Removable Top for a Coupe

[mjazzka]

First, I understand that most of you will probably want to stone me for this sacrilege. HOWEVER, I didn't see anything in the 65 Coupe forum about someone having a removable top in one of these, and to me it seems like it would be a pretty cool addition. If someone has already done it, please point me that way!

The targa top obviously comes to mind, but I was also thinking about a T-Top due to structural concerns.

So, what do y'all think...

Stylistically? (I think I know the answer here...)

Structurally?
I'm worried about removing the bars that go from the roll bar to the windshield bar, and don't know how much it will affect the rigidity and strength of the frame. I suppose I could put that M.E. degree to work there. This is why I'm leaning to a T-Top.

Functionally?
Not sure how practical it would be. I like the idea of an open car on one of the many, MANY hot sunny days we have in Texas. I would ideally be able to store them in the hatch.

I'll hopefully be ordering my kit as soon as the Winter Sale starts, but we'll see. Gotta see if they will even have one this year, first...

Thanks!

Mike

[Plebeian]

I would think a T-top could work well. It would just depend on your fabrication skills and how much time you were willing to devote to it.

[loeffler1]

Stylistically - probably not good unless you did a open roof panel in such a manner that all you saw from outside was the exterior seam. Structually it shouldn't be a problem as it does not affect the frame as it is just a hole in the fiberglass roof which I assume you would brace somehow at the edges. The roll bar should not be a problem as they are located at the outside edges. But it probably would not be T-Top friendly as the roll bars at the side are quite close to the roof. However there is a third issue not mentioned, the coupe roof has minimal headroom and any removeable panel would probably invade some of this space and unless you are short like me might not be workable. As it stands I only have a few inches clearance between my head and the headliner. I have actually whacked my head on a severe bump I didn't see in the road. I would say that this would be quite a huge undertaking. If you really love open car driving maybe a roadster would be a better choice.

[John Dol]

Or find a Spyder which in reality is a convertible Coupe, and build a rear section on to it to make the targa top. Frame is already in place to carry the load so no mods needed there. you can then source a rear glass from a production car to work in to your design.

John

[Jeff Kleiner]

...If someone has already done it, please point me that way!...



Well, Factory Five did it when they created their Spyder GT kit.

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/07/kitcars/image/6.jpg

http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/Factory%20Five%20Racing/factory_five_spyder_gtv8_manu-02.jpg


...I'll hopefully be ordering my kit as soon as the Winter Sale starts...

They started a sale yesterday:

https://www.factoryfive.com/kits/factory-five-factory-five-autumn-kick-off-sale/

Jeff

[Carlos C]

The Spyder GT was the kit I originally wanted to build, until Dave Smith gave it its last rites. If you like the look of the Coupe, but want the open air, I agree with Jeff: try to find yourself a Spyder.

If you still want to do a T-top on the Coupe, keep in mind that the windshield area is not re-enforced. If you cut out the roof, you'd need to strengthen the area around the glass so it doesn't collapse. Also, aesthetically speaking, the halo bars would not look good with the tops off, but on the other hand, they'd be the best place to lock down the tops while in place. You could weld a longitudinal bar, or a couple (going from front to back), right down the center of the halo, and make the outer bars removable.

Either way, it'd be a lot of work. In my opinion, it'd probably be slightly easier to fabricate a removable sunroof. You'd just have to make sure to re-enforce the roof around that area.

Carlos

[Cobraphx]

I promise I won't stone you. I've been working on this very issue myself. Still have some mounting tabs and welding to do and a few parts to CNC machine. The actual panel needs some more sanding and the outer layers of carbon fiber applied. I have the same headroom with the panel in place due to the ribbed design design I came up with. And huge headroom with the panel removed. Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of what I chose to do. I'm definitely off the beaten path here.

This is a picture of the plug I built my mold around.
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This is the carbon fiber panel removed from the mold, it will be painted, my weave wasn't even everywhere.
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This is one of the prototype latch mechanisms.
34551

This shows the metal channel that stiffens the roof and provides a seal. You can see the upper side of the panel, it is filled with ceramic microsphere filled epoxy (lightweight and provides some insulation) The top side will be covered with 5 layers of carbon fiber. The top side will be painted to match the body. Carbon fiber is for strength and light weight, and it is shockingly strong.
34553

This is what the big hole looks like without the panel installed.
34554

-Matt

[Garry Bopp]

Wow, Matt!

Didn't know anyone was doing this. That's one of the benefits of building your own car ... you can make it however you want! Looks like you have good fabrication skills!

Garry

[mjazzka]

Plebeian: Yeah, I think it could work too. Looking at what Matt has already done has given me some ideas, although I might just go with that exact same layout. My technical skills in general are good, but not so much fabrication with fiberglass and welding. I have all the time in the world to learn and get it right though, so that's good.

Bill: Thanks for the input, I definitely need to keep head room at a maximum since I'm 6' 3". Matt looks like he's taken care of this with his design, so I will probably look at his for inspiration. I enjoy open air driving, but I definitely want the creature comforts of a coupe. I can only imagine what hitting your head on the roof was like! I'll keep that in mind around potholes...

Jeff: Yes, Factory Five made the Spyder, but I like the Coupe design much more. I personally don't really like the way the Spyder back end looks, it doesn't really match the front end after looking at the standard coupe for so long. Also, thanks for the sale heads-up! That's exactly what I've been waiting for. I emailed them four days ago and asked about when they think their Winter Sale would be, but they replied that they didn't know if they were doing one yet this year. I guess this answers that. I'll be looking at various combinations of $2,500 add-ons, and hopefully ordering with the next few days.

Carlos: Thanks for the feedback. You can see my reasons for not getting a Spyder above, but really it's just not my cup of tea. I like the idea of removing the halo bars and putting some center aligned bars in, something like the Supra below. And you can see how it widens out to provide additional support to the front and back bars. But then again, I might just do what Matt has been working on, he has done a GREAT job.

(First attempt at posting pictures below, bear with me)
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad343/mjazzka/targa-top.jpg (http://s950.photobucket.com/user/mjazzka/media/targa-top.jpg.html)


Matt: Thank you for your post! Now I am torn between a totally removable roof section to doing just a sunroof type thing that you have. It looks like what you designed is very well put together. That panel is a lot bigger than I thought it could be, and I think it takes away from the overall look very minimally. The question is, do you still have the mold?? :)

[Cobraphx]

Mike,

My design worked out pretty well. I originally thought about doing t-top style panels. As I was planning, I decided the complications of cutting the cage and moving the bars to the center, along with the difficulty of sealing along the window weren't worth the extra work. I also realized that even with the t-top removed I'd still have a window frame preventing it from feeling really open. I took some measurements and realized that making a roof panel as large as the space between the roll bars would still allow the panel to fit in the back under the hatch.

Really happy with the feel, it is surprisingly open with the panel removed.

I do still have the mold, we could work something out if you wanted a copy of my inner panel. I thought about providing everything as a kit. But the metal frame I built to support the roof and provide the lip for the weatherstrip is complicated and would be difficult to mass produce.

-Matt

[mjazzka]

Matt,

Sounds like you saved me some time and went through the whole thought process I would have. I was worried about the window seal too. The rear quarter window also complicates a t-top or targa design, since it comes forward past the drivers head and would shorten the panel by 4-5 inches from the back.

I can do all of the flashing and frame stuff, the mold work I can't do (at least not yet). Perhaps a thread on how you made the panel is in order, that would be a good skill to learn for me at least. I'll PM you about working something out though.

Thanks!

-Mike