convertible ?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
convertible ?
Those of you that converted a coupe to a vert - where did you get the frame for the soft top and how much is this ?
I'm not planning to make this my next project (not yet) , I'm just curious what else is needed other than the rear deck lid which is 'only' about $600.
Edit:
I don't want to do this to my '79...... however ...I consider buying another C3 - one that is in poor condition and cheap ... maybe one that has fiberglass damage ... right now it's just an idea...
I'm not planning to make this my next project (not yet) , I'm just curious what else is needed other than the rear deck lid which is 'only' about $600.
Edit:
I don't want to do this to my '79...... however ...I consider buying another C3 - one that is in poor condition and cheap ... maybe one that has fiberglass damage ... right now it's just an idea...
Last edited by MYBAD79; Mar 14, 2005 at 04:16 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 199
Likes: 1
From: League City Texas
You are joking right? It's a LOT more than just a top and hatch.
Here's a few differences, [ and I'm sure others will chime in on this as I'll surely miss alot. ]
Windsheild Header
Door Glass and possibly the window regulators
Rear Deck - because you'll need the drip channel
Mounts and re-inforcements for your top frame inside
All Latching hardware
Top and window seals
Top Glass
Interior Trim
Here's a few differences, [ and I'm sure others will chime in on this as I'll surely miss alot. ]
Windsheild Header
Door Glass and possibly the window regulators
Rear Deck - because you'll need the drip channel
Mounts and re-inforcements for your top frame inside
All Latching hardware
Top and window seals
Top Glass
Interior Trim
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by nostgry
You are joking right? It's a LOT more than just a top and hatch.
Here's a few differences, [ and I'm sure others will chime in on this as I'll surely miss alot. ]
Windsheild Header
Door Glass and possibly the window regulators
Rear Deck - because you'll need the drip channel
Mounts and re-inforcements for your top frame inside
All Latching hardware
Top and window seals
Top Glass
Interior Trim
Here's a few differences, [ and I'm sure others will chime in on this as I'll surely miss alot. ]
Windsheild Header
Door Glass and possibly the window regulators
Rear Deck - because you'll need the drip channel
Mounts and re-inforcements for your top frame inside
All Latching hardware
Top and window seals
Top Glass
Interior Trim
I didn't know that the door glass and the windshield header was different ....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
You can make the w/s frame work by cutting away the "T" bar. You do need the chrome header for a vert. The tops are available used at bigger shows for say $600-700 likely with rusty front bows (about $300 for a new bow) or over $2000 complete and restored from the catalogs. Watch Ebay, they can be found there.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
Originally Posted by Gage
I can't believe someone would go to the trouble to do this. Just sell the coupe and get a convertible. They're for sale all the time...Plus the car has been de-valued if you chopped it all up.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by Gage
I can't believe someone would go to the trouble to do this. Just sell the coupe and get a convertible. They're for sale all the time...Plus the car has been de-valued if you chopped it all up.
... however ...I consider buying another C3 - one that is in poor condition and cheap ... maybe one that has fiberglass damage ... right now it's just an idea...
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 4
From: May help you? You can sure as hell try!
There's a guy that works in my building that converted a '70 Monte Carlo into a convertible. It wasn't a hack job, either. It looks like it came that way from the factory. He used a convertible frame and all of the hardware from a Chevelle convertible. He did it just because he could and Chevy never did. Very cool! If he brings it to one of our company car shows this summer I'll take pics and post them.
Sorry, can't help with the thoughts on the Corvette conversion but personally, I wouldn't go to the trouble when there are already Vette convertibles out there.
Sorry, can't help with the thoughts on the Corvette conversion but personally, I wouldn't go to the trouble when there are already Vette convertibles out there.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by LemansBlue68
Sorry, can't help with the thoughts on the Corvette conversion but personally, I wouldn't go to the trouble when there are already Vette convertibles out there.
After my '79 is finished (when will that be) I need a new project to work on... a convertible with ACI flares would be #1 on my wish list.... right now it's just a thought but who knows - maybe in one or two years.... if I find a cheap one I might go for it...
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by 74FLCONV
Why would you cut up your car after all the work you did?
My '74 Vert is for sale.
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
My '74 Vert is for sale.
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
Now, looking back... I actually enjoyed all the work that I put in my '79...why not do it again/different/better ?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,527
Likes: 1
From: St. Petersburg, Fl///Columbus, Ohio
I'll bet you could buy a removeable hardtop from a convertible and have the best of both worlds ALOT cheaper than trying to retro fit a fold down top ...... I almost bought an '80 with the plans of buying a hard top and the top of the rear deck and windshield header from a 'vert .... good luck!!!