I saw what I believe was a 78 Trans Am, it was convertible, and from my knowledge none were convertible, the first time I saw it the top was off, then I saw it again and the car had a hard top but you could see the cut lines where it pulls off. Could this be possible to do to my car and how much would it cost?

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'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
FLOWMASTER
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat
2:73 GEARS
Rebuilt 700R4, with manual valve body
B&M Megashifter
Soon to be installed
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"There is nothing more addicting than speed"

 

its possible but youd loose so much structural integrity and lessen the life of your body and your body would flex a lot unless you could do some MAJOR modification and fortification to the car. Not worth it INHO you could just go find yerself a IROC convert for less than it would cost to modify your car.

 

here is what you do. wait about 1/4 mile away from the local train tracks and practice your drag strippin' skills. say you run a 15 flat. time it so you know how long it takes til the train arms come down, say 30 seconds. now decide how much of the top you want cut off, and the corresponding height of the arm during the 30 second period, say 24 seconds into the lowering of the arms. this means, at around 6 seconds into the lowering of the train crossing arm, you launch, get up to around 90 and duck, and the train arm will take the top of your car off, if it is an older steel one. good luck and let me know how it turns out.

 

the convert. 3rg gens are chop-top T-tops. No extra bracing was added b/c of the extra already there for the T-Tops. If you do this I reccomend getting subframe connectors about $80 WELDED not bolted in. NO tengo ni idea of what it costs to get the chop-top done.

 

not worth it


just buy an IROC convertible

 

I know a customizing shop could get the job done, but you would pay what a conv. costs just to get that done to yours. If you tried to do it yourself you probably would not be able to get it sealed right and like someone else said it would ruin the structural integrity of the car. I thought about turning my hardtop car into a convt., but I decided it was not worth it. Just my two cents worth.

 

Actually secondgen convertibles were made, just not from the factory. The dealership sent the car to an aftermarket company that chopped it and installed the new roof then sent it back to the dealer. Here is some pics i found a while back:

 

yuck no wonder.

 

This is not quite true!
There WAS extra braces welded in for these cars under the door openings, inside the rear side panels etc. to strengthen the body.
Sure it is possible to chop off the roof, thats the way all thirdgen ragtops were made.... Where to get it done now and if it is worth it compared to buying a ragtop, now thats another story!


Ken



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