85SportCoupeto89RS

Well I've had the targa top idea on my head for a good 9 months now and yesterday I decided to check out the j/y for a t'top camaro with a decently strait body. I got real lucky and I'm going to be getting a 82-84 stripped down Z28 with t's and near perfect rear quarters with no rust!!!!!!!! And missing an engine, tranny, and pass side door. All for a whopping 50.00 bux

Ok so I know that I will need to weld in some sub frame connectors, and add a strut tower brace. Are there any other braces or anything else, besides a roll cage that will strenghten the body? I was also thinking about making a frame of some sort from the firewall to the rear end on each side and connected together with removable bars. I'd probally use 2 by 2 square tubing, Whatcha think?

Need4Speed1387

uhhh....yeah sounds good! wait bars from the firewall to the rear end? wha? might be unnecessary if u got sfc's. i dunno

BTS88IROC

What do you mean by bars that go from the firewall to the rear? Also if they are removeable I don't see them being of much strength

MetalliCamaroRS

iTrader: (15)

Good luck, I can't wait to see how this turns out

85SportCoupeto89RS

This is hard for me to explain so I'll make a pic in paint, but the removable part will connect the two frame's in the middle of the car.That way if I ever need to remove my drive shaft I can unbolt the middle pieces to remove it. The frames on each side of the car will be welded in. I'm pretty sure SCF's will do fine, but more bracing is good too

85SportCoupeto89RS

forgot the pic

Dale

iTrader: (12)

I belive your exhaust would be in the way on the passenger side.

However, thats just a slighly more complicated system of what some of the mid 90's vettes used.

transam305

that looks like it's going to be an interesting, fun project good luck let us know how it turns out.

FSTFBDY

iTrader: (33)

You know that I have the convertable im debating to targa top the 92z. what the hell right... I mean I striped it for the vert anyways. aka all aftretmarket suspention,etc..

the 92 has subframes also so it should be ok. if not no big loss my main concern is the vert now anyways

85SportCoupeto89RS

I think the frames will be overkill, but just to be safe I'd be much happier doing that and knowing that the car wont bend in on its self. Theres gonna be lots and lots of pics during my project

NJITIROC

iTrader: (2)

if you weld those cageish lookin things on the bottom, how would you do anything with the exhaust if need be?
interesting idea!

FSTFBDY

iTrader: (33)

looking under my vert and my t-top car. Just subframes should do the job fine. I have hotckisc subframes in the t-top car and its stiff as can be.

Maybe I'll go hack the t-bar out anyday now and let ya know how it holds up.

seanof30306

iTrader: (4)

i wonder if there's a kit for putting a targa top in a 3rd gen?

they had one on the old tv show, simon & simon. always thought it was pretty cool.

FSTFBDY

iTrader: (33)

1.

FSTFBDY

iTrader: (33)

2.

FSTFBDY

iTrader: (33)

3.

seanof30306

iTrader: (4)

that's really cool.

is it your car?

do you know anyhting about the kit?

tpiroc

That's so cool! Take lotsa pics, it'll make for a hell of a tutorial leaving many to scratch their chin and think "Hhhmm, that's pretty sweet!". As far as chassis, I think some hearty SFCs welded into place ought to do the trick, however a roll bar with supports going to the rear and down diagonally to the front would dismiss ANY doubts about structural integrity.

FSTFBDY

iTrader: (33)

Sorry no thats Deff. not my POS. That is one of the original simon and simon cars that was for-sale on ebay befor. I emailed back and forth with the guy for pic's.

tpiroc,

From looking under my 92 t-top car and my 91 vert I just got I'm safe to say I think the sub-frames will do the job. Its already on jack stands with rims off and in the air and there is no body flex if I balance it on 2 diagonal stands.

If i get off my lazy a$s I might go pull the tops out 2nite and look at what needs to be done.

85SportCoupeto89RS

The only thing different I am going to do on the targa top is have two t'top handles and pin's in the center as well, just to be even more secure and hold a real good seal. I wouldnt want my top flying off just by some chance that a little wind got inbetween the top and seals, and rip it off into oblivilion.

vrooom305

Just how bad would it be not put any type of reenforcement when doing this project?

89cmrodriver

the car will sag in the middle, very bad, i sawed the top out of a hard top car and it bent to the ground in the middle

BTS88IROC

Probably because the car wasn't reinforced with sfcs or rollcage. If you reinforce it, it should be just fine.

89cmrodriver

he was meanin with no reinfocements, just as the car i had was

BTS88IROC

I musta missed that, thanks

Makaveli

on that targa top up there, why does that look like particle board, or is it all fiberglass?

i say go all out on the frames, even if it us overkill, since folding your car in half would not be awefully fun lol. is it possible that if you dont have enugh reinforcement, and your windows are up with the top off, and you turn hard, will the windows break? random question

85SportCoupeto89RS

That top is made out of fiberglass.
I'd imagine if you didnt put anykind of support your thirdgen would start to look like a V :sillylol:
This pic is of Trailblase's bird.