Here we go with another adventure. I got an older model made by MPC of a 82 Z28 to work out my idea. I have had an idea to make a 3rd gen into a roadster for a while. No doors or top nice day car.

So thought it try it out in plastic first.

Took a bit to decide where to start, in reality id just bolt a front seat in the back, and then move the dash back till I was comfy.

So far it’s allot of work in plastic. I first did the interior, then cut the body, then the under carriage.

 

Well I did some quick painting on some of it. didn't go all out on detail as it wasn't part of the plan. Did assemble the engine and junk. Got some chrome side pipes to install but they need cut down.

Forgot to paint the hood, oops, maybe it goes with the black n red theme??

Kit had a cage in it, so I cut it up and made a roll bar.

Front wheels are a tad to far forward but there was no easy way to un-do that easy so I left it. I don't think it would work with a Firebird body style, why I used a Camaro. Building a rack to hold the car while chopping it up would be the hardest part. I know I could do it with the tools I got now, but that part would cost $$$


more pics
http://buickthunder.com/Z28ster/

 

So you want to do this to a real car?!?

 

headlight covers had to go, took a black marker to the hood

has a twin turbo SBB under the hood.
[Nice having extra part from other kits.]


more pics added
http://buickthunder.com/Z28ster/

 

Yes, a black 86-87 IROC would be my choice of car to use, though any $300 Aro shell would do.

 

Though don't hold me to them colors, I wouldn't paint a car black n red like that. Or have 20in subs in the back like that.

 

i like it!

 

looks like a cartoon car...

 

one last one with the spare hood. Z28 on front plate, stage1 real plate.

more pics added
http://buickthunder.com/Z28ster/

 

You could say it cartoonish being small like that.

 

... the wheelbase looks really weird, the doors look like they would be about a foot and a half wide... it's just wrong. if you are serious about doing something like this i would suggest you think on it some more. you would have a ton of time and money in it and the car wouldn't be worth anything when it was done. not flaming.. just my honest opinion.

 

There would be no doors. A true roadster.

Wouldn't sell it.

I wouldn't put a ton of money into it, only time.

If I could get past the $$$ needed to make a frame to hold the body straight as its sliced n diced, I could do it for cheap.

 

I think he ment cartoonish proportion wise, it looks really odd how the wheels are so close togather with the way the front and rear of the car extend out toward the bumpers. The wheel base just looks weird, kind of a cool idea though, just needs to be longer in the middle or shorter in the front and back to make it look right.

 

thank you!
I'm not the only one that thinks that looks (WAY WRONG!)

Shouldn't this thread be in the misc. boards?

Yeah,Gumby is talking about body work on a 3rd gen but, c'mon people.
Its a little plastic model with magic marker for paint.
Has the economy gotten so bad that we need to sell our cars and build $5 model cars instead?

 

I think it's actually a pretty smart way to see how an idea u have in ur head would look before just jumping into a project and deciding if you like it later.. a lot less money and a lot less time invested.

 

i agree with this 100%. MAYBE if you could somehow move the front wheels forward and the rear wheels back a little it would look better. also i would cut down the windshield because that thing just looks huge after removing the top and shortening the car.

 

I think its a great idea also. I did the same thing with a Dub City die cast before I painting my car. the next day I ended up finding the camaro performers magazine fetureing a car with the same paint lines. My wife just looked at me when I showed her that and said "well...i guess it will work".

 

Instead of chopping up a thirdgen, why not use a Miata and use a thirdgen to mold fiberglass panels, then graft them onto the mazda?

hell, even if you have no fiberglass skills, it would be a perfect chance to learn!

There would be no frame issues there, just find a way to drop in a TPI engine or something.

honestly though, would you really chop up a camaro for something like that?

If you look around, theres a company out there (i think) that turns a miata into a mustang roadster

Actually, heres a pic of what I meant

 

Just consider this a ratrod if you wish to help you along.
This will not be some show car with hoochies on it trying to get an award or for anyones pleasure but mine.

Think ratrod roadster, where rusty ugly car parts held together with FM104 stickers with stop sign floor pans are cool. 100% function

Yes moving the wheels some or shorting up the front and rear a bit would be a great idea far beyond anything I could afford, so no.

If I could just get past the rack part to hold it all steady while being cut and put back together, id be set.

Thats where I need help, I need a cheap way to hold a car as level n square as one might be for $300 and be able to slide the cut ends together and stay level n square.

Has to be that way to even be considered.
Im not Chip Foose with an unlimited budget n help.

You all can dream on, on how to do it "right" but unless your donating money and time....................

It would be me, a chop saw and a 110 welder.

Though id probably have to pay to get the drive shaft shortened right.

Frame is no issue, there is no frame where id be cutting. Having no doors would help there as the sides could be ridgid and soild to make up for no roof. Could almost box cage the inside and have it hidden behind the pannels.

Maybe if I could get enough roun or square tube pipe, that fits inside of each other, weld 3-4 set of pip like that in the nose and rear, so when the center was cut out, it could just slide together and would be able to stay on it wheels, and be moved around, hmmmmmmmm

 

i wasn't "dreaming on how to make it right"... i was simply making an observation and giving my opinion. i was not "dreaming" on the car at all. i personally do not like the idea of cutting up a camaro. but i feel like if you are going to do it you should at least try to make it look good. and no, i won't be making a donation.. no one ever makes donations for my project.

 

i could be wrong but couldnt you just brace the two ends just outside of where you cut and then just slide the two parts together after you cut. obviously you would want to just tac weld and measure about a hundred times before fully welding the two parts together but you would want to do that no matter how good of a fixture you had anyways. To brace the two ends you would just need one piece going across the top and one diagonal for each of the two halfs. you may want to invest in a porta-power or another brand of hydrolics and a come-a-long to help.