convertibles
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 27
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Vehicle: Hyundai Accent
convertibles
Has anyone ever cut the roof off an accent to make it into a convertible? I picked up a 2nd car and i would like to turn it into a show car. if anyone has any tips or pics of this already done please post. bowdown.gif
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 23,226
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From: Upstate NY
Vehicle: 2010 Genesis 2.0T
There isnt much involved with chopping the top off. Just break out a saw zall, line up your cuts with tape so everything is even, and have fun. You'll want a friend though to help out and hold the roof as your cutting, because it will start to bend and warp as you get towards the middle and end. So after you begin the cut, have someone hold the roof even so it doesnt flop all over.
Since you're looking to build a show car, I'm assuming it wont be driven that much? I ask because once the roof comes off...you can throw handling right out the window. Do you have a hatch or trunk? If its a hatch, you'll have to fab up some kind of trunk lid so it looks decent. This is where some good metal work and welding will come into play. You'll still have to do some if you have a trunk already, but not as much.
If you're going to be driving the car much more than anticipated....than you'll want to look into re-inforcing key parts of the car, like the A-frames and door frames. You'll want to build in some b or c pillars within the body that go all the way down to the frame. Boxing the frame with mild steel will help, as will upgrading suspension with strut bars, sway bars, and good aftermarket springs and struts.
Theres a bit more involved, but this will at least get you started with some preliminary info. Good luck!
Since you're looking to build a show car, I'm assuming it wont be driven that much? I ask because once the roof comes off...you can throw handling right out the window. Do you have a hatch or trunk? If its a hatch, you'll have to fab up some kind of trunk lid so it looks decent. This is where some good metal work and welding will come into play. You'll still have to do some if you have a trunk already, but not as much.
If you're going to be driving the car much more than anticipated....than you'll want to look into re-inforcing key parts of the car, like the A-frames and door frames. You'll want to build in some b or c pillars within the body that go all the way down to the frame. Boxing the frame with mild steel will help, as will upgrading suspension with strut bars, sway bars, and good aftermarket springs and struts.
Theres a bit more involved, but this will at least get you started with some preliminary info. Good luck!
