hey does anyone have interior pics of whistlers targa top? and whistler if you read my page post some info about the targa conversion and what all you had to do to reinforce the car.....

 

Im not 100% positive here, but I dont think he reinforced it. Although, the quickest way to find out while you are waiting for him to reply would be the ol trusty search button.

-Roshambo

 

All I did for the frame was lightly modified BMR boxed subframe connectors and 4 extra pieces of 1/4 inch steel to extend the subframes out a few inches. No big deal.

 

alright thanx whistler.....I've been wantin to do this for a while but i wanted to see it done first.....do you think that it would be ok to do to a third gen hardtop?.....your tha **** that's why i am askin you......peace

 

NOPE!
Can't do it, well you can, but it would be pretty stupid.
Converting a 4th gen to ttops or targe isn't so bad, becuase the body already has all of the provisions for ttops, they're just not there. A 3rd gen hardtop has nothing neccesary for the ttops, and you would basically ruin any and all rigidity the body had.

 

as blue89bird said 3rd gen cars were built either as t-top cars or hard top cars. Convertables in 87 for the camaro were t-top cars and 91 for the firebird. However 4th gens are all built to be t-top cars, weather or not they have cc1 t-top option. Thats why you see people with 3rd gen cars with removeable glass sunroofs. Putting in t-tops would cost far to must to gain back the rigidness of the hard top with out lots of frame re-inforcement on a 3rd gen.

 

There is one person that did a targa top conversion to a thirdgen firebird. It was already a t-top car though. He put subframes and a roll cage in it to stiffen it up.

 

I wouldn't screw with it if it's a hardtop anyway. Sell it and get a convertible... or at least a T top to start with if youre stuck on the targa idea.

 

say i did go ahead with it tho and used some SFC, a STB, and some other kinds of reinforced structural support.....what would it cause to happen to my car.....convertables' have nothing but the windshield support on the top of the car so if gave it the structural support of a convertable fame wise and everything i should be ok is what i was thinkin'.....i'm just tryin to figure out an answer to my problem.....so any facts or opinons would be helpful.....thanx for the ones so far

 

It's not the structural integrity I'm concerned with. It's the PITA it will be to make functional latch mechanisms, and the recievers for them in the body, the T top car will have all that already. It can be done, but I wouldnt do it on a 3rd gen unless it was a T top.