hardtop only.
'72 Convertible Conversion, no going back now
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 13
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From: Minnesota
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
Today I secured the mounts for the softtop (if I ever can afford to buy one). Made a paper template from the donor brace. I think my welds will hold, and I left enough adjustment for when the time comes. Next, I hope to do something with the windshield, maybe trim my t top stainless center section, make a flap to fold down from the excess , and find something to put in the gap. Hope to find some door glass this week as well. With a little luck, I may be painting next week.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
Thanks Doorgunner, Got my convertible door glass, thanks to David in South Gate, and thanks to Chris for turning me on to him. That guy has everything and anything when it comes to Vette parts. Got the glass installed today, fairly easy to do. Now I just gotta figure out what to do with the center of the windshield header. Stay tuned
Oh, and took it for a quick drive up and down the street, which my son put on youtube,
Oh, and took it for a quick drive up and down the street, which my son put on youtube,
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2026 Loser of the Year
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From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
How does it feel looking up at blues skies/white clouds/sunshine!?
Take your time thinking about the windshield trim.....make it look as good as the rest of the car.
Annnnnnnnnnnnd....try to wipe some of that smile off your face/the glare from your teeth is annoying
Take your time thinking about the windshield trim.....make it look as good as the rest of the car.
Annnnnnnnnnnnd....try to wipe some of that smile off your face/the glare from your teeth is annoying
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
Even my son, (who drives an '02 Z06) and told me not to do it, was impressed when we took it for a spin. I'm a happy guy, can't wait to paint it.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
Today I finished the top of the windshield, cost=0. Cut the t top stainless with enough left on the edge to fold down to meet the existing angle. Then made the center hold down bracket form a piece of angle steel, and cut a "U" shaped notch in the top header trim panel to clear the center top clamp. Not show quality, but it wasn't show quality before. Looks good enough for me, and the top fits securely. Also , received my brake calipers from Autozone.com today, only like $230 for the set of 4. So, it'll be a brake job this weekend.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 549
Likes: 20
From: Jamestown TN
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.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 326
Likes: 5
From: central Florida Florida
Hi Lowbuck, I'm curios as to what you did for the rear drain holes on the rear of the deck? I bought a 74 coupe that was transformed into a convertible , but the previous owner didn't make provisions for the rear drain holes so any water just ran into the rear area of the interior. I drilled new holes and ran 3/4" hose through to the rear wheel wells. I am in the process of finishing the project and hope this fix will do the trick.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
Hi Lowbuck, I'm curios as to what you did for the rear drain holes on the rear of the deck? I bought a 74 coupe that was transformed into a convertible , but the previous owner didn't make provisions for the rear drain holes so any water just ran into the rear area of the interior. I drilled new holes and ran 3/4" hose through to the rear wheel wells. I am in the process of finishing the project and hope this fix will do the trick.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 326
Likes: 5
From: central Florida Florida
Great Job on the conversion.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
It looks like that even the original designs depends on gravity and the car sitting level, and even then, I think a hard rain will end up getting some water in the interior. But like others said, not too many verts will be left out in the rain. Mine will, unfortunately, but I do have a waterproof car cover.