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oddball383
Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2007
Posts: 24
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 Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2011 7:37 pm Post subject: Convert a Coupe to a Drop Top |
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| What are all the components needed for such a change. What can I save on my coupe and reuse and what do I need off the vert. I found a Vert ghia thats rusted half way up the doors. Been sitting forever in the field. The top still moves just missing the front bow. |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32629
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:26 am Post subject: |
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Can it be done? Sure it can be! Is it worth the hassle and bother? Maybe not.
A horribly rotten donor may not have some of the vital parts you need. Also the year makes a difference for things changed as they built these cars.
A lot depends upon your skill level as a welder or if you have the cash to hire a GOOD welder / fabricator.
Let's hit the highlights...
Rockers / heater channels...... You MUST upgrade to the convertible style to provide support under the doors. Parts are readily available, "easy" to do.
Rear seat area..... The entire area is different metal. More support towards the center hence the rear seat is more narrow. There are extra mounting points for the body to the chassis in this area as well. Parts are NOT available, difficulty is hard.
Rear 1/4 panels. While the lower portion of the panel is the same shape, the area at the bottom of the rear 1/4 windows is radically different. Instead of folding in towards the car center and joining with an interior 1/4 panel for support and window mounting, there is a flange that seams an entirely different panel to the exterior 1/4 panel. There are supports for the doors "B" pillar and metal for the seat belt shoulder strap (depending upon the year)
Rear window area. Almost completely different. From the engine lid forward there are all sorts of panels, strengtheners and provisions for the soft top. You will need good donor metal for this entire area! Some aftermarket parts are made but not many. Skill level? Very High! major cutting and welding are in this area.
Windshield. The frame is supported by extra metal braces installed as the car is built in the lower corners of the windshield. These braces are nigh unto impossible to install in an assembled car! About the only way is to fabricate a reinforcement using angle iron and welding it to the windshield frame and down into the front 1/4 panel area. Also the top of the windshield frame is 100 % different, a donor piece is a must! The difficultly level of the windshield is very high and ingenuity and high level of skills will be needed.
Of course you need the soft top frame. All the wear bits on the frame are readily available from Chuck's Convertible in Virginia. He really is the go to guy for top supplies. Not only are his prices fair, his knowledge is vast and IF you purchase from him, he will be there to help you! Heck, he even helped me and I didn't purchase from him but the PO did!!
Think LONG and HARD before you pull out the saw z all on this project! To pay someone to do this would cost so much you might as well go purchase a good convertible!!
Again, it can be and has been done. One person who did it swore he'd never to it again for the work load was vast.
The good news is that the doors are the same, convertible or Coupe. The glass in the door is different.
Dave
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Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos
Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473
Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537
Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert |
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Gary
Person of Interest
Joined: November 01, 2002
Posts: 17069
Location: 127.0.0.1
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DSF
Samba Member
Joined: September 08, 2004
Posts: 605
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| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:34 am Post subject: |
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| ^^^ it's a bad idea. if you're willing /able to get your hands that dirty, there's plenty of vert projects out there. plenty. |
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EverettB 
Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000
Posts: 69827
Location: Phoenix Metro
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