240sx targa top...

[matic 240sx]

ok, my body shop is going to make my car a targa top... they have already stripped the car and are ready to cut... might tell them to start cutting tonight. but they said the car is uni-body and it my callapse if frame isnt strong enough... what do you guys think?

just for those who dont know.. a targa top is what the supra and del sol has.. its like a t-top but with one big piece and no bar in the middle

(Edited by matic 240sx at 11:49 am on Feb. 15, 2002)

[transient]

Do yourself a favor, and put a rollcage in first, or you're never going to want to drive the car again.

[HippoSleek]

umm... it's hard not to sound like an ass here, but...

Didn't you THINK about this AT ALL before you sent it off to get prepped and cut?  No thought about structural rigidity or why convertables are so much heavier? (extra frame rails)  

Best case scenario, you will have a POS that has no handling performance left in the chassis... or maybe best case is the chassis would just collapse and be ready to be junked.  Why not just get a sunroof?

[Nismos14]

he wants to be different..... but the car is gonna be mush after it gets cut..... think of it like this....... a dog getting nuttered just isnt the same afterwards...... the car getting its head chopped off just wont be the same.... maybe t-tops with some added bars for rigidity? i dunno ..... i wouldnt do this personally

[matic 240sx]

its in the shop for many many other reasons but i thought about doing this and they will do it while its there...  its in the shop for s15 front end, paint job, graphics, side skirts, rear bumper, new suspension, carbon hood, shaving doors, shaving antenna and other crap...

[matic 240sx]

but does anyone know any kind of layout of the s14?  like when i cut the roof where is it going to be weak?  i can get them to weld some kind of metal pipping in somewhere right?  but where?  anyone got a pic/graphic of the frame setup? or something i can go by?

[Nismos14]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from matic 240sx on 1:44 pm on Feb. 15, 2002
its in the shop for many many other reasons but i thought about doing this and they will do it while its there... its in the shop for s15 front end, paint job, graphics, side skirts, rear bumper, new suspension, carbon hood, shaving doors, shaving antenna and other crap...
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sounds killer... are u going to get a 5-spd swap as well?

[yenpit]

i agree with all above, but one way chop-top companies strengthen unibodies is to cut the lower rocker panels open, weld in round or square tube the full length of the rocker panel (inside), and weld em back up! sometimes theyd just do it under the car, but looks VERY tacky!!
keep in mind that there were lots of import coupes in the 80s that were chop-top convertible conversions...... many POS's! dood, if they can strengthen the car PROPERLY, that sounds bad a$$!!

PS any news on bumper??

[HippoSleek]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from matic 240sx on 9:44 am on Feb. 15, 2002
its in the shop for many many other reasons but i thought about doing this and they will do it while its there... its in the shop for s15 front end, paint job, graphics, side skirts, rear bumper, new suspension, carbon hood, shaving doors, shaving antenna and other crap...
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I'm so glad to hear that &nbsp;- seriously - I thought I should be worried. &nbsp;yenpit's right - I've seen DIY convertables and they look and ride like shit. &nbsp;You will have the same results. &nbsp;What about a T top? &nbsp;Not as rigid (####, I could go for not having a sunroof), but at least there would be some strength.

[transient]

I still say if you put a well mounted rollcage in the car (something good to have anyway) it will help, but you do need to do some other strengthening. It's not like it's impossible, you just need to really think about what you're doing before you do it.

i'm pretty sure that if a 3S car can be strengthened enough for a targa top, it's possible with a 240sx. Just don't rush into it. Get all the info you really need first.

[Arcane]

i'd say don't do it...one of the biggest pros to our cars is the handling and ridgity...ridigity...ridigidigity...whatever it's called...you don't want to get rid of agreat aspect to an already great car...would you???

[mbmbmb23]

You could make it into one of those rice drifter Silvia pick-up truck things I've seen pictures of.

[S13Grl]

I hope you've said no and decided to wait a little while. Whatever the shop tells you will only do one thing: make you tell them to do it which will result in their monetary benefit.

Get some support first, get all the info you need, take your time. Don't just go get it done, it's not the way to go. Not for your own safety, screw the car.

Again, I hope you haven't gone through with this.

[DuffMan]

Well I think a targa top would be a lot stronger than T-tops as far as retaining the structure of the car.

Honestly, I don't think it would mess up the car too much if done right. Of course the key part of that is IF it's done right. They're going to have to weld in supports on the sides of the top. And they better know how the car's structure is set &nbsp;up before they start hacking at it. But in the end I think it could be a great show car, if that's what you're going for. If you intend to ever autoX or race it (I assume you don't) I would never do anything like that, but to each his own.

[my240likenoother]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from transient on 7:34 pm on Feb. 15, 2002
I still say if you put a well mounted rollcage in the car (something good to have anyway) it will help, but you do need to do some other strengthening. It's not like it's impossible, you just need to really think about what you're doing before you do it.

i'm pretty sure that if a 3S car can be strengthened enough for a targa top, it's possible with a 240sx. Just don't rush into it. Get all the info you really need first.
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yup!!!
and think anout warter proffing is if its not done right it will leak the life of the car

(Edited by my240likenoother at 12:18 am on Feb. 17, 2002)

[IceTekGuy]

my buddies dad owns a real big shop, where he does, convertibles, targas, sunroofs, and other such things, he said he would'nt even touch a 240sx wether it be my 89 or my buddies 98... he says the poor thing would just bend, and eventually collapse, not worth it man, not worth it...
possibly t-tops, but even then, if you hit something, you plain out SCREWED...

take everyone's advise, and DO NOT do it.

[matic 240sx]

i told them im still thinking about it but i really want to do something.. &nbsp; i might just have them but 2 strong bar in the middle to support it and a roll bar in the back he said it will work fine but you will see 2 bars right there... &nbsp;but i dont think it will look bad and it will look like a t-top with the bar but who cares... im still gonna have the removable piece... &nbsp;like a supra, these guys know all about custom stuff, they've done some crazy stuff to cars but not this yet.. and the main guy said he will fix it if it leaks the day hes done, the month hes done, 20 years down the road... &nbsp;so im not worried about that. &nbsp;but im going to talk it over with him some more and a few other people and let you guys know whats going on...

[BboyOxygen]

If you want a targa top then get a supra or del sol.. Dont mess up a 240 please....

[wherezmytofu]

well if u want a tanga top this is what i'd do..but i'd cost more...

1. first i'd get a roll cage(+ weight)
2. then i'd get a custom fabricated carbon fiber tanga top (- weight)

the weight lose from the cf tanga top should put you closer to stock weight <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

[vancouvers14]

if you want something different, check out the mercedes ml with the sunroofs that are the entire length of the roof. &nbsp;same concept, but not as dangerous