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t-top to cabriolet conversation

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Old 05-09-2024, 04:24 PM
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Car: 1983 trans am 305 crossfire injecti
Engine: 5.0
Transmission: 700r4 with overdrive
Axle/Gears: 3.75
t-top to cabriolet conversation

Hi all, does any body know if additional support is required when chopping a t-top to convert to a cabriolet?, I am thinking of doing this mod, I have a 1983 firebird daytona anniversary edition, would doing this mod hurt the cars value?, would changing the car colour hurt its value, I've had to restore the car as it was in pieces when I brought it, the body was in a bad state which is needing a full paint job, car is currently in primer, so I thought I'd best ask these questions now beforehand, I reside in the UK, does this effect value, thanks for any assistance
Old 05-09-2024, 05:32 PM
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Car: 1992 Pontiac Firebird
Engine: 5.0L L03 TBI
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Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: t-top to cabriolet conversation

<sarcasm>The best mod you can do to this poor car is douse it with petrol and set it ablaze.

No. The mod I suggest won't hurt the car's value. Should increase it.
</sarcasm>

Last edited by Airwolfe; 05-09-2024 at 06:55 PM.
Old 05-09-2024, 05:56 PM
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Car: 91 TA Vert WS6-94 TA Vert
Engine: 5.0/5.7 LT1
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73-3.42
Re: t-top to cabriolet conversation

By Cabriolet, do you mean full convertible, or just remove the bar in between the t-tops and perhaps use a canvas top with snaps, or something similar?

The answer is yes, IMO. You would have to reinforce the body similarly to what ASC did to the convertibles from 87 to 92. That "bar" is definitely a structural member. I cannot tell you exactly what they did on my 91 TA Convertible, but there is definitely additional structure in there.

I would also add subframe onnectors.
Old 05-09-2024, 06:42 PM
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
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Re: t-top to cabriolet conversation

We called it a targa top here stateside. It was a thing for a while, but people figured out how much worse it made their cars and stopped.
unless the car was designed for it, I wouldn't consider it at all unless you're going to add serious structural enhancements.
it'll be like driving a overcooked wet noodle
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