How hard would it be to convert my T Top car to a real convertible? What's involved? I would obviously buy a Vert donor car. Selling my car and buying a Vert is out of the question, so don't suggest it. Has anyone done this? If so, can you give me links or picures or anything? Thanks.

 

A search would prove very helpful. Here's a link to get you started.

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...ght=vert+targa

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...ght=vert+targa

 

I don't want to be the bad guy who puts a damper on your enthusiasm, but if you have to ask this question then you don't have the skill to pull it off. I know you don't want to hear it but I'm gonna say it anyway. Sell your car and buy a vert.

 

How do you figure that? The only damper on my doing this would be my garage being very small...
Even the most experienced people may find something difficult, its just a question.

Anyway...
My queston was more about whats involved in the process. Those links did not help me at all, especially the one about the roll bar. I have searched but didn't find good real information, only "I have done it" not "This is how it's done". Also, what parts do I need from the 'vert. Do I need any real body panels or can mine be modified?

Say I bought this car https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...highlight=Vert
Would that work for me, or do I need to find a less rusty example?

 

the only person i know whos done it is TPI383.... you might want to PM him

 

Frame stiffeners would be needed, the windscreen leading edge, redone. the trunk and side panals, likely, as mentioned the quarters modded where the spoiler attaches around the hatch area eliminated. The inside interior mods as well. I'd hunt down the rear elements in good shape to use, as those constitute the most work I think. Maybe a sticky from someone doing the process would be helpful to add.... Good luck with both of those suggestions!
Bill

 

Feel free to give me a call if you want.

330-448-0149

Not hard at all if you can cut a straight line.
Weld
Bitch and scream

If you buy that vert it wouldnt be to bad to do at all.

 

Even with all the rust it would work? I hope so, maybe I'll make an offer for the car. I'll give you a call if and when I'm ready to get started.

Welding is one thing I need to work on first. Cutting I can do just fine.

Cussing and screaming...c'mon, I own a Camaro.

 

I am in the process of gathering everything up to do the same thing. I think TPI383 took a t-top car and cut the roof off. I am gonna be taking the back half (the vert half) and taking the front half of a t-top car and splicing them down the middle. This is a different way to do it, but much easier I think. Probably more complicated in the form of getting everything lined up properly, but measure, measure, measure, and it should come out just fine. Here's the back half that I am using......

 

Seems to me, if you go that in-depth, you might want to consider the frame option recently shown in Car Craft. Though a frame example for F cars was unavailable, it is intended for unibodies to give them the frame they were always missing. Seems a very cool idea, but requires additional mods to make it work, so it's not for the budget minded.

If anyone missed it and wants a reference to the company, I can look for the mag... Not sure at present where my copy is.

I believe they had just started their most recent Third Gen article with a white Formula Firebird to do work on...reason I felt compelled to pick it up
Bill

 

Unless you have a frame machine to jig both cars up Id sujest not doing it the way you want to.


I have a local chassis shop that builds pro street cars to full out 25.2 nhra chassises and they rocomended not to cut it in the middle unless both cars were measured on jigs and machines.

Trust me when I scraped the vert after I cut everything out I needed. Doing it the way you want isnt worth the work.

Its 10x easier to cut out the top frame support you see that holds the vert top in place.

anyone need info just give me a call.

 

I guess I sounded a bit harsh. Sorry about that. I suppose I just view it as a daunting project for all but the experienced body man. However it has been done and if you are determined I'm sure you will be able to accomplish it.

 

Hey TPI383, have you made any threads with pictures and details of how you did this? If you have, can you point me in that direction?

 

No sorry I havent.

The easy way is measure 10x cut once. Trim the rest

once you get both cars side by side you will see what needs to be cut out of the donar car.

as I said when the time come feel free to give me a call for any questions you have.

 

I'm sure I'll be giving you a call as soon as I get a vert parts car. I'm still waiting for this guy to respond on that 87

 

TPI383,
Did you just have to cut out all of the spotwelds for the rear interior vert pieces, or what did you do? I know it was a lot, but I am just looking for the basics. I need to get the T-top car either way it goes, but you say cuttin the top off is easier.....

 

You could do it that way. I used a plasma cutter.

You could use a cut off wheel also.

 

911rsq, where are you from in IL? We should help eachother out with these.

 

I am from just north of Springfield. I am thinking of doing a whole thread on the resurection of this old vert. It would be cool to have the point of view of someone who is goin thru the same thing..... and someone who has done it before (TPI383)

 

If you guys were local Id giva ya a hand.

 

TPI383, You still here ???

We've discussed this in a few threads, but this was the cleanest, so.....

I've looked at it and I think that you are right. It is probably gonna be easier to convert one, than to splice 2 cars. I've downloaded the ASC schematics in PDF format so I can see pretty much exactly what they did, and in what order. I think that I thought there was more to it than there is. It's really just cutting the top of the quarter off and adding a cap to the top of the quarter and a channel that goes between the 2 quarter panel caps that the top, tonneau, and trunk lid mount to. I see that there are A LOT of braces and new brackets that have to go in, but for the most part that is pretty much it right. P.S. The underside braces are there too.....

 

Hmmmm.....no TPI383.....

 

Sounds about right to me.

Where did you download a pdf? Id like to see that.

Once you start into it you should be fine. Just measure 3times and cut once.

Those underside braces wont help much. get some good weld in sfc's on the car 1st.

befor you cut the top off weld a brace from side to side in the back where the doors close.

 

Believe me, I am gonna measure about 800 times, start to cut, re-measure, then cut a little more, measure again, then finish it off. A small miscut could ruin the whole project....... Good idea on the bracing btwn the doors, keeping it rigid.

Do you have any updated pics of yours? The last I had seen were of it in the garage.... Is yours close to being done ???

 

naa, Ive been slacking and messing with my TA.

actually gona go and try and finish up the roll cage today.

 

I know how that is. Post up some pics if you got anything done.

 

Changing a T Top to a Convert is a lot of work, I did my 87' IROC several years ago still own the car just needs paint, I posted some pics earlier in the year with the help of I believe TPI383? If I had to do it all over again I would just buy a convert all done. Measure 10x cut once is right on the money, I think I measured 20x thought about it 50x then did it, as for the small garage I did mine in a small rented garage without power determination goes a long way. Bill Speed did you find the magazine article with the frame option? if so can you send me the info or a copy?

Tony

 

Tony,
it's cool to see that more than 1 person has done this mod. I will do a search and check out those pics. I would prefer to just buy one up, but I hate to see them get scrapped, as they are getting SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO hard to find in good shape. I am gonna save this one and do it right, the way it should have been done in the first place.

 

911rsq
If you send me your PM I will send the pics to you, also when I did
my conversion most of the parts were still available new @ GM prices that was a good deal compared to today.

Tony

 

cool......
can you send them to e911rsq@yahoo.com ???
I've got a wrecked vert to work with and am buying up anything and everything vert related that I can find. I want to have a vert warehouse with everything....

 

Here ya Go Tony


http://s89724942.onlinehome.us/image...les/Fast-Tony/

 

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET
thanks, I saved 'em all.....

 

Wow, I haven't checked this thread in a while. I'm still planning on doing this, but it might be a while, plus even though I've been looking I haven't found a decent donor for a good price.

Before I do this, I need to install a new engine in my beater car(oops) and then the 87 Monte SS is getting restored and then I can start on the Camaro, hopefully should be in the next year.

 

Hahahahahhahaa.......I'm putting an engine in my '86 SS right now, then onto my Vert Project !!!!