Please help: Vert to hardtop?????
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3
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Please help: Vert to hardtop?????
Hi guy's, Im new here and just bought a Torch red 2000 convertible & would like to find out how hard it is to convert it to a z06 hardtop & where is the best place to get the parts? Im a hands on guy & was wondering if this is just a unbolt & rebolt job? Thanks, Tom
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3
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Thank You for your input. Im hoping that its not that difficult to do. Hopefully more will reply. Thanks again
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 105
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From: University Place WA
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3
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Why not order a hard top from http://www.smoothline.com/ and then keep the convertible option?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,181
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From: Puyallup Washington
I think it would be much cheaper, easier and faster to sell the convertible and buy a Z06. The top on a Z06 is bonded onto the rear tub and it would be a major project to do it and you still would not have a real Z06.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,412
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From: Richardson TX
Not to mention if you replace the top on a convertible, you would have a fixed roof coupe, not a Z06.
FRCs are not that expensive, and Z06s are usually about the same price as a comparable convertible. Doing the swap would probably mean finding a donor car, plus labor. Not going to be cheap. I believe the guy who converted the Z06 to convertible said it cost him around $7,000, which also involved buying a brand new top (not cheap), but its not like you can do it in a weekend for under a grand.
I'm no expert, but it is my understanding that to convert a Z06 or FRC to a convertible, you basically chop the roof and halo off, and take all of the convertible pieces from a convertible and they basically bolt on and cover everything.
To go the other way, you'd have to find some way to attach the halo to the frame of the convertible, and be really good at fastening on the rear window and attach the roof to the windshield, etc. etc.
In other words, all of the steps are fairly easy from Z06 -> convertible, because the convertible parts bolt on top of whatever you're cutting off, but to go the other way is much more involved.
Not to mention, convertibles are a lot of fun to drive around with the top down
Last edited by PhysicsDude55; Jul 15, 2013 at 01:18 AM.
