RB'd Drop top

[Cjmartz2k]

I've always been a huge fan of drop tops of all kinds. I live in japan right now and coming home in a few months and bringing the drive train out of my skyline back with me for an s-chassis swap. I'm really looking hard at a S13 drop top, but I've got two major concerns maybe you guys can help me with.............

-Can the chassis handle a lot of power? My RB is a bit over 600hp and this car would see cruising/late night shenanigans/occasional 1/4 track drag days/occasional twisty road blasts. I'm not worried about a little less performance/flex, but I don't want to twist the body in half. I read the thread about putting cages in these cars and it looks like custom is the only way to go. I don't want one, but I've resigned myself to needing one.

-Do the drop tops weigh a lot more than coupes? I'd expect an extra hundred pounds or two, but I've heard 400lbs???

Thanks ahead of time guys. I've poked around, read the stickies, and done some searches. These are the few things I couldn't find answers for to my satisfaction.

[s13beast]

I dont see why it wouldnt handle 600whp. Its supposedly more strong than the hatchback. Just get a nismo power brace and front strut tower bar and ladder bar and it should be fine i guess. And i think the vert weighs about the same as the s14 so only a couple hundred pounds.

[Eikon]

With a cage welded in, you'll have no problem with the framing holding strong for 600hp. W/out a cage or at least a roll bar, I wouldn't feel comfortable making that much power. But with.. I think you'll have no problems.

Glitched weighed my old RB20 S13 convertible and I think weighed in just under 3000lbs? zerothread?id=408932

That's not bad at all!

[240daveTX]

nice.....

i always wondered what my vert with rb20 weighed.

i wish i could go to japan and bring stuff back :p good luck. i love driving my rb vert

[sci2000tech]

i love driving my rb vert

^^This!

Do it, you won't regret it

[glitched]

Glitched weighed my old RB20 S13 convertible and I think weighed in just under 3000lbs? zerothread?id=408932

That's not bad at all!

Yup, although it weighs about 130lbs less now, so it weighs just about the same as my old hatch before it went on a diet. i cant say that results are typical because of the various modifications.

I think the 5spd trans weigh less than the auto, thats one of the main factors when comparing weight since all verts came auto.

but still a 6cyl convertible that hovers around 3000lbs? where else you gonna find that?

[biggie]

I think the 5spd trans weigh less than the auto, thats one of the main factors when comparing weight since all verts came auto.

A lot less. AT is probably 130lbs or more, been a while since I picked one up, but I can barely lift one, where carry a 5-speed around is no problem. Guessing they are 50-60lbs or so.

[Coolwhip]

Chris, do it! Join the club

[Cjmartz2k]

I'm thinking about it more and more. What kind of body stiffening do you have?

[240daveTX]

since your there and it may be available, grab all the top stuff from a varietta :p

would be a sweeeeet conversion

[Cjmartz2k]

What's that?

[Coolwhip]

i think it's the S15 retractable hardtop. IMO too expensive and too much work for any type of ill-rendered results. I think the vert shows it's true potential with it's top down, so no need to extra work on the top.

[240daveTX]

they had a s13 version as well...

zer...tions

[Coolwhip]

ah, gotacha. thx