Go Back   986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners > Porsche Boxster & Cayman Forums > Boxster General Discussions

Post Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-27-2020, 05:01 AM   #1
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 103
Strength of windshield/A pillar

Hi folks,

Do we have any specs or way of determining the max static weight the A pillar/windshield hoop can support?

beater986 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2020, 05:19 AM   #2
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Bastrop, Tx
Posts: 2,644
I can't give you a number, but I've tried crushing the window frame down using a John Deere 5055 4x4. With the weight of the bucket and front end of the tractor on one A pillar, the pillar didn't budge. I'd guess that's over 4000lbs
__________________
Woody
itsnotanova is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2020, 06:24 AM   #3
A Porsche Guy
 
1PorscheBoxster986's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: 0°
Posts: 135
That's good to know Woody. You should start your own YT channel like TTGator except you smash up retired Boxsters for educational and scientific purposes. The car might be 20 years old but we need to collect more data.
1PorscheBoxster986 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2020, 09:24 AM   #4
Registered User
 
BYprodriver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: O.C. CA
Posts: 3,709
Garage
The sides of the windshield frame are made from high carbon boron steel that can support the car upside down.
__________________
OE engine rebuilt,3.6 litre LN Engineering billet sleeves,triple row IMSB,LN rods. Deep sump oil pan with DT40 oil.
BYprodriver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2020, 04:30 PM   #5
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 103
Quote:
Originally Posted by itsnotanova View Post
I can't give you a number, but I've tried crushing the window frame down using a John Deere 5055 4x4. With the weight of the bucket and front end of the tractor on one A pillar, the pillar didn't budge. I'd guess that's over 4000lbs
This was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

Just wanted to check to ensure this could my body weight and then some.
beater986 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2020, 06:31 PM   #6
Who's askin'?
 
maytag's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Utah
Posts: 2,446
Quote:
Originally Posted by beater986 View Post
This was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!



Just wanted to check to ensure this could my body weight and then some.
?
So..... tell us what you're up to? Sounds interesting?

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
maytag is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2020, 07:24 PM   #7
Registered User
 
Qingdao's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Charleston
Posts: 513
Quote:
Originally Posted by beater986 View Post
This was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

Just wanted to check to ensure this could my body weight and then some.
Best response ever.

Do extrapolate for everyone.
__________________
'99 supercharged 4.3 chevy Boxsterado
'98 PP13B powered thing

WTB: any cheap 986 shifter new or used
Qingdao is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2020, 07:46 PM   #8
Registered User
 
piper6909's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: PA
Posts: 1,549
What Maytag and Qingdao said! We're intrigued and our imagination is going wild!
__________________
2002 Boxster Base - Arctic Silver - Tiptronic
2010 Subaru Forester
1980 Ford C-8000 Custom Cab Emergency-One Fire Truck
__________________
"I never lose. I either win or I learn." -Nelson Mandela
piper6909 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2020, 09:56 PM   #9
Certified Boxster Addict
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 7,669
If you're really wondering, its strong, but it will bend. The high strength boron doesn't go all of the way up to the top of the windshield frame so the frame can bend about 3/4's of the way up.

This a photo of a Boxster Spec that flipped over at about 80 mph at Willow Springs Raceway in SoCal. And this is a car with a full roll cage.







You can see that I had a window frame support bar installed with my roll cage (vertical bar) specifically to add additional support to the windshield frame.

__________________
1999 996 C2 - sold - bought back - sold for more
1997 Spec Boxster BSR #254
1979 911 SC
POC Licensed DE/TT Instructor
thstone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2020, 11:47 PM   #10
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 103
Quote:
Originally Posted by thstone View Post
If you're really wondering, its strong, but it will bend. The high strength boron doesn't go all of the way up to the top of the windshield frame so the frame can bend about 3/4's of the way up.

This a photo of a Boxster Spec that flipped over at about 80 mph at Willow Springs Raceway in SoCal. And this is a car with a full roll cage.
Hmm, I'm not a real engineer, so I can't speak to the difference in static weight vs the dynamic force created in a roll. Do you think if my fat 200 lb ass stood on it it would bend? What about my fat 200 lb ass + an extra few hundred cheeseburgers? I know this is all speculation at this point -- but I'm hopeful based on the post regarding the earth mover trying to crush it.

The other question is, even if it won't bend like my will to live, will it be enough force to have the windshield itself tap out?


Quote:
Originally Posted by maytag View Post
?
So..... tell us what you're up to? Sounds interesting?

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
Quote:
Originally Posted by Qingdao View Post
Best response ever.

Do extrapolate for everyone.
Quote:
Originally Posted by piper6909 View Post
What Maytag and Qingdao said! We're intrigued and our imagination is going wild!

It's not a unique idea, in fact it's a blatantly stolen one, though I think I'll be the first person attempting it with a convertible.. . I'll announce it and post pictures next week. But if you really really want to know in the interim, take a gander at the user account names posting in the marketplace looking for an RTS for a hint.. I might be beating Brock to the punch, at least on the 986 platform.

Last edited by beater986; 06-29-2020 at 12:14 AM.
beater986 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2020, 07:36 AM   #11
On the slippery slope
 
JayG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Austin and Palm Springs
Posts: 3,796
Garage
I can tell you that its really strong. You can definitely roll a stock Boxster and walk away unhurt.
As Tom noted, at a high speed, it will bend
__________________
2004 Boxster S 6 speed - DRL relay hack, Polaris AutoTop DIY
2004 996 Targa Tip
Instructor - San Diego region
2014 Porsche Performance Driving School
2020 BMW X3, 2013 Ram 1500, 2016 Cmax, 2004 F-150 "Big Red"
JayG is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2020, 08:35 AM   #12
There Is No Substitute.
 
rick3000's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: West Coast
Posts: 3,253
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by JayG View Post
I can tell you that its really strong. You can definitely roll a stock Boxster and walk away unhurt.
Someone on this forum rolled a 986 a few years ago and walked away, he flipped it after hitting a patch of wet leaves which acts just like hitting a patch of ice. That said, flipping a Boxster is pretty hard to do on a flat surface under most circumstances.

PSA: Wet leaves SUCK
__________________
1999 Ocean Blue Metallic Boxster - blueboxster.com
rick3000 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2020, 03:59 PM   #13
TRP
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: California
Posts: 148
He is putting a wing on top.
Attached Images
 

Last edited by TRP; 06-29-2020 at 04:04 PM.
TRP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2020, 08:29 PM   #14
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: West Mi
Posts: 164
Anyone else remember oly beer. That was a hot ticket about 40 years ago. I had my share. Not picked up in 26 plus the oly brings back some memories
MrBen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2020, 09:39 PM   #15
Racer Boy
 
Racer Boy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 946
Olympia Beer had excellent commercials!
Racer Boy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2020, 01:34 AM   #16
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Norway
Posts: 99
I’m guessing a roof tent. Seen it on a 996.
Nevergrowup is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2020, 05:31 AM   #17
1998 Boxster Silver/Red
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: 92262
Posts: 3,018
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrBen View Post
Anyone else remember oly beer. That was a hot ticket about 40 years ago. I had my share. Not picked up in 26 plus the oly brings back some memories
Yup. Olympia Beer. Brewed right in Olympia, Washington. Never visited the brewery, even while growing up in Tacoma... but passed it many, many times.

I believe I was around 12 years old... maybe 74... my Mom was drinking her Olympia... it was on the counter... she exited for a moment... I took a swig. It just had a watery taste. Even at 12 I knew I was out.

Rainer Beer... they had the coolest commercials, bar none.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLNOa3sO6KU
__________________
1998 Porsche Boxster
Starter986 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2020, 08:26 AM   #18
TRP
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: California
Posts: 148
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nevergrowup View Post
I’m guessing a roof tent. Seen it on a 996.
Here is an idea! Roof tent that is stored INSIDE a case shaped like a wing!
TRP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2020, 09:47 AM   #19
2003 S, Arctic Silver, M6
 
paulofto's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Posts: 1,346
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by Starter986 View Post

Rainer Beer... they had the coolest commercials, bar none.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLNOa3sO6KU
We don’t get Rainier ads here, we did when I lived in Edmonton in the ‘80s, but I can the actual beer in a 15 pack at a local rural liquor store. May not seem odd to you but getting a west coast American beer here on the east side of the Canadian prairies is very weird.
paulofto is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2020, 09:23 PM   #20
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 103
Lowered myself down on the windshield pillar today. Confirmed that it can handle ~200lbs. Didn't want to push it much more than that.

My concern is now the design of the RTS system. all of the weight on the A pillar is going to be resting on two small bolts.

In the rear, it is resting on one bolt. I stood on the rear mounts, which can hold the same ~200lbs.

Ditto with the rear bar of the RTS system. Even with it half-bolted in, it held me up sitting in the center of one bar.

The max weight rating of the RTS is 75kgs, or 165 freedom-loving lbs, but we'll see what it actually can hold..


Quote:
Originally Posted by Nevergrowup View Post
I’m guessing a roof tent. Seen it on a 996.
You probably saw 996roadtrip's


Last edited by beater986; 07-01-2020 at 10:58 PM.
beater986 is offline   Reply With Quote
Post Reply



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 08:28 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page