Still waiting for my parts to come in for mine. They should be in by next week. Drove 9 hours yesterday to pick up a hardtop. I haven't found a frame for the rag top but that's been put on hold for awhile. I still need to find the support under the dash but really haven't looked for it yet.

So far, I have $1100 invested in parts. I plan on doing the labor myself. A paint job was already planned but will come sooner now. I don't think this will be as expensive as some have stated simply because I shopped for the best deals.

Already looking ahead to the engine swap. Think I am going for a ZZ4 tripower that I found the other day. That should give the car that extra POP when the hood is opened.

This project was never started as a cheap way out. I am not concernerd with resale of the car. This car has sentimental value to me and will be with me until I die. To me, it will be worth more than any vette that I could trade it for.

I'm taking pictures of the progress and will post them once I start getting further along. I will try to detail as much as I can everything that was done so others will have it available if they want it.



I noticed that most of the conversions that I have seen have the rear spoiler. I have really been debating this issue. I was going to go with the pace car spoiler before this project started but now that it's becoming a convertible I think I am just going to keep the stock 78 rear look. I kind of think that will add to the curves of the car as a convertible more than breaking up the sillouet with the spoiler. What do you guys think? I'll atleast put it together that way first to see how it looks before I replace the rear.

 

This question comes up on the forum 3 or 4 times a year. I worked on converting an 81 back in the 80's. The new fiberglass pieces and the older vert pieces needed were cheaper and much more readily available, But just like the frequently asked "can I make my 76 a chrome bumper car?", the answer is yes, but you are better off buying the car you want than trying to build it, especially if you ever try to sell it.

 

jeffro1234,

From your description I don't think I have the hinge bases that use the rivet holes. That is why I will have to take a look see at gator's car to see if I can fab something or if I need look for the bases. I bought the hinges from a forum member so maybe he has the bases too. Thanks.

 

Have you ever heard the joke about the farmer that was shipping his hogs from Texas to Chicago because he could get five cents a pound more?

It is true, but his buddy asked him "you gonna leave your hogs on that trailer for 48 hours or more" and the old farmer said "what's time to a hog?" You see there may be better or easier ways to do this but it is my time and money I am wasting and I am too far along to turn back. Besides, I can't imagine what I would be doing with my time if I didn't have the vette project.

 

Kevinator -- preach on brother, preach on

Ive wanted to do this for quite a while. I LIKE your idea for a true roadster. Think i'll wander over to C3s 4 sale and look for an abused 80-82 and make a topless stablemate for FAST81.

Do some of these so called experts realize GM didn't MAKE an ragtop during the 80-82 yrs (or the 75-79 either)

i'm inspired by guys like YOU and JUST4FUN, who've drove in head first into this.

 

I'm with you. I think the '74 style rear bumper cover without the parting line is the best looking. Especially on a vert. I don't like the little anticlimbers on the '75-'79. I think the '80-'82 spoiler style also looks good if the front matches.

 

Considered it for my 76 but it was way cheaper to buy my 73( I might get to drive it this summer) But did you see that 81 conversion from ebay posted above !! Great project

 

I truly enjoy mine...

 

Very nice.

 

The base plates are available new. Both the short an tall versions. I bought new ones because the ones I got were really rusty. The upper part of the hinge assemblies I bought used were in good shape. Luckily they made them in two pieces like that. If you have trouble finding them let me know. I bought the new plates from a local vette shop but Im sure most catalogs would have them too.

 

Thanks, I am going to look for them now. I would like to get them so that I can secure the lid as soon as I finish my hood project.

Is this what you were referring to?

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000050G

Sorry to say that as long as I can cut, bend and weld I will never give them $56 plus shipping/handling.

 

and you should. Very nice.

 

Stupid question...I just started thinking about this the other day. Are the doors more specifically the door glass the same size on later models as early models?

 

Are those C5 "wagon wheels"???

They look strangely good on a C3. i have a set i took off my 99 sitting on my garage floor.....................

 

Yep... those are wagon wheels. I think they don't look very attractive on a C5 but I like them on a C3. I'm running 17" wheels on both the front and back. I now wish I would have put the 18" wheels on the rear. I've also got C5 seats installed.

Jim

 

Thanks!

 

did they bolt up or did you need offset trailing arms???
Damn i might just shoe these rims up and mount em on Fast81

 

The cool thing about any 17" wheel is that it opens up so many choices as it relates to aftermarket high performance tires. I went with Khumo high performance 255-55-17 tires. The 17" wheels do not require offset trailing arms. If you are thinking of using yours with 18" rears you may need offset. Others on the forum who have installed larger rear tires can answer this question better than I can.

They don't bolt right up. I had to use 2.5" wheel adapters. Be careful here. There have been many threads over the years on this forum regarding adapters/spacers. You need adapters that are both wheel and hub centric. By that I mean you need both the recess and lip that are part of your oem wheel configuration. Most adapters have neither forcing the wheel to rest on the studs only... not a good thing. I'll edit this post with some pics of my adapters if I can find them on my other computer.

Jim

 

Could you be more specific?

 

Just curious if the dimensions or shape of the door windows are any different on early 70s compared to 78. On the conversion do they seal ok with the convertible top? I'm pretty sure they do but haven't actually checked that out.