s13 hatch targa top

[r.lesher]

does anyone how i can convert my hatch to a targa top. already has manual sunroof. ive seen it done before no luck searching for info

[Tsukiko]

Get ready to either spend a lot of money or do it yourself.

Your car will most likely need at least a 6 point cage to make up for the lack of structural integrity due to a targa top. All in all I would say it's not worth it.

BUT... i would say start by stripping the interior completely so you can weld in your cage, then after the cage is done, take it to a shop that does convertible tops (cause they most likely will be able to do a targa) and have them go to town. I do not see this working without a cage that has either bars going from the A pillar to the B pillar (normal 6+ point cage) or some kind of beefy as f*** door bars to keep your car in one piece and at least relatively straight. Hell you might as well go partial tube chassis lol. All that cage is going to take a s*** on the whole purpose of having a targa. You'll feel crowded by it.

[nissanman04]

no luck searching for info

Did you try typing "targa" into the search function? I did, and there are at least 5 threads about it. Weird.
Modified by nissanman04 at 4:19 PM 11/29/2009

[LingeringSuicide]

I seen a guy start one... try the search button... but i think he honestly gave up on it

[jeff420]

Get ready to either spend a lot of money or do it yourself.

Your car will most likely need at least a 6 point cage to make up for the lack of structural integrity due to a targa top. All in all I would say it's not worth it.

BUT... i would say start by stripping the interior completely so you can weld in your cage, then after the cage is done, take it to a shop that does convertible tops (cause they most likely will be able to do a targa) and have them go to town. I do not see this working without a cage that has either bars going from the A pillar to the B pillar (normal 6+ point cage) or some kind of beefy as f*** door bars to keep your car in one piece and at least relatively straight. Hell you might as well go partial tube chassis lol. All that cage is going to take a s*** on the whole purpose of having a targa. You'll feel crowded by it.

i dont see why you couldnt just do alot of bracing, ever heard of a convertible 240sx? same conceptplus have you ever cut the roof off a car? they dont just "fall apart"

[Tsukiko]

Convertible 240s were built as convertibles from the start.

you think Nissan would have simply chopped the top off a coupe and slammed a ragtop on it???

[jeff420]

Convertible 240s were built as convertibles from the start.

you think Nissan would have simply chopped the top off a coupe and slammed a ragtop on it???

your not the sharpest crayon in the box huh, read where i said BRACING SHOULD SUFFICE. know what makes the convertibles stronger? its bracing. know what shops that convert cars into convertibles do? they generally brace it. your making it sound like a cage is the only way.

[JSDEVILDOG29]

Convertibles are exactly that. A coupe sent to American Specialty Cars and had the tops chopped. They did get other mods but that is in essence what they are. That is why North America is the only country to ever enjoy a convertible S-chassis. As far as doing it. It will be alot of work I am sure. I would park a vert next to your hatch and try to find the differences. I would def not half a$$ a project like that though, as you could find your self dead. Also check the vert forums and check out project vert. They explain some of the differences between the verts and non verts. I think it would be a cool mod if its done right.

[Harman850T5]

zerothread?id=77984 The link shows all of the extra bracing and modifications made.

[JSDEVILDOG29]

That's a sweet thread. Looks like ASC really did it right. I wonder how much it cost per car.

[Tsukiko]

your not the sharpest crayon in the box huh, read where i said BRACING SHOULD SUFFICE. know what makes the convertibles stronger? its bracing. know what shops that convert cars into convertibles do? they generally brace it. your making it sound like a cage is the only way.

ok skipped a little of your post. my bad. I like your crayon reference, cute.

BUT- at least put a roll bar in the damn thing, even with the bracing. I would go full cage, but I'm sure I made that clear. Insurance companies are happy when you have at least a roll bar. I'm sure if the car is ever tipped you'll be happy it was there.

[xX RB Xx]

you should search more... it took me all of 5 seconds...

zer...07365

[Tsukiko]

And there you have it. Personally I think the guy doing that crazy widebody thread here should do this instead of chop his top.

Then ride around in it with a huge cockbrush and play Magnum PI...

what?

[OutToWinPAHC]

Very possible without a cage. But thos have have done it brace the car. 1/4 inch angle iron to wrap the frame rails, and a cross support is added.

With all the cheap shells, someone who is good at welding could pull it off. Id suggest a nice tig welder.

[Tsukiko]

why TIG and not MIG?

I used to weld Stainless food grade stuff, for fine details yeah TIG was the deal, but all our heavy, STRUCTURAL stuff was MIG. Just wondering.

[OutToWinPAHC]

MIG can be prone to lack of side wall fusion, so it is often classed (by some) as semi-skilled welding. TIG (in the right hands) is less likely to produce defects and as it uses a totally inert gas it produces a "cleaner" weld.

For structure I would TIG.

[s13beast]

Convertibles are exactly that. A coupe sent to American Specialty Cars and had the tops chopped. They did get other mods but that is in essence what they are. That is why North America is the only country to ever enjoy a convertible S-chassis. As far as doing it. It will be alot of work I am sure. I would park a vert next to your hatch and try to find the differences. I would def not half a$$ a project like that though, as you could find your self dead. Also check the vert forums and check out project vert. They explain some of the differences between the verts and non verts. I think it would be a cool mod if its done right.

Aaaaaaand you would be wrong....zerothread?id=310836ALSO they made some s15 convertibles too. They are not just in japan either...

[Nali]

Aaaaaaand you would be wrong....zerothread?id=310836ALSO they made some s15 convertibles too. They are not just in japan either...

[JSDEVILDOG29]

Thats a one off. I am sure they do have verts that people have modded to verts in other countries but, north america was the only place they were mass produced. Verts can be made from any car with enough money and time. S-14 were never mass produced as verts. Those too are just people that chopped the tops. I got the info from Wiki and I also googled for them I found nothing conclusive stating that Nissan made Sivlia verts. If they did thats cool.

"In 1992, a convertible body style was added to the lineup and was exclusive to the North American market. These vehicles began life in Japan as coupes and were later modified in the California facilities of American Specialty Cars (ASC). For the 1994 model year, the only available 240SX was a Special Edition of the Convertible body style all of which were equipped with the 4-speed automatic transmission."


Modified by JSDEVILDOG29 at 10:18 PM 11/29/2009

[JSDEVILDOG29]

Hold on I just found a Nissan Varrieta. Are they factory verts? Are the S-15 the only available models? I think the hard top and S-13 look better.

Looks like the S-15 vert is the same as USDM verts. They were taken to Autech and chopped.
Modified by JSDEVILDOG29 at 6:40 AM 11/30/2009

[Nali]

I got the info from Wiki and I also googled for them I found nothing conclusive stating that Nissan made Sivlia verts.

At that point i stopped reading or caring what you had to say.

Silvia Vert

Silvia Varietta

Both from the factory.

wakopedia doesnt have enough contributors from Africa, Japan, Australasia and Europe so alot of the car sections arent complete.Ive thought of joining and adding obscure info that many may not know, but i just dont care.Let the ignorant stay ignorant....not my child not my problems tswhat i always say.