jb35007

i looked all around for info and or help as i wanted to make my 2001 hatchback into a convertible. i started out buying a 2001 corvette with a blown motor(spun bearing) not a big deal for me but the previous owner got quotes for between 6,000 and 10,000 just to rebuild and re-install motor i feel bad sometimes for non-gear heads... as it cost me a total of $500 for reman crank(couldn't be turned) new main and rod bearings and one new rod and another $200 for a good set of mls head gaskets and $100 for new head bolts. so i am now into the car for $6800 yea for me.

jb35007

ok first strip off the easy stuff everything that can be un-screwed

jb35007

now comes the hard part. the no turning back ... grab a drill and drill out the pop-rivets located around the lip of the trunk tub so that you can take off the top piece of the tub as the bottom tub is the same in all three models of c-5's
after done drilling out the rivets grab a painters tool called a 5 in 1 or some kind of thin wide chisel the 5in1 worked best for me i tried a bunch of tools including a body saw a saw'zall puddy blades etc.. take the 5in1 and hammer the seem apart being careful to maintain the horizontal lip very important to keep that lip as rigid as possible.

jb35007

cut off the halo i used my trusty sawzall it makes it easier to dill out the factory spot welds you don't actually have to cut off the roof halo. but now is the time to drill out those p.i.a. spot welds...

jb35007

now your ready for convertible parts... i sourced mine from a corvette junkyard in ohio they sold me the complete back half of a 2001 convertible minus the rear bumper cover as i new i mine was the same as a convertibles.. i think i got a great deal $1200+shipping got me the parts needed and some interior parts that were missing from my car. the bare requirements you will need for the conversion are
both rear quarter panels
convertible top
toneau cover and hinges and seals
trunk cover and hinges and seals
the top section of a convertible tub
the brackets that bolt the convertible top to the car

jb35007

another pic

jb35007

ok now time to put the tub together the proper stuff to use is expensive and not needed i just bought some windshield adhesive from a glass store and i also predrilled the tub together with sheet metal screws worked perfect.

jb35007

now you need to install your latch assembly i got a new one with my purchase but it is not necesarry to buy on as your hatchback already has two just drill out the rivets and line up the latch in the middle bolt up you trunk lid on and close it then latch the trunk onto the assembly then mark holes in the tub to mount it to the tub. and now you can reassemble the body panels..

Smoken1

Still looks like the hard way to get a vert.....but Enjoy

jb35007

kbb says convertible adds 3k to book value and it cost me 1500 so seems like a good way to me

I8URSVT

Nice work, but i doubt someone will want to pay more money for a car that was converted to a drop top vs. just buying a factory drop top.

chaase

It looks good so far but I doubt anyone would buy the car, let alone pay convertible prices for that. A VIN check will show it is a coupe and that will most likely turn off a buyer. If you are going to drive it into the ground then that is fine.

Pirateslife4me

Holy ***** you did it! You are one ballsy SOB my friend! Actually doesn't look like it was all that hard and once the panels are paint matched you'll never know from looking at it. I'm thinking a high five is in order!

I don't think he bought the car to sell guys, and coming up with the car he wants (a vert) with a popped motor and for the price he wants to pay just isn't an option so he took lemons and made some spiked lemonade! So in the end he has a vert vette with a brand new motor for well under 10k that he can drive the wheels off of and once cleaned up and finished will look just like one that would have cost him twice as much. And did it all in the back yard under a pop up tent!!!!!!

I'm totally down with the idea you had. Good for you man, I can't wait to see what else you can and will do.

bjones7131

Great work and pics, enjoy

dbgoodwin

That's a c5 vert for under c4 coupe prices. Very nice.

cdnguyred88

_zebra

are them HRE wheels & C6Z brakes? and they just "came with" the heap you started with?

jcgunn

Wow! Awesome!

C5 Pete

That's a great write up and project.

makes me think... I have the roof and trunk lid from my wrecked Z. All I would need is the tub and rear quarters...

RXPX

That's awesome!

Would it be similar to go from a hatch back to a fixed roof? Basically hatch to FRC/Z06 Roof.