Plastic cover for when the top is down

Post by **bluegreen547** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 11:46 am

Where would be the best place to find a new back deck cover for when the top is down? Junk yard, web site, ect. Thanks

Post by **AZhitman** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 12:09 pm

Probably here or ebay.

It's made of vinyl, it's called a "boot".

Hard to find, people are paying $100 + for nice ones.

Might be one here for sale, look through some old threads.

Post by **nissanconvert** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 3:50 pm

Has anyone here ever researched cost/feasability of getting someone to make a bunch of these, or better yet a hard top?

Post by **Shift_Oversteer** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 1:56 pm

Man a fiberglass overlay would be SO badA$$. All someone has to do is make a mold... I know I would be the first one on the list to buy one!

Post by **slownslurious** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 5:55 pm

my friend and I are getting ready to do some fiberglass work, what kind **** are you looking for? a fiberglass boot cover, or a speedster cover (to cover the rear seat area)?if a speedster cover would you want one that would stay in place if the top was up or down, or one that covers the whole top and everything when the top is down (for summer, and you could use one of those half covers that just covers the cabin area for when its parked)?let me know I've been thinking about making one.

Post by **wirelessalpha** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 7:19 pm

Dude, you make a boot cover out of fiberglass, then I will personally get you a "happy ending" from a local hood rat out in NJ.

Naw, j/k ...but it's the thought that counts!

Seriously, I'd buy. Even before you build though - what would the cost be for something like that, after the mold...etc..say you make a mold...and then start selling pieces...oh ****...my god man...you could make a killing on ebay.

I remember, back in the day, my buddy made some good change making fake type-r shift boots (red stich for all you honda haters). The man couldn't make enough.

Also, I own a scion XB too - and let me tell you, when they first came out, toyota didnt include a center armrest...even as an option. SO, all these small one off companies got together and started making aftermarket arm rests, and made a killing. Even the **** ones were selling like crazy b/c the only place you could get them were on ebay or a local dealer that sold such items.

Do it dude - and the community will thank you! IT WILL BE A STICKY! (if the nice admins allow it).

Post by **Shift_Oversteer** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 7:33 pm

Whichever one you do make, i'd buy either for a somewhat reasonable price! If you did do a speedster cover it would be sweet if you made little bulges behind each headrest... definitely do it though man.

Post by **nissanconvert** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 3:41 am

If you build it,They will come... Uh I meanwe will buy!

Post by **slownslurious** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 6:50 am

yeah everyone says they want one till you build them. I don't have the money or resources to like produce them and list them, I was thinking about doing one for my car though and if I could make some money off it I might be able to do one for someone else. No idea what costs would be, I do everything by hand though so defintely not cheap. Its not easy.

Post by **wirelessalpha** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 4:30 pm

Dude. I will list them and even help sell them for you. NO PROBLEM.

Throw the entire forum an estimate of the cost and maybe we can do like a collection at least. A dollar here...2 dollars there...

It will add up man. ADMINS?...hello?...help this brotha out!

Post by **Shift_Oversteer** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 7:26 pm

well give us a ballpark figure... id for SURE be your first customer as ive got some expendabe funds lately, if you can throw a number out there you can probably get some early comittments!

Post by **AZhitman** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 8:13 pm

I've been considering the same project...

Been talking with some fibreglass experts.

Just a matter of time (not so much money)....

Post by **slownslurious** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 6:02 am

yeah I'd guess a good place to start would be writing a letter to the companies that make them for existing cars (s2000, mustang, miata, etc) and ask them if they'd be willing to make one. I think the ideal material would be ABS plastic, as fiberglass (at least hand laid stuff like I do) would be heavier than absolutely necessary. Ball park figure for a "boot" cover made of fiberglass, I'm just guestimating... $100-$300, depending on the finish (painted being the highest, vinyl the lowest). Ball figure for a speedster cover, due to the extensive work required (its such a large piece) would be at least $300 but probably closer to $500. And as I said right now I have no where to even work on a project like this. I'd have to find someplace to sand them, its not something you can take on in a parking lot, thats for sure. Plus I don't have any friends that I hate enough to sand fiberglass in their garage. A storage unit would work but thats where I'm doing my work from currently and I am tired of hearing the manager ***** at me everyday for making a mess and working on things.

Materials aren't that expensive (resin is $22 a gallon, cloth/matte averages a couple dollars/yard, and then high quality body putty is $10 for a small can, and void filling primer is 7-8 for a small can, etc). Its just that there is so much work involved when doing it all by hand to make the final product look right. Once you get a mold made, the finish products made from the mold are usually much easier, but its tricky because to make a profit you have to factor in the cost of producing the "buck" you molded from. cliff notes- In theory I could do it, but it would be expensive. We should try contacting some companies that do it already first.

Post by **AZhitman** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 7:38 am

Very true...

If someone's willing to do the legwork and contact companies that make speedster-style covers (or other types of fiberglass/ABS parts), I'll bet we could find a vert in the area to loan them.

Post by **NormL** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 4:30 pm

I'm a new member with a 1992 240SX convertible.(black)

I am also looking for a boot cover for when the top is down.

Did you have any luck in your search ? If so can you pass along the information ?

Thanks,

Norm

Post by **slownslurious** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 10:09 am

check the forum, a thread was made specifically for updates regarding this matter.

Post by **triaddave** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 4:52 pm

Ad me to the list of "boot lookers".

Post by **slownslurious** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 6:06 pm

lol damn ya'll... listen the boot is no big deal. After finals (mine end the 15th) I should have some spare time so I'll try to get a mold made of my boot cover and I'll make a handful of them in fiberglass for you guys, just wrapped in vinyl (like I've said in other posts they can be paintable but that will add to the cost). $100 per should cover the costs of constructing a mold and taking care of materials, as well as renting some space to make them in, as long as I can sell 4 or 5 of them.

I'm thinking $100 for the vinyl ones and probably closer to $200 for a paintable one (you would have to paint them).how many would want one, seriously, if I made them? just to gauge interest.

Post by **wirelessalpha** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 6:48 pm

Like I said...

you+me+ebay.

I def need one. I'd rather it be paintable anyway - gonna spray the car in the spring time anyways...

Post by **TurboChargedSE-R** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 7:10 pm

I'd be interested at that price, no problem at all. Of course, pending a review that they look appropriate, etc.

Post by **slownslurious** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 3:19 pm

it would look like the stock one... just fiberglass instead of soft vinyl.

Post by **Moody** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 1:26 pm

slownslurious wrote:lol damn ya'll... listen the boot is no big deal. After finals (mine end the 15th) I should have some spare time so I'll try to get a mold made of my boot cover and I'll make a handful of them in fiberglass for you guys, just wrapped in vinyl (like I've said in other posts they can be paintable but that will add to the cost). $100 per should cover the costs of constructing a mold and taking care of materials, as well as renting some space to make them in, as long as I can sell 4 or 5 of them.

I'm thinking $100 for the vinyl ones and probably closer to $200 for a paintable one (you would have to paint them).how many would want one, seriously, if I made them? just to gauge interest.

I would definatly get one. I would get one that could be painted too.

Post by **Shift_Oversteer** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 7:42 pm

I would definitely pay that...

Post by **slownslurious** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 8:17 pm

spoke with my friend that does body work for some formula cars, apparently there is a chance that if I make a gelcoated mold for him he could make carbon fiber or kevlar boot covers in his autoclave... no idea what price would be though. Probably overkill for the boot spoiler, but good to know since I'm considering doing a mold for a speedster cover as well, where the weight savings would pay off.

Post by **slip69** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 3:16 pm

mark me down as getting one from ya if they become available

Post by **110octane** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 8:15 pm

I have been searching for one of these "boots" since before I even got my vert. I notice on the JDM models it looks quite a bit different than the ones issued here in the states? Not sure why?

Anyhow, I too have someone that can make a fiberglass/Carbon Fiber version for us if someone can help me locate a factory original boot. Even if it is damaged, ripped, torn, weathered it won't matter. Let me know if anyone can assist?

Post by **top_secret** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 8:28 pm

japanese models used a completely different top down system.. their used some sort of flip up plastic cover. They had a different conversion company...

Post by **luna11** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 5:40 am

i would like my name added to the list for a boot too!!!!!

Post by **top_secret** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 5:54 am

I'm working on it... thought my car would be running by now but I've been having some problems.

Post by **Shift_Oversteer** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 9:40 am

Keep us updated on the progress

Plastic cover for when the top is down

Plastic cover for when the top is down

Re: (AZhitman)

Re: (nissanconvert)

Re: (slownslurious)

Re: (wirelessalpha)

Re: (slownslurious)

Re: (slownslurious)

Re: (wirelessalpha)

Re: Plastic cover for when the top is down (bluegreen547)

Re: Plastic cover for when the top is down (bluegreen547)

Re: (slownslurious)

Re: (slownslurious)

Re: (Moody)

Re: (slip69)

Re: (slownslurious)

Re: (top_secret)

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