Constructive criticism please - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

shuluke · 02-08-2009, 10:12 PM

Hello everyone,

I have had my 98 Camry for a while. I love the car, and it drives well. I have been playing around with the idea of cutting off the top. Now I KNOW this could be very bad for the car. So this is why I am posting, to hear of some ideas of how to reinforce the frame and the rest of the body. If someone on here is lets say a machinist, and can say, the car will not be structurally sound, IE, it will ruin the car, then thats what I want to hear. But I would prefer to hear it from someone who has sat down and thought about it before just coming up to the conclusion.

I had a few ideas but they might not be enough to strengthen the frame. But I will say them anyway. So when I was first thinking about doing this, I thought I might as well weld the doors shut and run a bar like where the window would come out to the end of the car. I am not sure about the bottom of the car, but I know convertibles have reinforcements on the bottom of the car to make up for the loss on the top. I would have to check out some convertible cars and see how they accommodate for the loss of the roof.

I am also thinking about riveting some buttons around the back, so I could throw a tarp over and snap them down kind of like a soft top when the weather gets bad(Here in New Mexico that isnt very often).

I have also talked to friends who are willing to help, with welding/painting/riveting/ and cutting the top, and they all suggested I find a beater car first, and see how it works out. I am down for that as well, so I search on Craigslist every once in a while.

Anything else I might need to worry about? I just like the idea of a 4 door car convertible, like an old Lincoln, but I dont think I can afford a old v8. I like the reliability of my camry.

Thanks everyone,

Shuluke

ONE_to_HATE · 02-08-2009, 11:00 PM

there's a maxima on cardomain that they turned into a convertible- try asking him/her for a tip or two!

***ASG14*** · 02-09-2009, 01:45 AM

^ Is that the one in South Florida????? I saw one there last year.

Anything is possib;e if you have the money. Thats where this should be left. If your looking to do this for $1-$2k. No, it;s not at all possible (unless you do everything yourself). If your looking to spend $5k+, yes, it can be done safely.

bigbird · 02-09-2009, 04:23 AM

they only way your gonna be able to do it is to make a retractable or snap off roof. the amount of work requiered to make it a true convertable would be huge. reworking the doors, chassis, trunk and of course the roof.

ONE_to_HATE · 02-09-2009, 12:00 PM

s.florida is where the maxima was at.. yea! it looked odd to me but to each is his own! - LOL yea.. i spent 2100 for my sunroof- (FAIL)

***ASG14*** · 02-09-2009, 12:08 PM

^ It actually looked nice in person, BUT there was 1 big issue. It was a Permanant Conv. There was no top for it if I remember correctly......

5SlowFE · 02-09-2009, 12:49 PM

Why not make a lift-off hardtop like a Miata? Just cut the roof off VERY carefully, and get/make dowel pins and latches to locate it on the body tub. Weld the door tops and B-pillars to the roof, and cut it off in one piece ( just like a '74 Ramcharger came stock). Then you could have a nice smooth line from the windshield posts all the way back.

As has been said, to do it right you'll need to re-engineer the entire structure. If you have to pay someone to do this project, don't even think about it. You'll pay less for the Lincoln, and have a real classic...

balingwire · 02-09-2009, 01:20 PM

I'll tell you straight up like I was your brother. Don't do it. Step back, think about what you're saying, and don't do it. If you do, you and everyone else that sees it will question why you ever did it in the first place. It's never going to be a '63 4-dr convertible Lincoln, no matter what you do. But, you can make it cool on another level. Look at what the guys on the forum have done with theirs. Improve the handling, braking, then add some 17-in+ wheels, and drive them off of it. Maybe some exhaust, engine mods. You'll enjoy it, it won't look hacked up, and if you ever decide to sell it, you'll be able to. Straight up.

shuluke · 02-09-2009, 05:13 PM

Thanks for all the replies. I wasnt looking at spending more than $1 or $2k so I better save this project for a beater car I can find for dirt cheap. I wouldnt mind if it was permanent, because its usually not bad over here.. And I have access to a garage for the times it cant be out. And I dont care what people care or think, I would enjoy a drop top Camry any day.

Would a roll cage welded to the frame of a car be sufficient structure to compensate for a loss of a roof? I am just curious.

Shuluke

Fruitbat · 02-09-2009, 05:42 PM

The absolute best you could hope to end up is like this:
http://jalopnik.com/386172/convertib...d-style-misses

Without the ability to "roll down" the B-Pillar, it'll always look....well, really stupid. And unless you're an automotive engineer, you're probably not going to be redesigning the doors to eliminate the B-Pillars.