04silvy

Hello all. First post here as I just picked up my first c5. Have honestly been looking for a long long time for the right one and just never pulled the trigger.

Honestly didn't find the "right" one but probably just bought one of the cheapest non salvage out there.. lol. Guy popped over a curb with it, busted a radiator condenser and mangled the lower core support. Damage looks to be only contained to that. Rest of the car is super nice. Only major issue is it is a convertible... Not a fan. I know smoothline and other companies make a hard top ..but are pricey. Given the price I paid for it...it still is an option. Main question is...how hard would it be to attach a FRC to a vert? Saw some threads but not alot of info. I'm pretty competent when it comes to this stuff as I just re skinned the roof of my 04GTo. Only concern would be out the FRC mounts the the windshield.

If anyone has any advice feel free to chime in. I've seen a few roofs fairly cheap on eBay so might pick one up to mock up for myself if I dont get much feedback. I'm not 100% sure I'm keeping this one but with as cheap as I got it and as nice as it is....i might as well.

Time for a C-5

There's a smoothline top for sale in Detroit's Craigslist right now for $1,500 with a stand. Not sure were you are.

Vetteman Jack

That Smoothline top would be a heck of a lot easier to install than affixing an FRC top permanently to the car.

04silvy

Any chance you have a link? Looked but couldn't find it..

Time for a C-5

https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/p...790530730.html

knewblewkorvette

I learn something new every day.
Just how cheap did you get it for?

04silvy

Well she's a 2000 and has 220k mi. Has a newer T56, new seats, new top and has had all paintwork freshened up recently.

Got it cheap because it was taken to a dealer after the PO popped over a curb and the estimate the wrote was more than he wanted to pay so he just let it go. Needs a radiator, condenser, lower core support and a couple tires. Popped a little bit of the paint off the front bumper as well from the flexing.

I wasn't going to say at first but i think I'll be keeping it so don't mind now. Any guesses before I say?

jrob56

Price as right rules?

6k

04silvy

If price is right rules....you bust... By alot. 😉

04silvy

And thank you. Very close to where my friend lives. Might have to get ahold of him.

knewblewkorvette

Really? Okay...$4K Which is dirt cheap, how come I can never find these deals

knewblewkorvette

With wagon wheels? Someone took off the Y2K wheels and put on wagon wheels?

Velocity_Vette

Well considering the thin spoke Y2K wheels are junk doesn't really surprise me (endless amount of posts re: cracked Y2K thin spokes).

The FRC and the convertible are very similar in that they utilize the same under structure rear tub (the tub has supports for the trunk), the trunk lid itself, and the rear quarters (rear quarters on targas are slightly different where they meet the tops of the fender lines). It'd obviously be a bit more than just slapping the FRC roof onto the car though. The other thing you will need to consider is FRC/Z06 owners struggle with a lot of unique "issues" with their cars. The rain rails have been discontinued for years now and it's effectively impossible to find a good removed set. Another issue is the seal for the rear window. If you don't find an FRC with a window and seal intact as one piece to the roof you're going to be in for a lot of "fun".

04silvy

This was a once in a lifetime for me....
And ya... Noticed that first thing. He was a very nice older gentleman and didn't argue with Him when he told me he picked up the wheels that were original to this car. Said it had some aftermarket and one cracked. I honestly like the wagons more than the y2k... But if I keep it it will have neither.
And this is good to know and something I didn't really take into consideration.... The smoothline seems to be looking better and better priced. Even if I had to buy new.

And drumroll.......................$1000 😀

knewblewkorvette

$1,000 WHAT! what? WHAT! what? WHAT!

04silvy

Somehow...someway......yes I paid $1000. I actually fell into it as it was a word of mouth deal. A guy at work told me he knew where a Corvette was that needed some work and he wished he could get it but had no room. Gave me the number ...I called and had it on a trailer 3 hours later. Picked the nice gentleman up from work, then drove to a Chevrolet dealer that it was at. Pulled the dipstick...and was like yep.. has oil to get it on the trailer....handed him the cash and drove it on the trailer.

knewblewkorvette

[color]LOL[/color]

04silvy

LoL... Wasn't my fault. He knew it was worth more. He just said he wanted to get it to someone that would fix it back up.

04silvy

So I've been digging up as many threads as I can and reading through them. Although I didn't really find any how tos...on this conversion ..it doesn't seem all that involved. Especially if I find a roof that is already off. The only thing im unsure of is how it would affix to the windshield.

Another reason I'm leaning towards the conversion is I'm finding alot of FRC targa conversions which I absolutely LOVE.....
Going to dig through a few more of the ZO6 targa conversions to see how it's fixed to the windshield
If anyone knows any threads with better info let me know.

Tsumi

If I recall correctly, the targa mounts to the windshield the same way as the convertible. The really hard part is rigging up the coupe halo to the back part of the FRC. At this point, you would need an FRC roof, a targa top, and the halo portion from a regular coupe.

As for how the normal FRC is attached to the windshield... I believe it's just literally glued to the windshield.