Convertible conversion
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 481
Likes: 1
From: Livermore, Ca. US
Car: Firebird SSA
Engine: 3.1
Transmission: 700R4
Re: Convertible conversion
Its possible to change an RS in to a convertible.
Are you doing it yourself?
How deep are your pockets?
It may be LOT cheaper to buy one.
Good luck on your decision
Are you doing it yourself?
How deep are your pockets?
It may be LOT cheaper to buy one.
Good luck on your decision
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iTrader: (12)
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 12,212
Likes: 13
From: Bertram (outside Austin), TX
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Dana M78 3.27 posi
Re: Convertible conversion
Not very long ago, a guy here on TGO did that. Turned hid hardtop into a vert.
Drilled out the factory spot welds, cut along the factory lines. And basically put it together, the same way the factory did, as if they were new parts.
Came out really nice & IIRC, wasn't NEAR as hard as anybody expected it would be.
Drilled out the factory spot welds, cut along the factory lines. And basically put it together, the same way the factory did, as if they were new parts.
Came out really nice & IIRC, wasn't NEAR as hard as anybody expected it would be.
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 580
Likes: 0
From: Elk City OK
Car: 92 25th anv z28
Engine: 346 TC78 Turbo
Transmission: 4L80E
Axle/Gears: 3.25 9"Nodular, Strange axles
Re: Convertible conversion
Yea..Didn't he have a hard top, then decided to make it a t-top car..then targa top..then cut off the whole thing??
Banned
iTrader: (12)
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 12,212
Likes: 13
From: Bertram (outside Austin), TX
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Dana M78 3.27 posi
Moderator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,298
Likes: 197
From: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
Re: Convertible conversion
I thought about getting a parts car and then trying to fab up a kit to do a conversion, or convert one of my Yellow Formulas... In reality there is a lot to it and not much to it at the same time... I would make the tonneau and the trunk out of fiberglass instead of Metal as it would be more doable. (Talk is Cheap)... I think ultimately the parts that everyone needs like the header trim pieces are the hardest pieces to get and would be the most difficult to fab together...
Ultimately I think if you found a wrecked vert, where you could salvage the parts and the car was not horribly bent it might not be a Horrible job, fabbing everything up (if you had to make everything) would be worse than finding parts and then modifying a car IMHO...
To be honest there are $3500 verts for sale everywhere, PERSONALLY I would go for something more rare than an RS vert as it will hold value better BUT your going to pay more up front...
John
Ultimately I think if you found a wrecked vert, where you could salvage the parts and the car was not horribly bent it might not be a Horrible job, fabbing everything up (if you had to make everything) would be worse than finding parts and then modifying a car IMHO...
To be honest there are $3500 verts for sale everywhere, PERSONALLY I would go for something more rare than an RS vert as it will hold value better BUT your going to pay more up front...
John
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 43
Likes: 1
From: St. Marys, Ohio
Car: 1989 Pontiac Formula 350(Maui Blue)
Engine: 355 TPI,accell superram,full roller
Transmission: Street/strip 700R4
Axle/Gears: Australian 9, 3:27 ratio
Re: Convertible conversion
John, I was thinking exactly the same thing. You can find a vert cheaper than doing the conversion. Found my wifes 92 vert for less than $5k in Pennsylvania.
P.S congrats on the trophy at Trans Am Nationals. Nice to see the 3rd Gen formulas represented there this year.
Joe
P.S congrats on the trophy at Trans Am Nationals. Nice to see the 3rd Gen formulas represented there this year.
Joe
Moderator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,298
Likes: 197
From: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
Re: Convertible conversion
Back at you... Congtats on your runner up...
I saw that you drove through the Indy show, but I never actually noticed you parked anywhere...
John
I saw that you drove through the Indy show, but I never actually noticed you parked anywhere...
John
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: New Hampshire
Car: 1984 Camaro z28/1991 Camaro RS
Engine: 383 Stroker in the z and a 305 rs
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Moderator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,298
Likes: 197
From: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
Re: Convertible conversion
Sawsall anyone?
Honestly you will have to reinforce the subframe to actually think of doing something like this, then cut the top...
I would not recommend it personally...
John
Honestly you will have to reinforce the subframe to actually think of doing something like this, then cut the top...
I would not recommend it personally...
John
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iTrader: (33)
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,945
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From: Boosted Land
Car: 92 Z28
Engine: Boosted LSX
Re: Convertible conversion
It was me who did it. T Top to targa top. Then targa to vert.
I had SFC's and a 8point cage.
was really easy. esp. since I used a totalled vert for all the parts needed.
search for the topic . there are a few posts about it.
If you cant find your answeres then Ask away and I'll answer what ya need.
I had SFC's and a 8point cage.
was really easy. esp. since I used a totalled vert for all the parts needed.
search for the topic . there are a few posts about it.
If you cant find your answeres then Ask away and I'll answer what ya need.
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