'72 Convertible Conversion, no going back now
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
Hey Frank, thanks for the pictures, I like the bracket you made for the top bolts of the decklid hinge assembly. I have the original fiberglass brackets form the donor clip, which I intend to bond in place. I spent most of an afternoon removing bonding adhesive from them with my heat gun, and naturally, all 4 bolts snapped off when removing the hinge, so I had drill, easy out (not so easy) and retap. By the way, what bonding adhesive did you use. Also for any of you true convertible owners out there, the convertible clip has a rectangular hole on the upper part of the door jam, but the my coupe clip does not. Does anyone know what this is for?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
That rectangular hole is for your convertible wedge pins and guides to make the body more rigid when the doors are closed. You can add them if you want but they are expensive so I left them off of my 72 and can't notice the difference. They didn't use them on the earlier C3 convertibles.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 751
Likes: 32
From: Woburn,ma ma
Got a good deal on a convertible rear clip, also got a deal on a removable hardtop, but still need to score some convertible door glass. I made room in the garage, so here I go, hacking the roof off my '72 coupe. Got plenty of cut off wheels and sawzall blades, got a good spot weld cutter and my heat gun is ready to go. Read every post I could find and took note of all the warnings, ignoring most of them. I plan on using as little of the convertible rear clip as possible. So I plan on making my own bonding strips from unused panels. Removed the spare holder and gas tank, and installed a half gallon tank under the hood, so I can still drive it around. Making that first cut was scary and I said to myself "what the hell am I doing". But as I go I'm feeling better and better. Unbonding panels is slow going but the heat gun does the job. I am finding that the coupe body has almost all the same indentations and rivet holes for the convertible parts. The hardest part so far has been cutting through the spot welds behind the door jams, some were at bad angels and had to use the nasty air hammer on a few of them. I'm at the point I know what to do, how to mount the deck hings, the latch catches, the guide pins, what to bond and where. I'm sure there will be lots of other issues as I go, but nothing seems insurmountable. This is where I am at after 3 days work.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
It's kinda neat, as you start to tear things apart you see how it was put together and at what point in its assmbly the the coupe and convertible were the same. Anyway, installed the latches and am beginning to test fit. It been a kind of a catch 22, you can't bond down the rear panel until you makes sure it is in position. You cant latch the decklid until the rear panel is in place. You move the hinge postiion a bit,then you gotta reposition the decklid. then the latch is off and needs to be readjusted. My main concern is bonding in the piece that support the top of the hinge. I'm think I'm going to install some temporary 1/4" bolts, cause once it'sb onded in place, it's there to stay.
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Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
My '72 vert has FI on it, and so to have a special starting sequence, don't follow it, and car sits......only way to steal my car is tow it......
upon repainting it some years ago, I even removed the door locks, no sense to lock a vert......
upon repainting it some years ago, I even removed the door locks, no sense to lock a vert......
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
Got the rear deck bonded down today. Made bonding strips from some old body panels, secured them to the body, and bonded the rear deck. Used plenty of clamps, and now it's nice and solid. Ugly from the top side, but solid. This weekend, I'll bolt down the decklid and hopefully it will fit and latch properly. If all goes well, the the hardest part is behind me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,039
Likes: 504
From: myrtle beach sc
Army
Has anyone mentioned that a convertible needs a metal saddle bonded to the tunnel and that there are four additional under dash braces?
You know the 68 coupes were called "convertible-coupes" in the brochures. Lou.
You know the 68 coupes were called "convertible-coupes" in the brochures. Lou.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
It was a good day, after some adjustments, the decklid latches, panel fit is good. Had to take it for a short ride round the neighborhood. Man it made me feel like I was 17 again. Shifting gears, hearing the exhaust behind, wind in the face. No rattles, no cowl shake. It's like an entirely different car. The worst is part behind me, now just lots and lots and lots of small jobs and details, not to mention body work and paint.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA