S13 SR20 Convertible?

[s13conv]

I found convertible s13 for a good price ($300) needs a fender, hood, and headlight. My question is: Would the convertible be a worthwhile conversion candidate? I've heard that they are heavier and more flexible. Would a roll cage and mods make up for it?

I would put the red top sr20 in there and convert it to manual (hopefully). I was thinking that he roll cage would stiffen the chasis and make it a little safer.

As far as what I would use it for...mostly just fun. Maybe an occasional autoX.

I've also read that the convertible add 300#!

Any input would be appreciated.

[quiksilvia]

if its 300 bucks, i would buy it and sell it for more to get a non convertible

[Onizuka]

240 verts are cool, it would be a fun car to bust around. You could do a healight conversion and have one of maybe 3 s13 convertibles with silvia headlights in the world...

[lessthanjakejohn]

Just a roll bar would do.

heck ya its worth it!

[Cyberkreig]

if you dont want it, i'll take it!

[lessthanjakejohn]

they are a lot heavier and more flexible though. Not a great track car, but it would be fun

[slw240sx]

top down killin camaros,hondas,stangs, vettes with half bad motors, and all in style ! i would do it!

[s13conv]

240 verts are cool, it would be a fun car to bust around. You could do a healight conversion and have one of maybe 3 s13 convertibles with silvia headlights in the world...

Like this?

[Onizuka]

exactly! (i have seen that one before too)

[pgt892]

Sounds good for $300. What year is it?

Just kidding.

[krazy skwerel]

the convertibles lok sweet with the top down but a bit odd with it up. :batman

[s13conv]

the convertibles lok sweet with the top down but a bit odd with it up. :batman

The top will only be up if it's raining.

I'm checking around now for the parts.

[Meantime]

That would be a sweet whip...Silvia convertible.And ultra-rare as mentioned before. We don't see a whole lot of S13 convertibles here on NICO (there are dozens for sale around NJ, after the harsh winter we had!)

[Anand]

go fer it!

[s13conv]

Do all convertibles have HICAS?

[PGZX3]

I don't think they came equipped but I could be wrong...

[s13conv]

Wow. I friend had suggested that I take one for a drive since it was not designed as a convertible so...I took a '93 convertible for a test drive today. I don't know about the convertibles. :wtc: Twisty is true. When I hit a bump, the windshield and pillar would wobble! I don't know if that f&r stut bars or a 4 point roll cage would fix that.

Maybe a regular coupe would be the way to go. :thinker

[Onizuka]

roll bars and strut tower bars would fix that. If you were buying a 240 vert it would be for being difforent, not to have the best performing 240. I'd still like to see a 240 vert with a engine swap and silvia headlights:bandit

[s13conv]

I certainly think that it would look awesome. I just think the flex would be disappointing.

[UncleBen]

I think you should get it. It's cheap, and would be awesome to do some go-fast mods to. Be clean!

[AznRide]

That car sucks dude. Sell it asap...to me

[rtsol]

fyi, the S13 convertable wasnt THAT rare. they were called the "varietta" i believe just like the S15 convertibles. only came in auto/NA.

[Onizuka]

fyi, the S13 convertable wasnt THAT rare. they were called the "varietta" i believe just like the S15 convertibles. only came in auto/NA.

convertable were only made for 2 or 3 years out of the 9 years the 240sx was in production and didnt sell very well.

Convertable are also worth 2x as much as non-vert 240's of the same year. So $300 for a car thats worth probably $4000 is a steal...

[rtsol]

sorry, i was talking about the japan market, but no the s13 drop top was only made about 3/4 of 1 year in the us. they were made(i think) in late 1992 up to mid 1993, but dont quote me on that. the so yes, they are pretty rare. the s13 convertible were just extra silvias that had the tops cut off, for a change in usa before the intro to the s14 which was already being sold in japan. its not everything bu tyou get the jist of it.

[WongFeiHung]

sweeeeeet....

[WongFeiHung]

I think the Varietta was based on the Silvia, right? So all the JDM convertibles had the Silvia front end...otherwise they'd all be S13 Varietta Onevias??. Anyways, I've never seen or heard of one in the USA, much less an SR-powered one...yummy...5 speed conversion isnt too difficult...SR swap, upgrade sway bars, strut bars (can u install a rear strut bar in a convertible?) custom roll bar...and you'd be all set..."YOU CAN DO IT!"

[s13conv]

Has anyone had luck stiffening these?

[vwluv10338]

Well I just got my 240 today. Its a 92 vert with an SR20det. I knew I would be getting into a flex problem because my girlfriend has a honda delsol and every bump the whole thing shakes. Well I drove the vert today for the first time and it is not as bad as I thought. Now the bad news, I thought I would put some strut bars on and everything would be fine, wrong. In the back because of the top motor you can not install a upper strut bar. On the good side between the struts there is a type of x bar welded to the sides of the two struts. I am planning on installing a cage to stiffen the whole thing but I cant find a prefab cage anywhere. I will have to look into getting one custom made.

Eric

[krazy skwerel]

wow already had an sr20 in it thats cool.

[s13conv]

Well I just got my 240 today. Its a 92 vert with an SR20det...

Eric

Congrats! Is it a red one from Jersey? I heard that you can't put a rear bar on, but didn't know that they already have something welded in.