Lightyear MX5 NA/NB Fastback

plohl · Postby **plohl** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 7:36 am

Ah cool. I was more thinking about stiffness for shipping. Curious on how much the std boot weighs now. Will havento througw one on the scales.

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Chicken_Lips · Postby **Chicken_Lips** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 11:39 am

Hey just a word on the ADR compliance for people who want to have it certified. The windows have to meet ADR 8/00 - basically it has to be certified glass with an ADR compliance indelible mark on it.

lightyear · Postby **lightyear** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 12:43 pm

Should have told that to Mazda when they put a plastic window in the NA soft top models. Can't see how polycarbonate is illegal. Maybe point out the car comes standard with a plastic window.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 12:55 pm

lightyear wrote: Can't see how polycarbonate is illegal.

I think the reasoning behind it is that emergency services can't break it open if they need to get in to save you.
But, I doubt that would be relevant for a back window, or a quarter window that's too small for a person to fit through anyway.

I'm not really sure what the obsession is with ADR rules all of a sudden over something that's purely an aesthetic thing (I mean, it's not like brakes or steering where a design flaw can kill you)

Postby **beavis** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 1:03 pm

hks_kansei wrote: purely an aesthetic thing

the lightyear would take offence to calling the fastback purely aesthetic... it its far more than just aesthetic. :wink:

Corey · Postby **Corey** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 4:55 pm

hks_kansei wrote:
lightyear wrote: Can't see how polycarbonate is illegal.

I think the reasoning behind it is that emergency services can't break it open if they need to get in to save you.
But, I doubt that would be relevant for a back window, or a quarter window that's too small for a person to fit through anyway.

I'm not really sure what the obsession is with ADR rules all of a sudden over something that's purely an aesthetic thing (I mean, it's not like brakes or steering where a design flaw can kill you)

Yeah, I'd like to see them brake through the window and fit in between my rollbar which has an aditional backstray maing it an X. I don't think anybody should be put off buying one of these if they're worried about legality.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 5:18 pm

Corey wrote: I don't think anybody should be put off buying one of these if they're worried about legality.

Same.

It just seems odd to me that all of a sudden people are concerned about it, I mean for ages Lightyear was selling the carbon fibre OEM style tops and nobody cared, despite them having to deal with the same rules.

StillIC · Postby **StillIC** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 5:51 pm

Chicken_Lips wrote:The windows have to meet ADR 8/00 - basically it has to be certified glass with an ADR compliance indelible mark on it.

This is incorrect. All *glazing* must meet ADR 8. There is no glazing in Lightyear's fastback, only "polymering". No worries. And even if the wording did say "windows", the polycarbonate is merely a transparent panel, not a window ;).

Dan · Postby **Dan** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 5:54 pm

hks_kansei wrote:Same.

It just seems odd to me that all of a sudden people are concerned about it, I mean for ages Lightyear was selling the carbon fibre OEM style tops and nobody cared, despite them having to deal with the same rules.

Yeh I don't think most people care, only one person seems to be posting here about it..

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StillIC · Postby **StillIC** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 6:08 pm

On the subject of transparent panels, I would like to suggest the use of a PVC panel instead of polycarbonate. Of course, PVC is weaker than polycarb, or to put it another way...for the same strength it is heavier than polycarb. But PVC will not yellow the way polycarb does. In short, PVC will stay clearer for longer than polycarb. For a road car where a few extra grams means little, I believe this is a better solution.

Of course, acrylic will stay clearer longer than either, but it is as brittle as buggery. Cracks propagate very easily within it.

lightyear · Postby **lightyear** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 7:02 am

That reminds me, I need to drop the templates for the transparent panels to the plastic man so he can cut out a batch for me.
I waxed and applied mould release to all 7 moulds. Took 3 hours

Can't believe there are 7 moulds to make a fastback... (Running out of bench space). Not as simple as I would have liked.

I am happy for someone to find out how legal the fastback. It's good to know either way.

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 7:49 am

http://tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/Safety/Vehicle%20standards%20and%20modifications/Vehicle%20modifications/Light%20vehicle%20modifications/NCOP/7sectionlhbody.pdf

Refer to page 9... 2.7.1
The thickness, of non-intrusion panels, with gel coat removed must be at least 3.5mm. Bonnets and guards are examples of non-intrusion panels.

The strength and thickness of structural components such as floorpans and bodies that incorporate seatbelt anchorages, door hinges and latches etc, must be certified by a signatory.

As the hardtop is NOT considered structural then it needs to be at least 3.5mm thick and there should be no issues. However I have been defected for a fiberglass GV bonnet and they did not open the bonnet to measure its thickness rather went by 'sound'.

For glass refer to http://tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/Safety/Vehicle%20standards%20and%20modifications/Vehicle%20modifications/Light%20vehicle%20modifications/NCOP/25sectionlzappendices.pdf.
Essentially it must be marked as safety glass and complies with relevant standards. All replacement transparent material must be of a type that will not shatter.

Whilst not a legal opinion, the fastback, if it is thicker than 3.5mm AND has transparent material that complies with relevant standards AND the transparent material will NOT shatter then it would be road legal.

Track wise
CAMS Schedule A - have any window or windscreen fitted made from a material which is clear or, if tinted, compliant with AS2080.
CAMS Schedule C - requires laminated glass in the windscreen.

Depending on how many people want the fastback for road use using a company like http://protector.com.au/products-services/windscreens.html to do a batch of road legal rear windows maybe an option.

Hope this helps.

lightyear · Postby **lightyear** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 9:51 pm

Would be nice to have glass windows. Next year I will look into it.

I made a carbon fibre boot for the fastback. This is straight out of the mould with the mould release (glad wrap looking stuff) still on.
Made other progress too.