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Found a 63 roof skin on E- Bay. The bid is up to 4 grand, maybe you have seen his ad. Wanted to seek council with the C-2 group and pose the question. Could a 63 roof skin be bonded to a 64 body.? I have 0 experience with the C-2 but have always been fond of the 63. As you know, a 63 hardtop can be an expensive endeavor, with poor examples selling 50-60 and needing a full restoration.
I am not afraid to get dirty, and have a fair amount of experience with glass. Could this be done.? Would it be worth the effort.? Would i just be ruining a 64.? Appreciate the input. Sorry if this has already been discussed here.
I too have a 64 coupe. What you are asking could be done. A big job though. I think it would be very expensive to do , what? 20 to 25k total ?? and what would you have when done? Hmmmmm.
A custom 64. Not for me, but I don't lust after a 63 either. I am quite happy with what I've got, but I customized mine some too. .
I believe Dynamic Corvette sells a kit to make a split window coupe that is much cheaper. One of the members here said he was buying one which has seamless glass and all the interior moldings. Search seamless glass in the search box. It was posted recently.
I haven't seen any split window kits beyond that prototype that Fantomworks touted that never seemed to work out...
I'd be interested to see any contenders to that...
As to a roof skin replacement - I don't know what the eBay skin is priced at but add $3,500 or so for the exterior stainless and another oh, $600 for repro rear glass. Then if you want to go that far you have to get the INTERIOR metal trim for around the rear windows - which nobody talks about much. No repros and price that stuff out, a corner piece can go for $350.
I'm not saying don't do it - but be well aware of what you're getting into. If you go "whole hog" you are looking at maybe $7K not counting the skin and that's if you don't count labor...
Forum member Joe Inama said he just bought one from Dynamic Corvette for a resto mod project he's building. I don't see it advertised on their site but you could call them and inquire about it.
I know a few years ago there were kits to restore a 63 split window where the bar had been removed as a customizing feature back in the 60s. I think there was quite a demand for it for awhile once Vette prices started climbing. If they are still around (might check with Ecklers) that would be a bunch less work than replacing an entire roof skin. Might even get away without a complete repainting. But IMO then is not something I would do to a 64.
I know a few years ago there were kits to restore a 63 split window where the bar had been removed as a customizing feature back in the 60s. I think there was quite a demand for it for awhile once Vette prices started climbing. If they are still around (might check with Ecklers) that would be a bunch less work than replacing an entire roof skin. Might even get away without a complete repainting. But IMO then is not something I would do to a 64.
I agree unless you're building a full blown resto mod you will spend a lot of money and never get it back just for a split in the rear window. You could probably have a body shop fabricate a fiberglass piece to stick to the middle of the glass that would give you the look of a split window coupe and be removable if you got tired of it or decided to sell. It would probably look real from 20ft away.
We bought the replacement split window pc of press mold fiberglass and the inner pc of fiberglass that holds the trim from Lee Bump Composites and did not use them, we repaired the original. If your cp rear section is good this is an easy install, still not cheap, you are looking at $6,000 for the inner and outer trim, and about 600 for the fiberglass pc's. you could leave the 64 vents in the roof or buy the 63 roof vents also. I have installed a few roof sections also not for the beginner, but not that hard with some experience.
Last edited by 65 Pro Vette; 11-16-2018 at 12:08 PM.
Thank you for the responses gentlemen. Sounds like its possible. Have to say, I don't like the idea of destroying a 64 to make it happen. That being said, if I could find A 64 that had been left for dead, or a basket case that might be a better candidate for a project like this.
The kits are cool for sure, but its a kit. I have seen that episode of Fantomworks, and while i applaud the effort the car looked like a kit car to me. I am more of a traditional Corvette guy, and like the idea of an original top on the car, even if its a heinz 57 its still a real Corvette. In my mind, a project like this would be for me to drive and enjoy not to sell. I am not made of money, but I do have some time and space in the garage. Going to look into this. Thanks.
Wouldn't it be hilarious if 20 years from now some kid were to cut the post out to make his Corvette look like a 'newer' one? Just like they did back in the 60's...
Okay, that wouldn't be funny, but I will say this about that...
The very first question I'm asked after someone asks me what year Corvette I have and I tell them it is a '63 is, "...is it a Split-Window?" And this is often from people that wouldn't know a Corvette from a Corvair.
If your cp rear section is good this is an easy install, still not cheap, you are looking at $6,000 for the inner and outer trim, and about 600 for the fiberglass pc's. you could leave the 64 vents in the roof or buy the 63 roof vents also.
Then the decision has to be made on the windshield trim------which also leads to the trim on the doors.
64 coupe project cars come along fairly often, and many of them are so far gone from original that modifying it with a split rear window would not impact the value.
I have seen the roof replaced, and the other 63 unique parts replaced when a very rough and rusty 63 FI coupe was resurrected using a nice 64 coupe body. The roof panel was replaced, among other parts. The 64 coupe donor car was missing it's original engine and trans, and I seem to recall is was a 250hp car.
Anyway, the 63 FI coupe turned out beautiful, and received many NCRS and Bloomington awards. This was 20 plus years ago.
The conversion can be done, and it is a lot of work / expensive, but it is doable.
11-15-2018, 06:58 PM
Swapping roof skins
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