Removable hardtop?

[foxmustangman]

So I got an idea a while back...I was thinkin' I could take the top off of a white notch and then put it onto my vert as a removable hard top. Then of course I would fasten it down...but does anybody see any problems with this? It's just one of thousands of ideas that I've been toying with...

Thanx.

 

[JamesB88]

Its going to be alot of work, what about the 1/4 windows? Quess you could leave them on the top and some how make it match up.

 

[ryan218]

uh...thats gonna be a pretty heavy piece...back heavy anyway.

 

[BLOWN 5.0 FOX]

I think it goes into the catagory of... looks good on paper

 

[Flavadave4]

I think it goes into the catagory of... looks good on paper

LOL.......it could happen

 

[Ozz]

there was a member here that made one for his Fox Body. It was an awesome idea and he made it work, but overall IMO it needed to be more refined.

 

[stykthyn]

it would be easier to remove the vert frame and 1/4 windows alltogether. the you would just remove the top when you want to go topless. kind of like a Bronco, but all in all it's too much to be worth it. Now, fab up a decent tonneau cover and that would be hot stuff.

 

[cervinistang]

maybe you should just make a hard-top vert??

both are gonna be costly and endless projects

 

[jrichker]

The idea is as old as the first gneration Corvettes and T-Birds. I can remember when it was a common accesory if you had one of these cars.

I am not familar with convertibles, but a plexiglass insert could take the place of the original 1/4 windows. You might be able to leave the 1/4 windows rolled down all the way and be left in place.

 

[foxmustangman]

it would be easier to remove the vert frame and 1/4 windows alltogether. the you would just remove the top when you want to go topless. kind of like a Bronco, but all in all it's too much to be worth it. Now, fab up a decent tonneau cover and that would be hot stuff.

That's pretty much what I was thinking. Ripping the soft top out and most likely the 1/4 windows...especially to save weight. The main idea is to save weight, especially with the top down...er...off.

 

[stykthyn]

if you really feel up to the task, mold one in fiberglass and replace the windows with lexan.

 

[foxmustangman]

What's lexan? I'm assuming some clear fibeglass-like substance?

 

[stykthyn]

it's like plexiglass only lighter and stronger.

 

[talladam]

I'd love to have a fiberglass or composite removable hardtop for my vert. Maybe it would eliminate top adjustments/leaks/drafts/etc.

 

[foxmustangman]

That's basically what I'm aiming for.

But like I said, one of my thousands of ideas that will most likely never be done.

 

[talladam]

i do recall seeing one about a year ago on ebay. guy had a black vert with custom made fiberglass top. looked somewhat okay but was sorta flat on the top which looked out of place.

 

[Dabney]

Ok guys here is the story I know this is a old topic. Professional fiberglass tech. 20 year experience this can be done with alot of extensive preperation.... I would consider this task but looking at about 3 thousand dollar start out cost, I need a sponsor!! But after that bout 400 hundred materials per fox body removable hard top!! Want one for my rare 86 gt vert. So quick how to make a quailty hard top....use origanal mustang hard top.* Use as plug, * use plug to create a mold * this process would need to be repeated outer mold and inner mold*** 2 peice aplication *** prep molds for tooling jell guess that's how its spelled *** flip molds upside down build some legs and roller wheels make her real handy. Gell coat preped mold with *paste wax...ext... gell coat molds choice color. Next glass it *steel roller all air out. Let dry ...trim glass edges with knife when almost set up or dried *let it cool down* pull the two parts from the mold*** fiberglass outer liner again *add inner head liner* add weight too the middle and clamp outer edges when needed ** let them kick off or dry *pull whole part install air file edges * use pre fabed original latches*install rear window... *** alot of trouble yes but the hard part is building molds. But off just one set I could build 1 top every 2 hours!!!! If there is the demand. The rite sponsor I could supply! Benifit of 2 peice is strength and rele good edges that prevent leaks.. predicting weight of 175 pounds don't rele know how much factory top weighs but it will have to be removed for the the real deal vert top..just dont try to get ur buddy's to help u put her back on in the rain if anybody thinks that this is demand that much I could possibly build u the molds for the rite price!!! Then u could build them from sun up to sun down for cheap and a Lil labor for cheap

 

[krazedstang]

Ok guys here is the story I know this is a old topic. Professional fiberglass tech. 20 year experience this can be done with alot of extensive preperation.... I would consider this task but looking at about 3 thousand dollar start out cost, I need a sponsor!! But after that bout 400 hundred materials per fox body removable hard top!! Want one for my rare 86 gt vert. So quick how to make a quailty hard top....use origanal mustang hard top.* Use as plug, * use plug to create a mold * this process would need to be repeated outer mold and inner mold*** 2 peice aplication *** prep molds for tooling jell guess that's how its spelled *** flip molds upside down build some legs and roller wheels make her real handy. Gell coat preped mold with *paste wax...ext... gell coat molds choice color. Next glass it *steel roller all air out. Let dry ...trim glass edges with knife when almost set up or dried *let it cool down* pull the two parts from the mold*** fiberglass outer liner again *add inner head liner* add weight too the middle and clamp outer edges when needed ** let them kick off or dry *pull whole part install air file edges * use pre fabed original latches*install rear window... *** alot of trouble yes but the hard part is building molds. But off just one set I could build 1 top every 2 hours!!!! If there is the demand. The rite sponsor I could supply! Benifit of 2 peice is strength and rele good edges that prevent leaks.. predicting weight of 175 pounds don't rele know how much factory top weighs but it will have to be removed for the the real deal vert top..just dont try to get ur buddy's to help u put her back on in the rain if anybody thinks that this is demand that much I could possibly build u the molds for the rite price!!! Then u could build them from sun up to sun down for cheap and a Lil labor for cheap

Sounds freaking awesome, I'd love a hard top for my Reef Blue vert, but being that this was your first post. I doubt you're gonna have much luck, but I wish you the best!

 

[Mustang5L5]

Were the convertibles built as a convertible or were they just coupes with the roof cut off?


Sent from my big ass iPhone 6 using Tapatalk

 

[89oem]

Notches, US manufactures stopped making convertibles in the mid 70s due to NTSA rules about crash safety, so they outsourced the work to "Coach" builders,

Here's a list Ford used

Coach Convertible - List of Known Coach Convertibles - Conversions of Ford Products
Conversions of Ford Products

Lincoln Continental Coupe: AHA Manufacturing (1977–1979), Silcco (Ultima, 1977–1979), Hess & Eisenhardt (1977), California Coach (1978)

Lincoln Continental Sedan: 4-door (Silcco, 1977–1979)

Lincoln Mark V Coupe: Emess Coach Builders (1977–1978), Global Coach (Lucerne, 1978–1979), American Custom Coach (St Tropez, 1977–1979), Coach Builders Ltd (1977–1978), Hess & Eisenhardt (1978), L'Edition Limite' (Cabriolet, 1977–1979), Bradford Motorcars (Cabriolet, 1978)

Lincoln Mark VI Coupe: Coach Builders Ltd (1981–1983), Carelli Autoworks (1983), American Custom Coach (St Tropez, 1980–1981)

Lincoln Mark VII Coupe: Coach Builders Ltd. (1984–1989)

Lincoln Mark VIII Coupe: Coach Builders Ltd. (1993–1995)

Lincoln Versailles: Global Coach (1979)

Ford Mustang II: Emess Coach Builders (1977–1978)

Ford Thunderbird: American Custom Coachworks (1977–1979)

Mercury Cougar: American Custom Coachworks (1978–1979), Coach Builders Ltd. (1982,1984–1986,1987–1988), Car Craft (1985–1986)

Mercury Capri: AHA Manufacturing Lmtd (1979–1983), ASC McLaren (1984–1986, 552 built), Bivouac Industries (1981–1982), Classic Marketing Group (1980)

Ford Mustang: Coach Builders Ltd. (1981–1982), Steas Industries (1981–1982), Bivouac Industries (1982), Convertible Specialists Inc. (1982), National Coach Engineering (1980–1982), Intermeccanica C'abrio (1980–1982), ASC McLaren (2-seat, 1987–1990, 1,806 built), Tomaso (Swift, 1979–1980), American Convertible Corp. (National Coach 1980), Milan Coachbuilders (1980), Elan Convertible Ltd. (1981), Silcco (1980–1981), Barrows Ent. (Compliment, 1981–1982), Grandeur Motor Co (1981), AHA Manufacturing (Pony, 1980–1983), Armbruster/Stageway (1981), Con-Tec (1981–1982), Capital Coachworks (1981), Munich Motor Works (1981), American Pullman (1981), Note: Factory convertibles built by Cars & Concepts started in 1983.

Ford Escort/Mercury Lynx: Steas Industries (1981–1982), National Coach Engineering (1981)

Ford EXP: unknown (1982)

Read more about this topic: Coach Convertible, List of Known Coach Convertibles