Has anyone else come across a situation where they peeled off the vinyl top on their car only to find that the roof was so rotted beneath that the only think holding it together was the sound deadening material that's laminated underneath? I found myself capable of simply pushing my finger thru the roof once I got the vinyl top off, so last night I got out the air shears and commenced cutting around the roof about 4 inches from the rear window, side rain gutters, and windshield, essentially making myself a poor man's Sun Coupe. I've got no desire to restore the car. It was always intended for fun, but here's the question I pose: What would be more fun? A open roof car with a removable Tonneau top (The Poor Man's Sun Coupe) or a full out "Roadster"? I'm installing a 6-point cage so sacrificing body stiffness won't be an issue. The problem with creating a Roadster is that the body lines aren't as smooth transition-wise as they would be if the car was originally a convertable. With the Tonneau top, I could atleast drive the car in the rain if I had to. I'm already predisposed toward the open top with the Tonneau cover, but thought I'd get some input. -Phil
I know someone who did this to a 68 Special. It was a lot of work. Looks like a factory SunCoupe. He got the kit from JC Whitney. I think he said the kit was $200-300. I would not do any cutting until you create a kit or buy one. You don't want to cut too much.
I'm embarassed to admit that I did this once - cut the hardtop off a 1958 TBird, which was way beyond restoring. Somebody actually bought the car drove it down I-95 to his home. The traditional warning is that you lose the body structure integrity because the roof is part of the framing. Convertibles have extra reinforcements welded into them to offset the lack of a roof. So, be careful about the weakened body.
Hmmm... I've seen the kits online and they're pretty nice, but they run between 500-700 bucks. As for not cutting the roof until I get a kit, it's far too late for that. :grin: :grin: :grin: I don't think I'll clip the whole roof off unless I get a good one from a totalled Skylark that still has a good roof. Until then, I'll just run her around with a big open hole on the top :laugh:
