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Hard top convertible?

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Old Aug 18, 2013 | 10:52 PM
  #1  
Jared N259's Avatar
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Hard top convertible?

So I'm coming up with as many different ideas I can for my camaro so I can figure out what I want to do. I don't know if this is feasible and I am not claiming it is. My question is has any one seen a camaro with a hard top convertible. The kind that folds up, not the kind that pops off. I was thinking this would be meet to have but I wasn't sure it was really possible to do. I think that If the rear seats were removed it would allow the best chance of such a top fitting...
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Old Aug 18, 2013 | 11:34 PM
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Car: 1989 Iroc convertible
Engine: 305
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Axle/Gears: 3.08 posi
Re: Hard top convertible?

The engineering required would be mind boggling. the back seats gone would help give it a little extra space but I think the rear hump would cause the most problems. The fuel tank and rear axle is under there. The rear trunk would need to hinge differently. It just goes on and on. While not impossible I just can't imagine all it requires.
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Old Aug 19, 2013 | 02:01 AM
  #3  
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Car: 88 Camaro vert/86 SC
Engine: 355 tbi/2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4/T5
Axle/Gears: 2.72 posi/3.42 open
Re: Hard top convertible?

I agree, something for a professional automotive engineer to tackle.

OTOH, what about taking a removable hardtop from a C4 Corvette, and stretching it? They are fiberglass, so if you carefully cut it in two, and added some length in the middle, it might fit. Except the front latches may be in different locations, and the rear has two hold-down pins instead of the Camaro's one... the list goes on and on.

Oh well, forget it.
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Old Aug 20, 2013 | 01:33 PM
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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: Hard top convertible?

The Best case scenario I would think would be a removable hard top, kind of like the old Corvettes from the 1950's & 1960's or the Cadillac Allante

How I would do it is take a Coupe (Not T-top) and take a mold or splash from the top, Make a Fiberglass mold, use a short rear window from Plexi, and then attach it at the rear top release hole, have it sit in the two holes behind the doors and attach with similar clips
Attached Thumbnails Hard top convertible?-2a.jpg   Hard top convertible?-initial-ideaa.jpg   Hard top convertible?-hardtop-4a.jpg  
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Old Aug 20, 2013 | 03:55 PM
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Jared N259's Avatar
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Re: Hard top convertible?

Okay thanks guys! I'm getting that its not practical to do so without a very large amount of money and professional help. Thanks!
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Old Aug 20, 2013 | 04:07 PM
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Re: Hard top convertible?

i remember another thread about this ayear or so ago.
do a quick search, he might of done it
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Old Aug 21, 2013 | 12:39 PM
  #7  
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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: Hard top convertible?

I think the problem you will ultimately find is I have almost a hard time getting the soft top stowed in the boot, let alone hard pieces to fit in there as well.... Didn't Knight Rider in the later years have a hard top convertible? I thought I read about that... But that was an aftermarket conversion...
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Old Aug 21, 2013 | 02:35 PM
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Car: 1989 Iroc convertible
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.08 posi
Re: Hard top convertible?

I know there was a convertible K.I.T.T in season 4 you can google images of it all day but they are all with top down of course. Will have to look into it further.
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Old Sep 4, 2013 | 10:16 AM
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Re: Hard top convertible?

A coach builder made fiberglass hardtops for the '80-81 Firebirds/Camaros they converted when new. I have never seen this done on a 3rd Gen.

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Old Feb 7, 2014 | 10:41 AM
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Re: Hard top convertible?

I own 3 convertibles
89 GTA 350 convt
89 TA 350 convt
89 FB FOR 350 convt

I bought convertibles because I wanted convertibles. To put a hardtop on a convertible is like a driving ....well a hardtop ????

The only thing I like is the tops you can get with glass instead of the yellowing dried out plastic.

Last edited by TRANSAM82-92; Feb 7, 2014 at 10:44 AM.
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Old Feb 7, 2014 | 12:22 PM
  #11  
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Car: 1989 Iroc convertible
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.08 posi
Re: Hard top convertible?

My whole thought on it was to do it like the 02-05 t birds. They had an optional hardtop, or maybe it came with the car. Anyway you can stow the top like normal and then there is a way to attach the hardtop using factory attachment points. It makes the car more user friendly in winter months.
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Old Feb 7, 2014 | 06:18 PM
  #12  
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Re: Hard top convertible?

I'm working on a hardtop now with my father in law!! We going to use a convertible top as the mold and use the front latch section,the rear bow,and the side window seal.. looking for a vert frame now.
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Old Feb 8, 2014 | 05:11 PM
  #13  
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Car: 85 IROC / 69 Firebird convertible
Engine: 5.0 / 350
Transmission: t-5 / WC t-5
Axle/Gears: 3.27 / 3.08
Re: Hard top convertible?

Originally Posted by slimwhitman
A coach builder made fiberglass hardtops for the '80-81 Firebirds/Camaros they converted when new. I have never seen this done on a 3rd Gen.

Some cars just do not look good in convertible form and the 2nd gen F-bodies are top of the list. Don't get me wrong, I love the 2nd gens but once the top is off they look baaaaaaaad.
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Old Feb 12, 2014 | 10:16 AM
  #14  
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Car: 1991 Corvette
Engine: 383 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: D44 3.33 gears
Re: Hard top convertible?

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Old Feb 12, 2014 | 11:55 AM
  #15  
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Re: Hard top convertible?

Originally Posted by TPIVette
Yes!!!!!!! You have this car...or info on it...i want one!!!!!
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Old Feb 12, 2014 | 12:09 PM
  #16  
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Axle/Gears: Stock 2.73 gears. No Posi
Re: Hard top convertible?

Nice shape it gives the car.
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Old Feb 12, 2014 | 01:16 PM
  #17  
TPIVette's Avatar
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Car: 1991 Corvette
Engine: 383 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: D44 3.33 gears
Re: Hard top convertible?

Originally Posted by wheelboy
Yes!!!!!!! You have this car...or info on it...i want one!!!!!
Its a photoshop from awhile back. I believe its a chop of a Corvette C4 convertible hardtop.

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