Crazy ambitious idea
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: 05-26-11
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Crazy ambitious idea
I have my 2005 cobalt, and a car i saw a few months ago before the weather got crappy, inspired me to possibly do something insane.
How bout' choppin the top off the cobalt and making it into a removable targa top? i know some of you guys on here are super handy with metal work and it doesn't seem like a task too difficult to take on.
Anybody know someone that has converted a coupe into a targa??
Any input is appreciated except the negative. It's simply wishful thinking on my part.
How bout' choppin the top off the cobalt and making it into a removable targa top? i know some of you guys on here are super handy with metal work and it doesn't seem like a task too difficult to take on.
Anybody know someone that has converted a coupe into a targa??
Any input is appreciated except the negative. It's simply wishful thinking on my part.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-02-08
Posts: 874
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From: Middletown, NJ
I suppose it could be done, but idk how safe it would be. Honestly, i don't think it's a good idea. cars are available as convertibles are usually reinforced in other ways to make up for not having a solid roof.
Anything is possible. The thing is its not gonna be cheap. You're gonna have to rework not only the roof but the door as well. Removable top cars usually have cross bracing in the subframe to compensate for having no top. That's gotta be figured out too. Roof needs to be strengthened. Doors need to be reengineered to not have the top metal strip on them.
Honestly it's not gonna be worth it to try. But good luck if you go for it.
Honestly it's not gonna be worth it to try. But good luck if you go for it.
a little tidbit of info that i know for a fact. the 1st and 2nd gen cavaliers/sunbird convertables (1982-1994) started life as a 3/4 built coupe, went to a company called ASC to become convertables. ASC added over 100 structural pieces before the roof was cut off, and in total it had 144 peices added to keep the car from folding in half. even then they still were common for breaking doorpins off the body due to chassis flex. just something to think about.
if i were going to do it, id basicly rip the entire car apart and put in some 2x3" square tube frame rails that tied in from the subframe mounts around the firewall right through the back bumper, much like you would on a unibody car when converting it to a race car. this would make the car strong enough to cut the roof off. then do whatever you want, targa, t-top, convertable, removable hard top.
if i were going to do it, id basicly rip the entire car apart and put in some 2x3" square tube frame rails that tied in from the subframe mounts around the firewall right through the back bumper, much like you would on a unibody car when converting it to a race car. this would make the car strong enough to cut the roof off. then do whatever you want, targa, t-top, convertable, removable hard top.
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: 05-26-11
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
If i were to do it i would do it right. i would prefer to keep the pillars on the doors for that much less of a head ache. i guess it'd be kind of like a giant removable sunroof.
Oooooh make the new insert glass? Can anyone say panoramic roof?
This type of thing goes up there with awd conversions and sub 10 second quarter mile times.
Oooooh make the new insert glass? Can anyone say panoramic roof?
This type of thing goes up there with awd conversions and sub 10 second quarter mile times.
Joined: 12-23-09
Posts: 12,643
Likes: 7
From: Mt. Pleasant S.C.
I'm with you for the most part
but!
thing is the stickers don't flow. It's like they worked their asses off to get a great car built for the show, then 10 minutes before they were supposed to leave they slapped the stickers on any old which way.
but!
thing is the stickers don't flow. It's like they worked their asses off to get a great car built for the show, then 10 minutes before they were supposed to leave they slapped the stickers on any old which way.
Yeah the Eibach, Nology, and Injen stickers don't look bad but the Meguiars, the black one in front of the rear wheel, and the pink one on the window look kinda strange to me. Those don't really flow.
Joined: 12-23-09
Posts: 12,643
Likes: 7
From: Mt. Pleasant S.C.
We need a photoshop job of that car!
leave the top half black. the pink area should be crystal red. The wheels should be black or chrome. the chrome strips above the body kit on the front and rear quarters gotta go. No stickers.
It'll look bad ass!
leave the top half black. the pink area should be crystal red. The wheels should be black or chrome. the chrome strips above the body kit on the front and rear quarters gotta go. No stickers.
It'll look bad ass!