I'm just curious if theres any design differences between the 2 or if convertibles are much slower. Other then the obvious 80 pounds or so more weight and some arodynamics is threre a big difference between z28 coupe's and covertibles?

 

LIke you siad the biggest difference is the weight. The cloth on top doesn't help either.

 

Depends what you want... convertibles have body reinforcements which add weight to the vehicle... not good for cornering. That is true for all covertibles. If they were great, the ZO6 and Vipers would be offered in a convertible option.

 

The only Vipers available in 2003 are convertibles, no more hardtop's anymore.

 

I'm really surprised. The Corvette Z06 is a coupe. The Camaro Z28 1LE are only coupes. Ferrari and Lamborghini realize the strength of a coupe. Ford and their GT40.

I think a penny pincher at Dodge is pushing the convertible to get sales up... there is too much body flex in a convertible to corner well.

Oh well, glad I'm not into Dodge.

 

Yeah, but a 'vert has one huge advantage: the top folds down! I think the weight difference is more than 80lbs though. It's more like 150 on a 4th gen, right?

I love my 'vert.

Rich Krause

 

LOL... but RK, you've done so much to your car. I'll guess that will all of the hours you put in ($20-$35/ hour) plus cost of mods that you would have a ZO6 by now! (Maybe two) You're the man, but you are the exception. For the specs, a convertible has more body flex (stock) and that will affect cornering. With braces and mods, body flex can be reduced at the price of weight.

So in one respect, you'll have flex but it will weigh less than one with braces which is honorable for drag racing.

The other side is to add reinforcements to reduce flex to have the car corner, but the weight will be part of the equation that acts with centrifugal forces.

However, you have both reinforced your car and added a supercharger and n2o to compensate for the bit of reinforcement weight.

Take care.
Greg

 

Supposedly the difference betweeen a Z28 coupe and a Z28 Convertible is only 80 odd lbs. Thats what carpoint has to say atleast. It all depends on what you want. If you want to ride cruise around without a top, then get a convertible, if you are turning you car into an all out drag or road course car, then i would say get a hard top.

As for the Z06, its strictly for performance, so why on earth would GM add a drop top to it? Same thing with the 1LE and other Performance models. Why would u sell a car that is meant to have the best strip/road course perfomance you have to offer then slap on added weight and less strength? Doesnt make sense to me.

 

i got a '94 Z28 vert and on my car's registration it says 3570 lbs which i believe is 150 or so lbs. more than the coupe

 

http://autos.msn.com/research/compar...=t6603&v=t6605


The curb weight for a 94 Z28 Auto Coupe is 3521.

The curb weight for a 94 Z28 Auto Convertible is 3609.

 

The autos are usually peg-2s with a lot of other weight adding goodies. Add subframes and a 6pt roll bar for stiffness and 400 extra hp and you won't notice the difference...

 

Amen brother!

A Quasar Blue ragtop is about the best looking 4th gen out there - I oughta know, 'cause that's what I have too.

Rich Krause

 

 

Convertables do have more flex and are heavier, the flex is no greater than a t-top car that has no reinforment. The big differance with a conretable is some suspinion mods are unavailable.

 

Which ones would those be? I thought I'd done all the suspension mods...