Is It Possible?

[Barford]

Ok so here it is guys and gals,

I have a near factory condition 1994 R33 series 1 2dr GTS Skyline. Now it is different from all my past cars, but i am thinking not quite different enough . . . . . I wanna chop the top and get some air in my hair before it all falls out in my midlife crisis.

i am trying to figure out some way to cut it back and find someone to make either a carbon fiber or fiberglass detachable roof. Now i know that alot of the structural integrity of the car is held in the roof so there will need to be some major engineering to be done to the rest of the chassis.

So what i need to know if anyone can tell me is, what is needed to be done in the way of engineering? and is there anywhere good in southern QLD to go for this preferably in the toowoomba area?

Any advice is great guys

Thanks in advance

[xALmoN]

don't do it.

[Barford]

why do you say that? from the very few pics i have seen it done in i thought it doesnt look too bad

[mikeyR33-T]

Ok so here it is guys and gals,

I have a near factory condition 1994 R33 series 1 2dr GTS Skyline. Now it is different from all my past cars, but i am thinking not quite different enough . . . . . I wanna chop the top and get some air in my hair before it all falls out in my midlife crisis.

i am trying to figure out some way to cut it back and find someone to make either a carbon fiber or fiberglass detachable roof. Now i know that alot of the structural integrity of the car is held in the roof so there will need to be some major engineering to be done to the rest of the chassis.

So what i need to know if anyone can tell me is, what is needed to be done in the way of engineering? and is there anywhere good in southern QLD to go for this preferably in the toowoomba area?

Any advice is great guys

Thanks in advance

SUNROOF maybe???

[xALmoN]

why do you say that? from the very few pics i have seen it done in i thought it doesnt look too bad

because the roof forms an integral part of how the car handles.

[PM-R33]

You'll never be able to get it engineered and road legal and I think you are underestimating how much something like that would cost to do properly.

[Barford]

You'll never be able to get it engineered and road legal and I think you are underestimating how much something like that would cost to do properly.

I am aware that the cost will be more than substantial, heck i have 20k put aside for this project so far. I am not worried about the hanndling as i only use it as a cruiser not a high performance beast anway

I didnt ask to be told that it cant be done, because in my eyes nothing is impossible, i asked because this is one of the few site i have found where some people know what they are talking about and might have some useful advice.

[ahh 33 s2]

Put a full weld in cage in it and the chop the roof, cage will add the structural strength that u will loose thru the roof,

[pistol-pete]

why not just buy an s15 varietta?

[PM-R33]

I am aware that the cost will be more than substantial, heck i have 20k put aside for this project so far. I am not worried about the hanndling as i only use it as a cruiser not a high performance beast anway

I didnt ask to be told that it cant be done, because in my eyes nothing is impossible, i asked because this is one of the few site i have found where some people know what they are talking about and might have some useful advice.

Didn't say it couldn't physically be done. I said to get it approved/engineered in QLD to make it road legal would be next to impossible.

The handling is the least of your worries. The roof/windscreen make up the main structural rigidity of the vehicle. There is a reason why convertibles weigh 30-60kg more than the equivelent coupe/sedan as they have to make up for the structural loss. Hell drive a factory aero-top Supra with the roof off and feel the whole car twist and vibrate; and that's a car that was engineered properly by the manufacturer.

You wanted advice, we are giving it to you. If you want people to blow some smoke up your ass by saying "Yeah man do it, piece of piss, just chop the roof" then go on Boostcruising.

As said above. You want a nice Nissan convertible cruiser buy a Varietta and drop a turbo motor into it. Will also look a hell of a lot better.

[GTR-N1]

Engineer a Targa Top as a Plan A

Or a T- Top as Plan B

For structural rigidity, I'd use a T-Top as a Plan A

With your $20K budget I'd sell the R33 & get a R34 to do that > overall result looks better.

[Daleo]

For starters; Double your budget. At least.

How much are you planning to do yourself?

A custom made Carbon fibre roof and attendant mounting structure? I'd say that would be all of your original budget right there.

You are right; nothing is impossible. The question is; can you afford it?

I would suggest you go and talk to a race engineer or a rod shop that does a lot of custom steel fabrication. If you are serious (and they'll be able to tell ) they'll be able to outline the issues that will cause problems, and also the costs.

Go from there.

And when you start; do a build thread for everyone to follow.

[adamskill]

name of topic "IS IT POSSIBLE"..

short answer... YES

should you do it?

NO.

[PewPew]

1. Sell your car.

2. Buy gtst with sunroof.

3. Profit?!

[Saunders63]

+1 for the Varietta. Don't ruin a perfectly good Skyline with this nonsense.....