zedsaid Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 Have you seen anyone who got the itch to swap t-tops to a z? I've searched here and on other forums, and came up with nothing... I figured i'd ask here because there are a lot of creative ideas floating about on this site as opposed to the more "stock" sites. (Even if most of the ideas are geared toward performance, and this would be far from it.) I'm not sure how well the lines would work, i know next to nothing about welding... but i love my t-tops in my 280zx, and eventually intend to take a 260z to the limit. This is a mod i'm considering... of course i need that second car first I'm guessing that door size will be an issue. May not be able to swap... custom glass? sorry train of thought... anyone seen anything like this? wow i sound like the n00b that i am. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metallicar Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 Check out Carl Beck's Zhome Web Site. http://zhome.com/ Look for the link http://zhome.com/History/240Accessory.htm Also search these forums. I remember some discussion of grafting a ZX roof to a Z. I also found somewhere on the web a source for an aftermarket tbar roof for a Pontiac. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexideways Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 It'll just kill what little rigidity the S30 chassis has. just my $0.02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zedsaid Posted December 21, 2006 Author Share Posted December 21, 2006 Thanks so much. I thought i'd done a search at zhome. Very cool, so at least i know it's doable.... as to the rigidity of the chassis there's got to be a way to compensate. Maybe not a full roll cage (gonna be street, and twisties), but a few strategically placed bars should help. I'm not an engineer, but before i make the attempt i'll do a lot of reading on the subject, and much more research. Just encouraging that it's doable. (then again i'm sure pretty much anything is possible with enough money to fab it.) z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metallicar Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 you could make the body strong enough for a convertible top, why not a T-top? There are many examples of such reinforcement which exclude roll bars or cages. Heres one from Zparts.com If Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
username Posted December 25, 2006 Share Posted December 25, 2006 i did a 70 about 14 yrs ago. cut the top off a 81 and seam welded it in place. solid enough for me back then. only trick is to get them not to leak around the the window top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paz8 Posted December 25, 2006 Share Posted December 25, 2006 The roof section on a T Top ZX is probably much stronger, ridgid, than a Z roof. The openings for the tops is formed into channels, the center section is multiple pieces of sheet metal sandwhiched together, all that formed and stamped steel is much stronger than just a flat section of roof. I think most of the strength in a S30 or S130 chassis is in the inner and outer rocker panels and the trans tunnel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGJIM Posted December 25, 2006 Share Posted December 25, 2006 The roof section on a T Top ZX is probably much stronger, ridgid, than a Z roof. The openings for the tops is formed into channels, the center section is multiple pieces of sheet metal sandwhiched together, all that formed and stamped steel is much stronger than just a flat section of roof. I think most of the strength in a S30 or S130 chassis is in the inner and outer rocker panels and the trans tunnel. I agree, the roof on a z is very light weight steel. I think with a little reinforcement it would be very strong and work just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paz8 Posted December 26, 2006 Share Posted December 26, 2006 I have a buddy that rolled a ZX, T tops popped out but roof held up, rolled three times ended up upside down, no injury had seat belts on, he told me while trying to get the seat belt off while upside down the voice warning system was saying " your lights are on". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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