Coupe to a Vert
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,448
Likes: 4
From: Sarasota Florida
St. Jude Donor '06
I doubt it's practical. Sell the coupe and buy a 'vert. For one thing, a 'vert has a different frame.
There have been a few conversions of Z06 cars into 'verts, but that's to get a car you can't get any other way. Plus, the Z06 already has the 'vert frame. I believe these conversions are in the $20k range.
There have been a few conversions of Z06 cars into 'verts, but that's to get a car you can't get any other way. Plus, the Z06 already has the 'vert frame. I believe these conversions are in the $20k range.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 741
Likes: 47
From: Indianapolis IN
Originally Posted by Gannet
I doubt it's practical. Sell the coupe and buy a 'vert. For one thing, a 'vert has a different frame.
There have been a few conversions of Z06 cars into 'verts, but that's to get a car you can't get any other way. Plus, the Z06 already has the 'vert frame. I believe these conversions are in the $20k range.
There have been a few conversions of Z06 cars into 'verts, but that's to get a car you can't get any other way. Plus, the Z06 already has the 'vert frame. I believe these conversions are in the $20k range.
What are the differences in the frames?
Pro
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 516
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From: Long Island ny
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
I can't give you any of the technical aspects of it, but the Vert does not have the resistance to the torque provided by the roof members of a coupe. As such there would have to be something provided for in the undercarriage to keep the frame from twisting more on a vert because there is no roof to do that.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 741
Likes: 47
From: Indianapolis IN
Originally Posted by OrangeVegaGT
I can't give you any of the technical aspects of it, but the Vert does not have the resistance to the torque provided by the roof members of a coupe. As such there would have to be something provided for in the undercarriage to keep the frame from twisting more on a vert because there is no roof to do that.
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,346
Likes: 5
From: Mustang OK
Yes, all three (coupe, vert and FRC/Z06) share the frame. However, the vert does have some extra bracing in the trunk area. Too, the vert and FRC/Z06 share most of the same body panels (rear quarter panels, trunk lid, etc.) that the coupe does not. There was a member here several years ago that detailed how he converted his model year 2003 AE vert into a FRC. For the most part as he described it, the job involved the unbolting and bolting and the changing out of parts to include to the extra bracing in the vert trunk area to accommodate the FRC top. As best I remember, he did all the work himself (except possibly for the painting of the FRC top) over the course of just a few days using all OEM parts. Too, I believe the FRC top from the factory possibly is glued in some areas. If I remember correctly, he did not do the gluing so that he could go back and forth from the vert to FRC fairly quickly.
If you can go from a vert to an FRC, I see no reason why you couldn't go from an FRC to an vert. However, as the coupe is quite different in this regard, I would think that changing it into a vert would be much more involved and much more expensive.
If you can go from a vert to an FRC, I see no reason why you couldn't go from an FRC to an vert. However, as the coupe is quite different in this regard, I would think that changing it into a vert would be much more involved and much more expensive.
Last edited by GrayC5; Nov 22, 2006 at 05:07 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Manhattan, KS Missing SoCal since 2005
Originally Posted by GrayC5
Yes, all three (coupe, vert and FRC/Z06) share the frame. However, the vert does have some extra bracing in the trunk area. Too, the vert and FRC/Z06 share most of the same body panels (rear quarter panels, trunk lid, etc.) that the coupe does not. There was a member here several years ago that detailed how he converted his model year 2003 AE vert into a FRC. For the most part as he described it, the job involved the unbolting and bolting and the changing out of parts to include to the extra bracing in the vert trunk area to accommodate the FRC top. As best I remember, he did all the work himself (except possibly for the painting of the FRC top) over the course of just a few days using all OEM parts. Too, I believe the FRC top from the factory possibly is glued in some areas. If I remember correctly, he did not do the gluing so that he could go back and forth from the vert to FRC fairly quickly.
If you can go from a vert to an FRC, I see no reason why you couldn't go from an FRC to an vert. However, as the coupe is quite different in this regard, I would think that changing it into a vert would be much more involved and much more expensive.
If you can go from a vert to an FRC, I see no reason why you couldn't go from an FRC to an vert. However, as the coupe is quite different in this regard, I would think that changing it into a vert would be much more involved and much more expensive.
I knew a guy in San Diego a couple of years ago who did the conversion. He said it wasn't too bad. The car drove fine - no flex. I'll try to find a pic.
Here's the car in question - he even hand-laid his own hardtop for it (surfboard maker). Now that I think of it, both the Z06 and the 'vert will need some kind of cross brace to support the trunk hinges....
Last edited by HummelS; Nov 25, 2006 at 03:26 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,791
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From: Loudon/Lake Mary Tennessee/Florida
Originally Posted by Mike98SilVert
All C5's, whether it's a Targa Coupe, Fixed Roof Coupe or a Convertible, have the same frame.
The C4 had frame dirrerences but not the C5.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Sarasota Florida
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by Mike98SilVert
All C5's, whether it's a Targa Coupe, Fixed Roof Coupe or a Convertible, have the same frame.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 836
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From: Colorado Springs, Colo., USA
Originally Posted by Tom Porter
Has anybody done the conversion from a coupe to a convertable? If so would you do it again and what is the cost for all the parts?
If ya want a convertible, go trade for one!
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Manhattan, KS Missing SoCal since 2005
Originally Posted by JH
Differences in frames and bracing aside, this would be costly and what would you have at the end? A former-coupe conversion-to-convertible, fine, but if I want a coupe I don't want the car, if I want a convertible I will find a good one, and I will be completely suspect of the conversion. You'd take a bath on resale and never recoup (pun intended) the cost of the conversion.
If ya want a convertible, go trade for one!
If ya want a convertible, go trade for one!
Just because you "can," doesn't mean you "should."
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Lake Elsinore, CA
PaceThis is in the process of this conversion right now. Check out post#7 in this thread.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1528503
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1528503
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I have a tendency to agree - before I would go to the expense of a conversion, I would just go buy a factory convertible and be done with it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: The second childhood is the best one of all.
Originally Posted by Gannet
I doubt it's practical. Sell the coupe and buy a 'vert. For one thing, a 'vert has a different frame.
There have been a few conversions of Z06 cars into 'verts, but that's to get a car you can't get any other way. Plus, the Z06 already has the 'vert frame. I believe these conversions are in the $20k range.
There have been a few conversions of Z06 cars into 'verts, but that's to get a car you can't get any other way. Plus, the Z06 already has the 'vert frame. I believe these conversions are in the $20k range.
BTW I saw a Z06 FRC at Carlisle that was converted to a vert. The car was rolled and bought by the owner with a salvage title. Rather than repair the top he cut it off.
The conversion looked terrific.
