Zo6 removable top ?
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 6
From: Los Alamitos California
St. Jude Donor '09
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,486
Likes: 1,659
From: Las Vegas NV
It can be done... but its neither easy nor cheap ($10,000 or so, IIRC)
It is definitely NOT just a simple matter of unbolting the stock Z06 roof and adding the coupe's targa brackets. It involves major structural reinforcements to the Z06 frame, cutting off the original Z06 brackets, etc etc.
It is definitely NOT just a simple matter of unbolting the stock Z06 roof and adding the coupe's targa brackets. It involves major structural reinforcements to the Z06 frame, cutting off the original Z06 brackets, etc etc.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 615
Likes: 2
From: Mill Creek WA
It may be difficult for some to understand that there are Corvette owners who, given the option, would not pay for, or order, a Corvette with a removable roof. It would be interesting to see the results of a poll of Z06 owners if they would prefer a removable roof or not. My guess is most would not.
Here are a couple of my reasons: (a) if you want a convertible, buy it; (b) I don't really care for the creaking roof concept (the dealer fixed my creaking roof, but how long will that last?); (c) my Z51 would be significantly lighter; and (d) my Z51 would be significantly stiffer. But, heh, that's just me.
Here are a couple of my reasons: (a) if you want a convertible, buy it; (b) I don't really care for the creaking roof concept (the dealer fixed my creaking roof, but how long will that last?); (c) my Z51 would be significantly lighter; and (d) my Z51 would be significantly stiffer. But, heh, that's just me.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 3
From: Indy IN
It may be difficult for some to understand that there are Corvette owners who, given the option, would not pay for, or order, a Corvette with a removable roof. It would be interesting to see the results of a poll of Z06 owners if they would prefer a removable roof or not. My guess is most would not.
Here are a couple of my reasons: (a) if you want a convertible, buy it; (b) I don't really care for the creaking roof concept (the dealer fixed my creaking roof, but how long will that last?); (c) my Z51 would be significantly lighter; and (d) my Z51 would be significantly stiffer. But, heh, that's just me.
Here are a couple of my reasons: (a) if you want a convertible, buy it; (b) I don't really care for the creaking roof concept (the dealer fixed my creaking roof, but how long will that last?); (c) my Z51 would be significantly lighter; and (d) my Z51 would be significantly stiffer. But, heh, that's just me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,307
Likes: 111
From: Tucson AZ
The C6 coupe roof frame is also cast magnesium. When you hold one, it is incredibly light.
The main difference in the C6 coupe and Z06 is the Z06 frame is aluminum vs steel for the coupe. Some think the alum frame requires the fixed roof to maintain frame integrity. Others maintain the only reason the Z06 roof is not removable is weight. Z06 engineers went to great lengths to achieve the weight goals such as deleting the passenger power seat and the auto hatch closing feature.
There is more than one method to install a transparent top on a Z06. The simple method is to bond a transparent panel to the std Z06 frame. You can see through it, but it is not removable.
At least one Z06 has had the C6 brackets installed along with a removable roof and no additional frame support. Depending on which camp you subscribe, this is controversial.
The next method is to add reinforcement to the underside of the Z06 alum frame and install the brackets and removable roof from the coupe. As mentioned above, most of these conversions run over $10k. You can check out Caravaggio and also another firm in Bowling Green in the Z06 section.
The main difference in the C6 coupe and Z06 is the Z06 frame is aluminum vs steel for the coupe. Some think the alum frame requires the fixed roof to maintain frame integrity. Others maintain the only reason the Z06 roof is not removable is weight. Z06 engineers went to great lengths to achieve the weight goals such as deleting the passenger power seat and the auto hatch closing feature.
There is more than one method to install a transparent top on a Z06. The simple method is to bond a transparent panel to the std Z06 frame. You can see through it, but it is not removable.
At least one Z06 has had the C6 brackets installed along with a removable roof and no additional frame support. Depending on which camp you subscribe, this is controversial.
The next method is to add reinforcement to the underside of the Z06 alum frame and install the brackets and removable roof from the coupe. As mentioned above, most of these conversions run over $10k. You can check out Caravaggio and also another firm in Bowling Green in the Z06 section.
