Installing Windshield Brackets on Race Car, What Size Rivnuts Should I Use Options

[motorvated]

Like it says, I would like to be sure that I buy the proper size Rivnuts to affix the rubber backed aluminum brackets I fabricated to hold my windshield in place on the race car in the event of an impact. The metal of the windshield surround and of the cowl seem to be quite thin, and the Rivnuts I'm seeing appear to possibly be too deep to hold the Rivnut tightly in place. Anybody used Rivnuts for such an application, and if so, what size/dimensions did you use that worked well. Thanks, Mike.

[ChrisFoley]

[motorvated]

Sorry for the slow reply. I'm using a stock glass windshield, bonded in place as standard. When getting the car through annual tach inspection with my local Vintage club, the Inspector questioned why I did not have windshield retaining brackets, and said that although not specifically required by the club, they were recommended. I seem to recall him to say that SCCA required them, but that might not be the case. Here's what I was planning on installing using the rivnuts.

[GregAmy]

...I seem to recall him to say that SCCA required them, but that might not be the case.

Windshield clips are no longer required in SCCA for cars with factory bonded windshields; I had that reg changed in Fall 2019 (Production category).

It was not been required for other categories for vehicles with stock, bonded windshields, only those with rubber-lip-secured windshields and those that could replace theirs with polycarb.

Its existence in Production was a leftover vestige from the days back before windshields were bonded (and our scarves flowed in the wind down the straights). Its 2019 regs change was a result of an over-zelous Tech inspector - someone from the flowing-scarves days - who decided to do a paddock "gotcha" on all the more-modern cars the week of the 2019 Runoffs, thus forcing many of us head over Home Depot and buy some strip aluminum and secure it around our windshields with zip screws (boy howdy did that increase our safety!) The CRB quickly adjusted the requirement after I sent in a "derp" letter.

Think about it from purely an engineering standpoint. The clips are there to retain your windshield from departing the car in case of an incident. If your windshield is bonded to the frame all the way around, what's a half-dozen clips lightly resting against that heavy windshield and held in with small screws going to do...?

It certainly doesn't hurt to do it if you want to, but it will offer no safety value. But check the regs of all the other groups you may choose to run with.

GA