 Targa Top? Possible w/ Sunroof?, haha i know im getting flamed for this! |
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 Jul 13, 2004 - 1:08 PM
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Anyways, i saw a civic si with a targa top changed the whole look of the car, i must admit it was pretty hot! I really liked it, anyone think its possible with a sunroof?
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Jul 13, 2004 - 1:13 PM
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 Administrator  Joined Aug 23, '02 From Seattle, WA Currently Offline Reputation: 14 (100%) |
It's possible, it's just going to require a lot of money, time, and work. Bracing the frame like a convertible since the roof will no longer provide support and making a targa top that will fit and making mounts for the top are just a couple of things you'd have to do. There have been threads about this before with more discussion about it if you wanna look those up.
-------------------- New Toyota project coming soon...
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Jul 13, 2004 - 1:21 PM
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 Enthusiast Joined Jan 8, '04 From LA Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
Not unless you structurally brace the thing like ASC did. Here's a thread on targa tops in the 7th gen:
http://www.everythingcelica.com/ubbthreads...#Post1870109371 Basically what it comes down to is, modifying your unibody car is STUPID and EXPENSIVE and DANGEROUS. That civic gets into an accident, everyone inside is dead. and on that note, bracing is like ASC did won't even help that much. Don't forget coom, when the covertible top is up, it DOES act as a brace because it completes the frame. When it's not up, it's down, and there's bracing in trunk for it. A targa top would be like driving all around town with the covertible top half up. This post has been edited by shid: Jul 13, 2004 - 1:22 PM |
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Jul 13, 2004 - 1:52 PM
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Enthusiast Joined Jan 17, '04 From Illinois Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
I don't agree with this Sean. The solid A pillar / roof combination on a hatch or coupe provides much more ridgity than our cars (convertibles) will ever have - with the top up or down. In fact, I would go so far as to say the convertible top provides no measurable bracing or structure enhancing quality. I do agree that making a targa without a cage will provide LESS support than a factory convertible because of the structural enhancements made by ASC. -------------------- QUOTE(lagos @ Jul 10, 2006 - 1:55 PM) [snapback]454118[/snapback] i know your trying to do the right thing for your motor, but this is one of those times where you should just trust the guys who have had their swaps for a while and have done a ton of research into this. |
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Jul 13, 2004 - 1:57 PM
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 Enthusiast Joined Sep 18, '03 From Dirty Jersey Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
how bout if you put a full roll cage in it...with the front brace going all the way up through the dash along the a pillar and down to the frame through the firewall? and in the back have it go behind the driver seats and back seats, i gues that would be a 6 point cage? idunno really just a though.
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Jul 13, 2004 - 3:58 PM
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 Enthusiast Joined Aug 20, '03 From Annapolis, Md Currently Offline Reputation: 5 (100%) |
if you make a proper cage it would work fine.. but then you have a cage to deal with.. i say you want targa or t-tops get a supra or mr2... or just get a vert
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Jul 13, 2004 - 4:45 PM
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Enthusiast Joined Jan 8, '04 From LA Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
I dunno jay, from a force distribution standpoint, the forces are still running up and down the roof when it's up.. It's not NEARLY as good as the A frame body- and by no means are those two little (BUT STRONG! jesus) hooks anywhere near the structural rigidaridy (thats not a word, is it?) of true bracing. But it's better than NOTHING because acceleration, deacceleration and rotational forces can still run up and down the top of the car this way.. but in a targa top, there'd be no connection from the front of the car roof to the back of the car roof-
also, isn't it possible for the glass to have to flex too much and break? |
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Jul 13, 2004 - 5:03 PM
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Enthusiast Joined Jan 17, '04 From Illinois Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
Agreed. The important question is does the convertible top provide support which is MATERIALLY better than nothing? I say the answer to that question is "doubtful". By materially, I mean a structural enhancement which will serve to reduce the type of chassis flex that could negatively impact the operation of doors, windows and top over time. The street rodders will tell you that the old convertible camaros and mustangs flexed so bad under horsepower that the body and frame would simply lose their structural ridgity over time. When that happened, the doors, windows and top would fail to close flush or, in some cases, at all. As we add horsepower with either a turbo upgrade or 3sgte swap, I am pessimistic that we can avoid flex issues merely by keeping our tops up. Nevertheless, my best guess is that the car can handle 250 whp without major structural modifications. We will see. - Jay. -------------------- QUOTE(lagos @ Jul 10, 2006 - 1:55 PM) [snapback]454118[/snapback] i know your trying to do the right thing for your motor, but this is one of those times where you should just trust the guys who have had their swaps for a while and have done a ton of research into this. |
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Jul 13, 2004 - 5:14 PM
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Enthusiast Joined Jan 8, '04 From LA Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
I'm expierencing chassis flex NOW just by driving the car as hard as I do. Note to self: stop taking turns at 40
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Jul 13, 2004 - 7:35 PM
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 Enthusiast Joined Nov 4, '02 From Hecho en la Republica Dominicana/Living in NJ Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
you can have it done.... a while back i saw an add of a company that did the work for 1500 bucks.. that body is reinforced just like when covetables chopped...
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Jul 13, 2004 - 7:46 PM
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Enthusiast Joined Jan 8, '04 From LA Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
But mac, see Jay and I's comments, I think it'd be a lot worse than the convertible tops.
Furthermore, I wonder if the glass would break on hard flexes.. I'd hate to slam on my breaks going 90 and there be too much flex on the roof cus it's used to being unibody and have it shatter over my head |
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Jul 13, 2004 - 8:12 PM
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 Enthusiast Joined Mar 19, '04 From Scottsdale, Az Currently Offline Reputation: 2 (100%) |
I say just cut the whole top off and brace.
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Jul 13, 2004 - 10:49 PM
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Enthusiast Joined Nov 4, '02 From Hecho en la Republica Dominicana/Living in NJ Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
yea there will be flex but that why you would have to reinforce the areas of extream stress.. look at all the cars that have glass tops.. like the crx, tC, and the others... but unless some one goes out and has this done.. everything we say on these post doesn't mean ship -------------------- |
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Nov 6, 2004 - 7:31 PM
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 Enthusiast Joined Jul 12, '03 From Chatham, Ont Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
I know this is an old thread but reading through it, it seems converting a convertable to targa top would be your best bet. You already have the reinforcment where you want it.
The only problem here is you would need a doner coupe, which Im sure wouldn't be terribly hard to find. Also the convertable top adding any structeral rigidity is very very doubtful. Im sure its strong and everything but the kinds of forces and stress the body is under would far surpass the tolerance of a convertable top. |
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Nov 6, 2004 - 10:58 PM
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 Enthusiast Joined Oct 1, '02 From Seattle, WA Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
shid, i would have agree with Jay on this. Although i do agree that its better than nothing, i dont think the vert roof carries any substaintal load that it adds any usable rigidity. The roof itself is a light and weak metal frame meant to support the canvas roof. At the major strucural points of this frame are bendable joints which allow the frame to fold up. If the roof was under any major load, these bendable joints would rather bend, fold, or break then take the load.
And i dont think the rear window would break under any amount of flex. I assume yours is like mine and sort of just suspended in the canvas. Its not ridgid in there. -------------------- Its Orville's Celica, i just drive it... |
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Nov 7, 2004 - 12:03 AM
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Enthusiast Joined Nov 4, '02 From Davenport Iowa Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
I seriously looked into doing this about a year ago on my 94... I decided against it... mostly due to cost. I was gonna locate a wrecked supra and have the top cut off and shipped to me - 1200 plus shipping!
Not to mention the additional braceing etc... WAY too much money! eventually I'll get my Supra and that will do for me 
--------------------  99 project version 3.0.. hello SEMA 2010 =) |
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Nov 7, 2004 - 1:35 AM
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 Enthusiast Joined Dec 25, '02 From Pittsburgh/Clairton, PA Currently Offline Reputation: 1 (100%) |
if you want to talk to someone who has done this browse car doman
there is a 5th or 6th gen that not only did supra headlight conversion, but also what targe tops... --------------------  |
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Nov 7, 2004 - 5:18 AM
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Enthusiast Joined Jan 16, '04 From sydney australia Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
 dont it just look sweeeeet.......... --------------------  312whp with more to come.... |
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Nov 7, 2004 - 3:41 PM
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 Enthusiast Joined Sep 10, '04 From san diego Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
i bet it looks even sweeter then its in a crash and folds like paper plate
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Nov 7, 2004 - 3:58 PM
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 Enthusiast Joined Jun 26, '03 From Wisconsin Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
whos car is that ^^^ ?
-------------------- i am awesome
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