talking about filling in the entire opening. I also know that the same rule says that "The body shall be mounted to the chassis with all body panels mounted in the original relationship to each other," but I wouldn't be changing the relationship of any body panels to any other body panels.

Any thoughts? I can see where such a change could be construed as streamlining, but I would actually be interested in doing it more for aesthetics than anything else...

Gary

[4-barrel Mike]

They also built it as a no-window panel truck, right?  I don't see a problem.

But, as always, YMMV.   

Mike

[Gary Perkinson]

They also built it as a no-window panel truck, right?  I don't see a problem.

Actually, they did! I didn't even think of that...great point. I had to look up "YMMV," but yeah, you're right--my panel efforts will most likely not be showroom quality... 

[dw230]

If you cover/replace the existing windows to a panel truck appearance the covering must be in the original window opening. You cannot flush mount window coverings in the Altered classes.

DW

[4-barrel Mike]

Dan:

He can't fill the windows of: 



to convert it to (as from factory):





Mike

[Dynoroom]

I would say IF he can make the rear doors convert into a body part it might fly. If he just wants to remove the window the replacement piece must conform to the original window placement.
Another way of saying this is if he wants to convert it to a panel truck do that, don't plate over the windows as it won't be allowed.


Here are a couple of pictures of GM's HHR running in Comp Coupe. It retained the window locations.

[fredvance]

Didn't the HHR runin the 230's?

[dw230]

Crashed at 250+

DW

[Stan Back]

From what little I've seen, those station wagon shapes don't usually do well.

[4-barrel Mike]

http://www.canepa.com/news/hhr.html

In 2006 the HHR crashed at over 250 MPH when Minneker lost traction when the parachute deployed. Minneker was beating the previous record of 226.835 in the G/BFCC class (G Class/Blown Fuel Competition Coupe) with a qualifying run of 246.686 mph when the HHR lost traction at the five-mile mark of the long course. The vehicle’s terminal speed at the time was 249.793 MPH. Minneker was able to walk away from the incident with nothing more than a stiff neck.

Mike

[Bob Drury]

  They didn't work very well in drag racing either.  Remember Don Shoemakers  "Wonder Wagon" Vega sponsored by Wonder Bread?
  Also if memory serves me, didn't Gary Gabelich lose his legs in a 4 wheel drive Vega Wagon Funny Car?
  And somebody  (Animal Jim?) built a Ford Taurus Wagon ProMod when the class wasn't even a class.
                                                                                         Ol' One Run, out.......................

[javajoe79]

Pretty crazy that they rebuilt that car and haven't done anything with it.


 Seems like if you filled in the door handles and made flush sheet metal, then you would be fine. Get it in writing though.

[Sumner]

Dan:

He can't fill the windows of: 



to convert it to (as from factory):





Mike

Probably a lot easier to find one of those to start with  ,

Sumner

[4-barrel Mike]

Well, sure: http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/pts/4706618982.html 

But that's not what he asked.   

Mike

[Gary Perkinson]

Hey, thanks for all the info everyone. I'll just keep whatever I end up filling the opening with--polycarbonate or sheet metal--the same dimensions as the glass, rather than the opening. There's maybe a 1/4" seam between the two, and it would probably look better flush, but it's no biggie...

I don't think Gary Gabelich ever lost his legs, did he? Unless it was in the crash he died in...

And yeah, believe me, I wish I had gotten the panel version of the HHR, but twas not to be. I'll just have to live with the grandpa version... 

Gary