Rep Power: 328

Alright, I have been looking into something for a while now. I am considering transforming my 2001 EX Coupe into a 2001 EX convertable. What I am curious about is if it can be made to where I can do it like the S2000, and have both a soft and hard top? Or if the part that they cut away will be scrap metal. I know a shop that can do the conversion, I haven't gotten a quote yet, but they have done it with other cars (older american choppers). Didn't see if they made the hard/soft top option though. Can this be done, or will i have a rag top civic for the rest of it's life?

 
Rep Power: 448

that would be a waste of money in my opinion

 
Rep Power: 328

its gonna be all show, its a 4 banger for christ's sakes. sure, i can dress the engine bay up with a bunch of stuff, such as polished aluminum pieces, steel braided lines, intake, colored plug wires, pulleys, polished parts, etc., etc., etc., for now though i am going for an apperance that is different from the norm. which is what i am looking into converting to a drop top for. making my car unique. besides, it's just money, and you can't take it with you when you die.

 
Rep Power: 511

if you want a convertable vic, just do a hardtop.. not worth the money IMO...

 
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Money is going to be the big issue, the under carrage will have to be beefed up. The roof adds alot of rigidity to the whole car, with out it and the body will flex and then doors won't open and fenders won't line up.

I think it would look good, and if you want it then go for it, I love convertables and who cares if other people think its a bad idea. If its done right I bet a lot of people would think differently.

As far as a hard top and soft top, only the shop could answer that.

 
Rep Power: 328

thats what i figured. now i gotta decide on a top color. black on the black vic, or white on black? or possibly a grey color to match the leather interior. decidions decisions

 
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it wont look right cause it doesnt ahve flat back window like delsol or somethinglike that

 
Rep Power: 424

He's not doing a targa top. He wants to take the entire roof and the pillars off.
Here's the issues I can think of...
The window frames and the B pillar. The B pillar is absurdly important. You're gonna need roll hoops or a roll bar to replace them. Forego the rear seat (it'll be real small anyway), get an X brace welded in across the bottom to stiffen the car, then build a toneau on top of it like a regular ragtop. A hardtop would be kinda tough, because when they cut it off, they're gonna have to somehow weld the seams around the door line, pillars and front of the trunk shut .... so it would be a custom hardtop that went inside of that. You couldn't re-use the roof.
The A pillars need to be stiffened to keep the windshield upright. Probably gonna have to weld another bar in across the top front of the trunk to make up for the rear deck coming out.
This is a big time project. You're gonna need to make the car twice as stiff, because you'll only have 1/2 the metal holding the car together.
I'm not saying it can't be done, but it's gonna take lots of time, money and work to get it done right, safe and drivable.
Good luck if you do it.

 
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I have seen an all show caviler, that wasent a convertablr, made into one, and they didnt have any bars or anything.

Ive always thought it would be awsome if there was a hard top, to have a sunroof in it. I remember my friends convertable, when he put the hard top on for winter it had a plug for the dome lights, so it could prob be done for a sunroof.

 
Rep Power: 359

hrm . . seems kinda coo. . . I have no idea though, because I've never seen or read much about cars getting turned into convertibles. I think a 7th gen would look hot though . .

 
Rep Power: 374

i dont know if someone mentioned it but get those roll bars that go over the seats...(or roll bar)

hah it was mentioned...yea i think it would be a niiiiice show car...forget everyone's opinions...your guaranteed looks from Everyone when you drive by

 
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I too thought about how it would look but even if i wanted to do the conversion, i wouldnt have the means till i graduate and pay off college. if you do it... definitely take pics.

 
Rep Power: 308

Have you seen the web site where the dude took a sawzall and chopped the top off a Mercury Topaz !!! ???

Of course you would want to make yours a little more descret than that, but i thought it was cool as hell.

And he drove it around with out adding any support (that i know of)

It was kinda a joke car, he bought for under $100 and used a lot of gold spray paint.

I wish i had the link