Well, after a long debate with myself, I finally started the process. I wasn't going to do it, but my buddy Paul from the turbo buick world was pushing me to do it (almost daring, at times lol), as he's done countless T-Top conversions, so I figured why not, it'll be something different. The car in question is an '86 Z28 that came equipped with an LG4, 700R4, and peg leg 2.73 rear. Nothing special, so I'm not too concerned about value, plus I don't ever see myself selling the car anyway. I've since swapped to Tuned Port Injection, as well as a turbo charger, and felt that a convertible top will be the cherry on the sundae. This car has no sub frame connectors, and no bracing of any sort. Was concerned about it buckling when the final cuts went through, but this is where my buddy Paul stepped in and guaranteed me it will not buckle. That being said, the top has been removed, and the car did not buckle! Measured before, during, and after, and nothing moved. It held, and is holding, fine. Now I need to compile the parts that I need to complete the installation, and I will be updating this thread as I go along...

Having owned 3 verts(still have my GTA), the only differences in the factory structure are the rocker boxes and the lower b/c pillar bracing where the top mounts. - That said, you will still want to do some sort of subframe connectors or the typical long-term issues of these cars will come at a more exponential rate. Trust me it's scary when you see it with the top down, door opens, and the seats and console out.


Do you intend on simply utilizing a stock 'vert spoiler set-up to cover the cut-off spot or are you actually going to weld a lip in and do all the body work? What are your plans for the top and the toneau?

Good luck with the conversion. I love my GTA.

Thanks. Definitely going to weld the lip in and do all of the body work. Once the conversion is completed I'd like to install a set of BMR subframe connectors, but I have to wait for the welding to get wrapped up because I don't want to jack it up in this state. I cringed when I opened the doors last night, but nothing budged though. Was recently introduced to my buddy's plasma cutter, so the first totalled (in the front) vert that I come across will be my donor. Worst case scenario I'll have to accumulate everything I need online....

cool project, although i would have waited until i had all the parts before i cut the top off.

To tell you the truth if I waited any longer I would have just talked myself out of it. If I don't come across the individual convertible parts, or a complete donor, I might go an entirely different route with a custom removable hardtop using the stock roof, albeit reinforced though. I already found a trunk w/complete spoiler for sale though, which is a good start because I wa splanning on working from the rear forward....

you could do some kind of a roadster as well

The more you use(play with) a plasma, the cooler they are.

I downloaded a set of drawings for a 1991.5 convertible a couple of years ago. They should give you a good idea of where GM/ASC braced the bodies when they cut the tops off.
Even with the factory bracing, subframe connectors are a very good idea on third gen verts. Good luck with the build.

R4Tech, thank you! I have to wait to get home from work before I can look at them, but that will help out tremendously. The parts to transform this into a legitimate convertible are quite expensive, and I just might go my own route afterall. Thinking about using the lower half of the stock hatch, while maintaining the factory three piece spoiler, and welding a piece of sheetmetal to increase the size of the trunk. I'm going to go as far back, a few inches shy, to where the hatch shocks bolted to the body. The shocks are still being used, they'll connect the same way as they did to the base of the lid, but they will now be bolted to where the rear seats "latch" to (the rear seats are going). Once this is done, I'll figure out what I'm going to do about a top, after the four point roll bar is welded in....

Your welcome. Let me know if you need pictures of anything. I'm in the process of patching some floor pan holes ,convertibles leak , and currently have the carpet and rear seats out.

wow... you cut off your roof without the required parts or even a set plan?!?! You gave into peer pressure big time! hehe. Good luck with the project... it's more than I would bite off without knowing exactly what I was going to do to make it a drivable car again.

Also, did you hack the top off with the interior panels still installed? It looks like a jagged edge on the passenger side interior trim piece.

haha, this is how i would go about it! stick it out, i wanna see this thing done!

wow if you would have started this a few month ago. I would have had ALL the donar parts you could need. I tossed out the inner structure form my conversion I did. Got tired of it sitting aroud.

I do have some parts you might be interested in still.
Seat bealts
tonneau cover
Top latches that bolt to the a piller.
side vert spoiler caps.
pm or email me.

Im very surprised your car didnt buckle a little. I had SFC's on my t-top car and when I removed the t bar for just the TARGA top you could feel it sag some.

I 110% recommend you DO NOT jack your car up at all right now. get some SFC's in there soon.

good job so far

Street Lethal- To say the least I'm impressed. From your place of work... to building the Single turbo V6 Fbody (that was you right?) and now this?!?!? Impressive work! Is there anything you CAN'T DO?!?!? I've turned into more of a "lurker" on thirdgen.org over the last couple years just due to lack of $$. I'll have to come by more often to view the progress..

Dan

And I thought I was the only person in the world retarded enough to go through with this LOL. Working on a hard retracting cover now. Have fun

holy crap thats ^^^ hot!!! u just gave me a few ideas...

I have to apologize guys, I have not gotten one follow up with this thread, not one, and I have it set for instant notification, too. Even my PM's don't make it to my email for some reason....

Yes, the interior panels were already shot, and believe me when I tell you that the day I cut it, it was a now or never issue lol. If I spent time removing the interior panels, it would have given me time to consider what I was doing, and I might have changed my mind. Prior to cutting, I was still kind of new with welding, but since then, I picked up on a great deal. Not difficult at all, just requires a steady hand, and loads of patience lol....

I stopped awhile back because I was unsure in which direction I wanted to go in. The biggest thing for me was that the body was going to flex at some point in time while I worked, but so far it hasn't budged, and I pushed it, believe me lol. I started working on my GTA because our racing season started to really pick up, and I needed a car, so I temporarily placed this on the back burner. It will get done though very soon....

Jeez Chris, I could have really used that inner structure too, as I started combing the junkyards since that day, and they are literally impossible to find, and I'm just referring to the convertible's in general, let alone the cage themselves. I will PM you about whatever you have left, as I'd like to keep this a factory look if possible. When I made the first cut (the top, by the a pillars), I was cringing. But I kept measuring, before, during, and after, and nothing budged. Especially after the fact, because when you actually see how badly these cars are held together from the factory, you get surprised how they were able to hold together without any cutting, let alone when you have at it....

Oh man, you should swing by my house some day. The hardtop that I cut off is going on a buddy's Trans Am that originally came with T-Tops, and he's looking to make a hardtop TTA clone. I just finished an LT1 intake for the GTA, but still have to weld the exhaust gas ports on the heads so they don't leak. I'm trying to get the GTA done asap, and am patiently waiting for MegaSquirt to come out with the adapter board for the '7730. They also have cruise nights on Tuesdays over in e-town, lots of damn cars there, as well as good times, you should come by one night....

Very nice, she's coming along beautifully....

Sounds good PM me because Im moving by the 1st and would rather getthis crap outa here now and not take it with me. or email me FSTFBDY@GMAIL

and just to think i thought i saw the ugliest camaro the other day...


..... untill i saw yours. BARF

you should practice deepthroating better then if your barfing. save that for the ladies

Oooh, get your fire suits, burn!

now now children. if you don't have anything nice to say.......

I'm not a fan of major body mods, but that cars seems to have a lot of work put into it to keep it clean. Whether it's your style or not, props should be given to anyone who puts an effort into going outside of the norm while keeping it clean.

ummm
is that the best you could come up with? like really, how many times have you watch the fast and furious?

6 post's and a member from 04, im thinkin he only watches threads he's flappin in.

refering to me? i lurk on the board from time to time. i dont post much... i do have a turdgen still, eets nyce.

that widebody camaro, not so much.

u have over 400 post, and a join date of 03.
i was talking about tookold

sorry to much. carry on!

Sure glad we live in American and are even entitled to our own opinions. There are plenty of people who think thirdgens in general are junk/ugly.

If you don't like something, doesn't mean you need to be a **** about it. To each their own. - now can we stop cluttering Street Lethal's thread?

agreed, i was drinkin jim beam last night. sorry

i can understand the desire to do something but if you wanted a vert why not just buy one and take what you like out of the one you have?
and yes i want to see the finished product. looks darn nice so far.

hey what rims are those?

thanks. tony.

prob. the same reason you decided to do a fuel pump access hatch. & the same reason I did the same thing years go with making a vert outa a t top car.

We have the fab. skills to do something. Why go buy a vert when e can make his own. Really not that hard once you start and see how easy asc did em too.

For me I had a totaled vert for all the parts I needed to do a conversion. some of us like you just like the fun in the game of hotrods.

Any progress? Been debating on doing that on mine. had it for 24 yrs. Like you, i dont see myself selling the car.

What rims are those? Do you have a brand name for them or so?

Thanks. Tony.

Hey Tony, I don't think to0kold posts here anymore. Too bad, I'd like to see how that wide body turned out.

wow!!! your car is looking awesome, any updated pics??

If anyone is still interested in doing this I have an 87 Iroc vert shell I am selling as basically a roller. No rust (vert came from veagas) and all the main pieces are there the only thing that will be missing is the trunk (which you can still find pretty easy) has a new top on it and good tires on Iroc rims. $1500 picked up in NW Ohio.

wow what happened to this project? Looked like it was coming along well!