S13 Vert removable hard top

[kei1]

hey guys and girls, i have a 93 vert and i'm just wondering if anyone here has attempted to go with a removable hardtop. comments and pictures are welcome.

[ILoveJDM]

buy a coupe

[nickkaplz]

i didnt realize the tops on coupes were removable

[kei1]

thx for that. really i have a coupe too. just going more for the personal touch. im in the process of tinkering and between a useless rag top that leaks and has bent arms or a removable hard top that would allow me to run on courses without a roll cage, oh and not leak, i just wanna get some feedback.

[crayzwhiteboy]

Wtf kid. There were only like 8000 made, who knows how many are left and you wanna Fuck on up? Trade it for a coupe and let someone have it who appreciates what they have. You want a removable hardtop???? Get a coupe and buy a sawzall don't mess up your car.

[misterdumby]

make one...

[Copilot911]

Buy a crashed coupe and cut the roof off and put it on the vert

[silver04rsx]

Pretty much what the last guy said. Use your top you have now to make the mounting points for connecting the top to the A pillars. You can use the mounting points in the rear that hold the back of the rage top down. I think there are 11 bolts that are tied into the chassis. Im building a roadster, I completely removed the top and all the extra bracing put in and where the rage top frame bolts to the chassis, all that shit was cut out.

Its just a 240, all the verts I have seen are pretty trashed minus a couple. They dont make replacement parts for them and all the interior panels are hard to find especially in good shape. I say go for it. I plan on making a hard top using lexan windows and possible a fiberglass frame. I will prob start out using a top from a coupe. Dont listen to these douch bags its your car do what you please with it.

[silver04rsx]

Wtf kid. There were only like 8000 made, who knows how many are left and you wanna Fuck on up? Trade it for a coupe and let someone have it who appreciates what they have. You want a removable hardtop???? Get a coupe and buy a sawzall don't mess up your car.

There were fewer s14 kouki made then verts, they are not that rare. Just harder to find oem parts for. Trying to find a quarter window is nearly impossible, it took me 6 months to track one down.

[yellowxhoodie]

buy a coupe

lold


i didnt realize the tops on coupes were removable

lold even harder :picardfp:

[kei1]

thx for the feedback guys positive and negative. when all is done i plan on still having the ragtop its just gonna be down while the hardtop is on. right now i have a little something going on. will post some pictures very soon.

[crayzwhiteboy]

Subscribed. Let's see what you do. My moneys against you. So prove me wrong


Starting money pool now lol

[JohnnyDrfiter22]

wow @ all the negativity! Try measuring a S2k or miata hard top maybe with a lil cutting and adjusting one might be able to fit on a vert. I have actually seen a home made one using fiberglass on a miata once

[!Zar!]

You know a removable hardtop that is held down by four dinky clips isn't going to save anyone in a rollover situation, right? That is no safer than the soft top during an accident.

As to answer if someone made a hardtop, probably. But keep in mind that Nissan had an aftermarket company design/install the convertible portion on the coupes.

[SomeoneWhoIsntMe]

make a mold of the coupe roof, replicate it in fiberglass with a lexan rear window, use the factory convertible mounting points for it, then kill yourself

[sr23det]

i forgot who drove the car but there was a sear's f20 vert that had a one off hard top. i also want one but i dont have enough precision to make the roof to windsheild or trunk/qp cut with minimal filler. DO IT! if it fits decent i'll buy one (HINT SEIBON/CC/AIT :p)

[NoPistons!]

Buy a miata. Nobody is going to do this type of shit for you.


Fiberglass Forums - Powered by vBulletin (http://www.fiberglassforums.com) Or net or org. I forget. Make a mold and spend a shitload of time and money and do it yourself.



Couple tops ARE removable. Plasma cutter. Sawzall. Grinder. Pick your poison.


I toyed with some similar ideas but in the end if it was a good idea it probably already would have been done by now. It makes sense on a car like an s2k or miata. 240? Meh.... not really. Go forth and be the first. I really hate being Mr. Negativity on this one but it is what it is. Sorry dude.

[S13queen]

hey guys and girls, i have a 93 vert and i'm just wondering if anyone here has attempted to go with a removable hardtop. comments and pictures are welcome.


I have a '94 Vert and I've searched about this too.. I've heard about one guy making a hardtop out of fiberglass and having it clamped down (like the miatas. It was on NICO forums (www.240sxconvertible.com (http://www.240sxconvertible.com)) The only real problem is IF you want to make one that electronically goes down.. you have to keep in mind that the top folds down the middle which is why Nissan never put a glass window in.. it folds because the hydraulic pump for the push button top is in that area. If you want a new top just go with the Vinyl, the downfall is it doesnt last as long as the stock canvas.. but it doesnt mold down by the body where the top is installed. if there is anything else you would like to know PM me.. just give me acouple of days cause I'm deployed in Iraq right now. Also the only hardtop convertible to date for Nissan is the S15 Silvia Varietta.. that I know of.. Blame Autotech

[S13queen]

There were fewer s14 kouki made then verts, they are not that rare. Just harder to find oem parts for. Trying to find a quarter window is nearly impossible, it took me 6 months to track one down.


Dont forget the JDM Verts.. ;)

[kei1]

my main issue is that i dont just need the fabric and window. i need the entire assembly. the arm on the passenger side snapped, and even welding it properly didnt hold because all the other parts are bent and broken. i made some real progress last night, now its all about the finishing touches. pics in a bit.

[silver04rsx]

I have a '94 Vert and I've searched about this too.. I've heard about one guy making a hardtop out of fiberglass and having it clamped down (like the miatas. It was on NICO forums (www.240sxconvertible.com (http://www.240sxconvertible.com)) The only real problem is IF you want to make one that electronically goes down.. you have to keep in mind that the top folds down the middle which is why Nissan never put a glass window in.. it folds because the hydraulic pump for the push button top is in that area. If you want a new top just go with the Vinyl, the downfall is it doesnt last as long as the stock canvas.. but it doesnt mold down by the body where the top is installed. if there is anything else you would like to know PM me.. just give me acouple of days cause I'm deployed in Iraq right now. Also the only hardtop convertible to date for Nissan is the S15 Silvia Varietta.. that I know of.. Blame Autotech

Haha, no shit, where in Iraq are you? Im at camp Taji right now...

[S13queen]

Haha, no shit, where in Iraq are you? Im at camp Taji right now...


Balad.. closing this biotch down!!

[S13queen]

my main issue is that i dont just need the fabric and window. i need the entire assembly. the arm on the passenger side snapped, and even welding it properly didnt hold because all the other parts are bent and broken. i made some real progress last night, now its all about the finishing touches. pics in a bit.


dude that sucks.. download a fsm get a part # and see if you can order it.. if not youll have to fabricate

[420sx]

if you are really good with fiberglass, i mean a pro it is possible to make a top, probably about a 120hour job. if you cant, i doubt you can afford to have one made, it would be close to 6000

[jchrisw85]

I was actually there first hand when Kei1 started the hardtop project.

if you guys only saw the state of his soft top. we spent almost a year and a half looking for a replacement top and found nothing. lol you guys will never guess which car this hardtop came from

btw let me buy your takata harness. lmao at least just one. ;);)

YUMMY YUMMY!!!!!!!!!

[89cpe]

Lol thats amusing because i found every piece i ever needed for my vert. Bought a new canvas top from ebay. Had every bent or broken arm remade at a custom shop for like 100$ and it was as good as new literally. If you can make a hard top you can make a couple new arms. So thats a poor excuse but i think its cool that you are doing this just your reasoning is poor. Go to whatever place in california made verts and see if they have some left over parts lol. One good thing about a hard top if you actually make it so that it locks in solid is that along with all the extra brackets added for the vert to be a stiff chasis is youll have a very solid car.

[silver04rsx]

Balad.. closing this biotch down!!

We just closed down our section of Al Asad Air base about 3 weeks ago.

Sucks cause there was so much metal, tools, all kind of good shit just thrown away. My buddy got about 30 craftsman wrenches.

[shinhed]

http://a517.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/38/l_5bc4e8f263ddcb6dbf1a6d9e8da297dc.jpg

A guy on Nico was making a proto of one. Should check there instead of even bothering to ask a intelligent question here.

That's right, for the most part, fuck Zilvia.

[silver04rsx]

Lol thats amusing because i found every piece i ever needed for my vert. Bought a new canvas top from ebay. Had every bent or broken arm remade at a custom shop for like 100$ and it was as good as new literally. If you can make a hard top you can make a couple new arms. So thats a poor excuse but i think its cool that you are doing this just your reasoning is poor. Go to whatever place in california made verts and see if they have some left over parts lol. One good thing about a hard top if you actually make it so that it locks in solid is that along with all the extra brackets added for the vert to be a stiff chasis is youll have a very solid car.

Company went out of business 10+ years ago...

[Encore]

give it a try. if you fail, so what you knew it wouldn't be easy. if you succeed and nobody likes it, so what its your car. sad you cant ask a question and not get slammed for wanting to do something out of the ordinary with YOUR CAR.

[kei1]

almost there

[94_240sx]

We need someone like Craft Work's Ryo in the U.S. I don't think many M100(as Lotus Elan and Kia Vigato) was sold in Japan, but someone still made a hardtop and craftmanship is just amazing.

Photo Gallery (http://g-trust.com/CW-RYO/JPAN/poto.htm)

[silver04rsx]

post pictures dude, dont leave us in the dark.

[kei1]

virgin...

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/149644_469124090797_551960797_5509932_7276010_n.jp g

after one night working on the hard top...

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/300651_10150343966845798_551960797_8025972_2999318 1_n.jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/314989_10150343967450798_551960797_8025975_1808654 623_n.jpg

[!Zar!]

Reminds me of a Mercedes SL500 top.

[kei1]

bingo! thats exactly what i used. only cost me $200. Not only do i get all my windows, but i get a defroster for the rear window.

[misterdumby]

interestingggg...

[Enna]

I was, and still am, skeptical about this. However if this works, it would be different that's for sure.

[kei1]

i just have to redo the weather strips on the windows. i shaved the top front lip, the rear latches were on the hardtop already, and the front are being fabricated. so far so good.

[Felipe]

how did you do the side pillars?

[kei1]

the windows came up short so i cut some plastic and weather sealed it for now. later on i'll do some fiberglass just to get it to mold properly

[Felipe]

high hopes.... dont let me down dude lol

[charat]

you still need a roll bar even if you got a removable hard top... same rule for s2000's and miata's, same rule for any other convertible.

[89cpe]

Company went out of business 10+ years ago...


Well i didnt actually think they would have left over vert parts hence the lol. But being out of business seals the deal on that one.

[borispuplis]

so wtf is this did u have the hardtop already? did u cut it off a coupe? back window looks diff. i thought i read the whole thread but i cant find where it says wtf that is from. looks good keep it up man! how are u going to fasten it? zip ties? post some more pics of the fitment on the trunk and windshield and the inside if u can.

[S13queen]

We just closed down our section of Al Asad Air base about 3 weeks ago.

Sucks cause there was so much metal, tools, all kind of good shit just thrown away. My buddy got about 30 craftsman wrenches.

These guys here threw out about 20K in Snapon Tools.. scrap metal all kinds of shit.. i was saying DAMN I wish i could ship this shit home!

[S13queen]

virgin...

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/149644_469124090797_551960797_5509932_7276010_n.jp g

after one night working on the hard top...

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/300651_10150343966845798_551960797_8025972_2999318 1_n.jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/314989_10150343967450798_551960797_8025975_1808654 623_n.jpg

I LIKE IT! The big question is... does it leak? Also.. what happens if youre driving and then all of a sudden BAM.. RAIN!..

[n8RPS13]

make a mold of the coupe roof, replicate it in fiberglass with a lexan rear window, use the factory convertible mounting points for it, then kill yourself

WOW! You are a jerk! Telling a guy to kill himself over a hardtop mod is ridiculous, unless you are trying to imply that if the car flips over he is going to get his grape smashed because it will only be fiberglass. If so I apologize.

[Enna]

Gotta keep people from knowing how he did it somehow.

[Drift_86]

I think it needs work it could look better then that!

[420sx]

WOW! You are a jerk! Telling a guy to kill himself over a hardtop mod is ridiculous, unless you are trying to imply that if the car flips over he is going to get his grape smashed because it will only be fiberglass. If so I apologize.

if you flip the car the stock rag roof isnt going to do anything. you should run a rollbar anyway so please what the fuck are you talking about?


as long as this top doesnt leak and the dude is happy with it, high five and rock on. would be cool to see it on a well done car

[kei1]

ok to clarify, the top is off of a 95-2000 ish mercedes SL300-500. its an aluminum top with glass windows trimming and headliner. it weighs about the same as the convertible top with arms. the picture above are just the first step of many. it actually does seal and doesnt leak, and it stays on at speeds of 100mph and more. now its all about making it look pretty.

[bc.]

:bowdown::bowdown::bowdown::bowdown::bowdown::bowd own:

[biggie]

Many have started this project, have yet to see one completed.

[n8RPS13]

[QUOTE=420sx;4295625]if you flip the car the stock rag roof isnt going to do anything. you should run a rollbar anyway so please what the fuck are you talking about?

Guess I didnt word that correctly but thats exactly what I was talking about...that no matter what he is going to be f'ed unless he has a cage....I was just trying to stick up for the OP trying to do something cool for the vert. Seeing as to my knowledge there is not one company that makes a hard top for it.

[!Zar!]

Why are you all talking/arguing about shit I elaborated on in post #14?

[420sx]

because you have bieber in avatar

[!Zar!]

because you have bieber in avatar

http://justinbieberphoto.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/justin-bieber-heart-love.jpg

[docslide]

:cj: shits weak and looks like shit brother man.
Its sad to see a virgin car be deflowered in the wrong way.

[!Zar!]

Whatever, at least he did tried and did it. I think it is okay.

If you want to see shitty cars that look like a rolling enema, check out the dorisha thread.

[Tantwoforty]

God damn the zilvia hater force is strong here, dont lisin to them dude. (maybe zar.. this time) at least you got out there and actually made a benz top fit a 240 and look decent. thats better work than 60% of people here would be capable of.
I think it looks fine, and you get defrosters! just need a little quick connect harness action..
im in for updates, id like to see how you clean it up and what its going to look like and what features its going to have when you call it done..

people cant respect projects and thinking outside the box here for dick, you are probably the first one to ever try this, good job lol.

[kei1]

thx guys. after the winter its gonna be painted. but in the mean time the fiberglass work will be done, wiring for defroster, and just overall making the shit look better. i still have some work to do with the coupe doors and sometime next month it'll be silvia front. then she goes to sleep.

[greenwood]

this is awesome. I have a vert and have been long wanting to do this. Buying this kind of top seems like the easiest route. Do you have more detailed pics of what you had to modify to get a good fit?

[jchrisw85]

so wtf is this did u have the hardtop already? did u cut it off a coupe? back window looks diff. i thought i read the whole thread but i cant find where it says wtf that is from. looks good keep it up man! how are u going to fasten it? zip ties? post some more pics of the fitment on the trunk and windshield and the inside if u can.

Reminds me of a Mercedes SL500 top.

bingo! thats exactly what i used. only cost me $200. Not only do i get all my windows, but i get a defroster for the rear window.


There's your answer.

[jchrisw85]

whatever, at least he did tried and did it. I think it is okay.

If you want to see shitty cars that look like a rolling enema, check out the dorisha thread.

ahahahahahahaa!!

[andrew600]

plenty of win in this thread.
i think verts a gay.
good work though

[Freise]

Looks good, I'm glad you ignored all the assholes hating on the idea. Keep us updated when you get everything finished

[kei1]

sounds like a plan. i figured there would be haters anyway

[Trap Star]

Looks a little strange but its a lot better than a leaky ass vert top. I bet its a hell of a lot quieter too.

[crayzwhiteboy]

bump. didnt go anywhere.

haters were right.

op, didnt prove me wrong

[sincity_sil80]

^^^stupid...

[mulinmoua]

bump. didnt go anywhere.

haters were right.

op, didnt prove me wrong
U deserve a cookie, great job. :gives:

[nurvcom]

virgin...

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/149644_469124090797_551960797_5509932_7276010_n.jp g

after one night working on the hard top...

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/300651_10150343966845798_551960797_8025972_2999318 1_n.jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/314989_10150343967450798_551960797_8025975_1808654 623_n.jpg



OMG I want to do this on my vert now :)

[kei1]

bump. didnt go anywhere.

haters were right.

op, didnt prove me wrong

see, this is whats wrong with zilvia...i dont have to prove anything to anyone, i am just trying to share this project with others, if you dont like it, oh well...

for the record, i never did finish it, i traded for a kouki S14

[Miss240sex]

I really wanna do this to my vert! Thanks for sharing!!

[kei1]

no prob, it looks great when you paint match, and overall functionality is amazing. the only issue is the latch system. or lack there-of

[slow40sx]

cool idea and all, but if u want a hard top coupe, just get a coupe, if u must have it be a convertible then you must be a woman, get a convertible vw bug or something

[Tantwoforty]

Hard top during the week, no top on weekends.. sounds perfect.

[roboticnissan]

There were fewer s14 kouki made then verts, they are not that rare. Just harder to find oem parts for. Trying to find a quarter window is nearly impossible, it took me 6 months to track one down.


I threw mine away when i tracked my vert haha

[zerodameaon]

Kei1 what did you use for the quarter windows? Was that just the SL500 windows attached to the top?

[illvialuver]

HeMy brother had a vert about two years ago and when he did have it, I had to listen to him talk about doing exactly what you just did, every day, and you actually attempted it, I am sure it will be doable, if you actually have bodywork experience. H e should have been all in here. If you wanna message him, message him at ihaslongtorso

[Flicktitty]

very cool!Nice to see someone doing what they talked about.

[cured13]

I think it's great idea and if you can make good mold the price of the verts will definitely go up. I'll get one for sure.
Only that ugly and leaking rag top stops me from buying it now.

[VHS13]

http://driftstl.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1678&d=1336948846

Not a whole lot left to do.. hardest part left is finding the right person to do the lexan windows.

[DAG]

so what up wit the vert hard top any new pics, i love the idea, im getting a vert and was looking around for this

[dirtrider375]

http://forums.nicoclub.com/240sx-hardtop-convertible-t566821.html

[omgRWDgoodness!]

This thread is two years old.

http://www.clker.com/cliparts/5/b/5/6/1264247144596627768clapping_hands.jpg.svg.hi.png

[dgjdj]

i didnt realize the tops on coupes were removable http://financede.com/apple/images/40.gif

[Z_Spool]

http://www.zilvia.net/f/images/buttons/reputation.gif Never Forget...