Spyder Hard top conversion

[redeclipse7782]

What about fiberglassing over your soft top, then if you wanted you could bring it somewhere and use it as a mold for them to make a stronger top.

 

[WHite97RS]

You'd be better off selling your car and buying a hardtop.

theres always one OR you could just sell your car and buy a lexus with a folding hardtop, or you could just buy a Miata that you can get a hardtop for. If he wanted a new car he would get one. Im sure he knows the cost and the time and the difficulty of doing this.

 

[98DropTop]

( i live in central illinois, and let me tell ya its freakin cold here -12 tonight)...

BlkSpyder

, move up here for a winter...... try in the -30's to -40's with the windchill.... thats why my car has been put away for a little over a month. ......... nontheless a good idea which i wouldnt mind a CF one to put on for a bit, but then thats why i bought the spyder to drop it on a nice day, plus i like the way it looks with the soft top up too.

 

[Galaxy]

If this is inappropriate I apologize for putting it here but I feel its a good question.

With this site being as big as it is I thought I'd try to get some opinions on this idea.
How many of you would consider purchasing a carbon fiber hardtop for your car to reduce weight,stop leaks,remove the "ribbed for nobodys pleasure" look and possibly get rid of the enormous blind spot that our cars have with the top up?

I've contacted fiberglass shops with the idea and they won't touch it but I'm sure if several people emailed a CF shop we could get them interested in producing a few.I'd honestly like to make just one for myself and be the only one to have it but unless I learn how to work with cabon fiber and get some space to do it,thats not gonna happen.If one could be made for about the same cost as a canvas replacement (about $400) why would anyone NOT buy one?

Just wondered what you Spyder guys thought.

 

[xpr626]

This has been discussed many times before.

BUT

If they were actualy produced I wouldnt buy one, they whole point of having an automatic convertible top is that it can be put down in bad weather and up in good. If it had a removable top id have to dick with it all the time to put it on and off plus store it, thats why i got rid of my jeep and vette. Hassle!

 

[shpyder]

If they were actualy produced I wouldnt buy one, they whole point of having an automatic convertible top is that it can be put down in bad weather and up in good. If it had a removable top id have to dick with it all the time to put it on and off plus store it, thats why i got rid of my jeep and vette. Hassle!

The hard top is put on during seasons when youre not going to be cruising with the top down, for a decent amount of time. The soft top is lowered, and the shell is installed. Once a dry season appears, you store the shell and drop the soft top whenever you want. The hard top shell is usually not used in conjuncture with everyday drop-topping, but rather, when you know youre not going to be going topless for a while.

 

[xpr626]

I understand the concept, just stating my opinion that it would be inconvenient.

 

[Galaxy]

So this is as far as it got? I also apologize for not finding this thread before I created one,I honestly thought it may be a new topic,haha.

So,is anyone on here with a spyder still at all interested in this? Someone mentioned a nice CF hood costing around 500,the top is not much bigger and could probably be made for several hundred over the cost of the hood including back glass.

Someone mentioned not being able to take it off yourself,if it was CF it wouldn't be that heavy and I could easily remove it myself.

I would completly remove my soft top and all framing,motors and whatever else..using only the hard top for all seasons.I look at it like this,removing the top when you want to cruise is nowhere near the same pain in the ass it is to have to vacuum water out of my car every time it rains...I can't pick when it rains and in Florida thats quite often.

If anyone is serious about getting this done it wouldn't take many of us to hassle a shop enough to make one.From what little I know about CF so far,all it would take is a mold and a vacuum bag on top of the fiber itself and resins.

PM me if you'd be interested in talking with some shops about this,if not I'll go forth on my own.

 

[iiiwildfireiii]

I've seen similar jobs done....like these. Shouldn't be too hard to just add some plexiglass and extend the top all the way to the windshield... I've been looking into this for a while. Anyone else found anything?

 

[myeagleneedmods]

I would have to agree that a hardtop would be useful to have in states that can get real cold in the winter. If I had a convertible DSM, I would try to get a hardtop for the winter months.

 

[myeagleneedmods]

I've seen similar jobs done....like these. Shouldn't be too hard to just add some plexiglass and extend the top all the way to the windshield... I've been looking into this for a while. Anyone else found anything?

That is one sweet setup in that car!

 

[iiiwildfireiii]

My thoughts exactly. I thought it was very well done. To complete the job, some kind of hooks or latches to attach to the existing latches on the windshield would be needed. As well as some way to attach it to the back of the car. Nice sweeping designs to cover the rear seats (think Ferrari or similar exotics) and perhaps some way to integrate a roll or light bar. Attaching some images for visuals...

 

[98DropTop]

The Diablos and 360's looks so good like that because they are 2 seaters to begin with, with NO backseat like ours, i dont think that picture of that spyder that iiiwildfireiii posted looks that good at all. Mostly because it has the boot cover still showing actually looks a little ridiculous in my opinion. Thats the point of having a spyder is being able to drop it and put it back up whenever you are inclined to. Although i did say earlier that a CF would be a nice idea, it would also be a nice hassle to deal with and i would rather spend money elsewhere. Just put your car away for the winter like i do, and get a winter beater. Convertibles are for warm weather anyways...

 

[shpyder]

The Diablos and 360's looks so good like that because they are 2 seaters to begin with, with NO backseat like ours, i dont think that picture of that spyder that iiiwildfireiii posted looks that good at all. Mostly because it has the boot cover still showing actually looks a little ridiculous in my opinion.

I agree, that Kaztek cover will look bulky and out of place in my opinion also. The appearance of the trunk and rear lid will appear overly extended on eclipses, giving a disproportionate tone to the lines of the car.

As for actually fabricating a fiberglass removable top, I think it will be a great challenge. Not only will you need to waterproof the entire thing, bit you will also need to make sure its structural integrity isnt compromised at freeway windspeeds (I'm sure most of you have seen cars with FG body kits that "flap" in the wing as the cruise on the freeway). I'm not saying it can't be done, but it's going to be one hell of a job. I'm all for it though, I would pay up to $1000 for fully functioning top.

 

[Galaxy]

Just go ahead and buy a hardtop car,get it registered and insured pay on that ,put the other car away in a garage you probably don't have..... WTF?

If I wanted another car I'd get one.

I could care less what everyone does with the inside part of the car,I just want a top.

Waterproofing? Pretty easy to waterproof something solid,just worry about the window seals.Most of the parts can be taken from the existing top like the front latch bar,window,and weatherstrip...really not much else to worry about.

As for wind and structural integrity,it would not get hit by much wind and I really cant see CF flexing...I've ditched the idea of anything fiberglass.

Only real challenge I see is the back latching and sealing mechanism.

 

[Raph]

ist doable, lets see someone make it

 

[Raph]

I've seen similar jobs done....like these. Shouldn't be too hard to just add some plexiglass and extend the top all the way to the windshield... I've been looking into this for a while. Anyone else found anything?

wow, now thats what im talking about.. a speedster top

 

[iiiwildfireiii]

I agree, that Kaztek cover will look bulky and out of place in my opinion also. The appearance of the trunk and rear lid will appear overly extended on eclipses, giving a disproportionate tone to the lines of the car.

Also agreed. However, I just posted the pics to show that something similar was being done. I also hated the fact that they used the cover instead of going all once piece. I was thinking that instead of just making a cover that extends to the top recess, maybe make something a bit taller and take it further back. Perhaps that would help the overall flow of the vehicle. Not disrupt the lines and all that. Not really sure on exactly what would look good as I haven't drawn anything out yet, but it was just a suggestion.

 

[iiiwildfireiii]

Oh, and Shpyder....dude I love that car of yours. I don't think it needs anything else on it personally. Damn wicked.

 

[98DropTop]

you will also need to make sure its structural integrity isnt compromised at freeway windspeeds (I'm sure most of you have seen cars with FG body kits that "flap" in the wing as the cruise on the freeway)

I know someone that put a spoiler/wing on an accord and it starts to flap at 80 km, not mph... just thought id share that....hehe. i thought it was funny anyways.

 

[Ericat10]

If this is inappropriate I apologize for putting it here but I feel its a good question.

With this site being as big as it is I thought I'd try to get some opinions on this idea.
How many of you would consider purchasing a carbon fiber hardtop for your car to reduce weight,stop leaks,remove the "ribbed for nobodys pleasure" look and possibly get rid of the enormous blind spot that our cars have with the top up?

I've contacted fiberglass shops with the idea and they won't touch it but I'm sure if several people emailed a CF shop we could get them interested in producing a few.I'd honestly like to make just one for myself and be the only one to have it but unless I learn how to work with cabon fiber and get some space to do it,thats not gonna happen.If one could be made for about the same cost as a canvas replacement (about $400) why would anyone NOT buy one?

Just wondered what you Spyder guys thought.

Definitely interested!

 

[Ericat10]

If this is inappropriate I apologize for putting it here but I feel its a good question.

With this site being as big as it is I thought I'd try to get some opinions on this idea.
How many of you would consider purchasing a carbon fiber hardtop for your car to reduce weight,stop leaks,remove the "ribbed for nobodys pleasure" look and possibly get rid of the enormous blind spot that our cars have with the top up?

I've contacted fiberglass shops with the idea and they won't touch it but I'm sure if several people emailed a CF shop we could get them interested in producing a few.I'd honestly like to make just one for myself and be the only one to have it but unless I learn how to work with cabon fiber and get some space to do it,thats not gonna happen.If one could be made for about the same cost as a canvas replacement (about $400) why would anyone NOT buy one?

Just wondered what you Spyder guys thought.

Yes!!!