Roadkill.com is an automotive site of gearheads who teach and show people all the wild things that can be done with an automobile. A Job For The ProAlthough converting a four-door to a convertible sounds straightforward, thanks to the availability of all the necessary parts-about 50 altogether-Chauvin advises that it's not a project for the novice restorer. The motor operating the hardtop roof allows for adjustments while driving up to 25 mph. That wasn't always the case, but in the 25 years that C.A.R.S. Vintage 1980 Yamaha Enticer Snowmobile Revival to Former Glory. You're not gunna wanna miss that!Leave me a few comments down below, love to read em.Also buy a shirt so I can buy more hood scoops:https://www.teespring.com/stores/dd-speed-shopSend us your Junk:DD Speed ShopPo box 420411881 Portage ave Ferry Road RPOWinnipeg, Manitoba R3J 3X7Send me an email with some suggestions or ideasdan@ddspeedshop.ca The top speed of the Nissan 350z is 250 KPH. One of the major steps in a convertible conversion involves fitting a factory-style X-member reinforcement to the car's frame, along with some other reinforcing skid plates. Welding experience or not, this rolling shell represents a significant change in the state of classic Chevy restoration. Now you're going to add a roof. If thats not an option, we would suggest speeding up. That's because it's now possible to transform a lowly four-door into a true '57 convertible. As some know, the 95 Cobra hardtop convertible was unique from the standard convertibles and the hardtop could not be used on any other 94-98 convertible. LSA/T56, 1967 Camaro Coupe LS2/T56, Tesla Model3 Can We Just Delete The Entire Topic. (050B) Audi TT Hard Top Stand Storage Trolley Cart Rack & Hardtop Dust Cover (Fits: More than one vehicle) $123.52. The roof and extra set of doors have served their purpose over the years but it's time for them to move on.I decided to start by transforming the 4 door hard top into a 2 door hard top. We'll work to keep you motivated and informed and with industry news, product information and reviews, event coverage, and well-curated articles and stories intended to inspire and educate. Unfortunately for this Volvo, it got selected as one of the sacrifices for this automobile mutilation. Doing this on the cheap meant re-using most of the 4 door sheet metal and only purchasing the essentials. The market has seen a decline in the production and availability of hardtop convertibles. RELATED: 10 Most Powerful Mustangs Ever, Ranked. It acts to shield the interior from heat from seeping in. 22,520 views Feb 12, 2021 I actually did it this time. I am trying to decide between buying a convertible or just buying a hard top and making a convertible. Local Pickup. 4 watching. Then press the head button to release the lock. They include: According to LendingTree, the simplest method for financing your new hardtop convertible is to compare car prices. It has a body style of a convertible and gets 19 mpg. Its actually quite simple section the old inner door structure and weld it in. The provided manual transmission gives you driving versatility and the ability to climb hills, rocks, and rough terrain. Static timing is a function of essentially setting the timing by hand with the motor not running. 2007 Pontiac G6 Convertible: Priced at $30,000, this is one of the more affordable hardtop convertibles available. in the second link, look at post #27. Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - Forget about a Camaro or a Mini Cooper; if youre looking for true joy, then you should think about the Wrangler. Undoubtedly, Nissan 350z has come even better than ever. The Miata is offered in both an automatic transmission and six-speed manual transmission. The 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner was the first one that older people may remember, but the first convertible-type car with a retractable roof was the 1996 Mercedes-Benz SLK Roadster. Find a complete top- non sunroof preferably, measure, measure again, cut and weld. But the C.A.R.S. According to the Convertible Builders website, each conversion gets a specifically designed heated glass rear window along with a proper headliner to match the interior. 2007 Cadillac XLR: This 2 door, 2 seat hardtop roadster has the classic, Cadillac lines that make it irresistible. Cabriolets are fun. You'd likely have to replace both rear quarters and all of the supporting braces, rear window deck area, etc., etc.. The roof and extra set of doors have served the. Spare parts! Shes a little rough around the edges, but Dan says that he feels like a million bucks driving down the road. 2012 BMW M3 Convertible: When people think of the classic convertible, this is the build that comes to mind. There is a very simple three step procedure for doing the conversion: 1. Having said that, I'm hunting around trying to find a how-to on converting coupes to ragtops, and I'm gonna do it irregardless of whether you help me or not so since this is the camaro forum we might as well be buds and help each other do our projects, right? However, whether the rooftop is open or closed, it makes no compromise on the drivers safety. Starting From ScratchOr, at least, re-create one in the owner's image of what he always wanted. Cutting and fitting all the 4 door chrome onto a 2 door convertible trim turned out to be a bigger job than he expected. This way you will avoid being overwhelmed, discover the lowest price you can afford, and you won't rush into making a decision you may regret later. What does this hardtop fit on? Who would have thought transforming a 1957 Chevy 4 door parts car into a slick 2 door convertible would be so much work?!? Dan tosses in some carpet and a seat before you know it Ill be cruising in style! Im going to put my stamp of approval on this build. 1987 Mazda rx7 Fc Hard top cut out panel. It helps it to be more agile and responsive. This little Roadster may not have a lot of cabin room, but all you have to do is hit the button for the folding hardtop, and you will have all of the headroom in the world. These methods include a pre-approved loan. Hes not going for perfection here but trying to flatten it out enough for a coat of primer. Not trying to be rude, just my opinion. The X frame built specifically for Tri-5 rag tops proved to be a challenge when plumbing the brake and fuel lines. On the other hand, Hardtop convertibles offer the best of both worlds, offering an open-air experience, all-weather protection, a more secure cabin, and the structural integrity of a fixed roof. It is the same as Honda and Murata have, IIRC. How to install a new MSD slip collar distributor this 582ci V8 engine is revved to over 7,000 rpm on Westechs Superflow Engine Dyno. The older the car is, the harder it is to get parts/pieces. 1988-1991 Mazda Rx7 FC Convertible Front Top Gasket. They do now make a large canvas sunroof. The retractable roof hardtop takes 15 seconds and transforms the 570 into a top-down cruising machine. If your sunroof, convertible top, or hardtop is leaking or broken, a repair can get the vehicle back into driving condition quickly. Still, cloth-top convertibles also present a safety risk both in structural design and theft ability. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Convertible cars give a sense of freedom and excitement. It's a shame, really, because the four-door represents a great bargain in the vintage Chevy market. Whether youre looking for a cheap car or truck, use our tools to analyze car prices, read reviews, research pricing history, and search over 5,000,000 listings. In turn, this can reduce storage space that could typically be used for other things. Gone but not forgotten. C.A.R.S. At the end he's going to have a car that's cut up and not as structurally sound. Windshields are the same. When it comes to road trips or simply driving around town, hardtop convertibles are the car you want. Base price at $33,000. Now, if C.A.R.S. Cruising around the block after thrashing for 6 weeks is such a sweet payoff. He tells us that it honestly wasnt that bad and says hed buy another one. With all the lights working, his friend Mur came by to help him set a quick alignment. When the weather condition gets unpleasant, the roof, which could be a detachable hardtop, retractable hardtop, or a foldable construction made of cloth, is simply fitted back in place. Anything can be done, but in this case I would search for a hardtop. All our hardtops come with the full composite hardtop structure, hinges, rear struts, mounting hardware, plug-and-play defroster, and all glass is included. There are a ton of models on the market, so we are here to make choosing one a little easier. The metalwork on the 1957 Chevy Belair 4 door to 2 door convertible conversion has all been fit together. Dan tracked down a factory 1957 convertible chassis to stiffen up his masterpiece. The key to any successful budget build is spare parts! When it comes to road trips or simply driving around town, hardtop convertibles are the car you want. It'd be a lot less of a hassle to buy a Hardtop, than to make one. Convertibles have long provided an open-air experience shared only with motorboats or motorcycles. Has anyone ever converted a hard top to a convertible. No one ever said turning a 4 door hardtop into a 2 door convertible would be easy, but hes making progress every day on this hillbilly convertible. It's a great idea. There are several small components that go into the frame, but they're all incorporated into the replacement part-simply hack off the old frame at the appropriate location and weld in the new piece. 94-98 used pretty much the same body, but converting yours to a hardtop would be very difficult to say the least. Content on E46 Fanatics Forum is generated by its users. Worst case scenario (high probability) it'll look like crap. 57," is a four-digit code for the body style. The earliest known car with a hardtop folding roof was the 1935 Peugeot 402 Eclipse Decapotable. I purchased a 2009 Audi TT 2.0t soft-top convertible about 2 years ago, and the fabric top has been destroyed by the Texas sunlight. 2007 Pontiac G6 Convertible: Priced at $30,000, this is one of the more affordable hardtop convertibles available. All you have to do is lower the convertible top in the normal stance and fasten the hardtop in place. Car: 1993 Acura Integra LS, 1998 Nissan 240SX SE 5sp. The car got the recognition it deserved as it became an instant star at the 2009 SEMA. The storage space offered is carpeted for a finished look for the entire interior of the car. 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