The ultimate Mod!

[transio]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but how much do you expect the swap to cost? What engine / tranny are you using? What's the effect on the stock tod / computer / goodies, etc.? Is there a thread on this already?

[VX922]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but how much do you expect the swap to cost? What engine / tranny are you using? What's the effect on the stock tod / computer / goodies, etc.? Is there a thread on this already?

VXvette

[azskyrider]

Originally posted by transio
Sorry to hijack the thread, but how much do you expect the swap to cost?

Steve,

The swap is easier and more cost efficient on the Wrangler than the VX because of the availability of aftermarket parts. For the Jeep fellows saying that swaps will cost around $5,000 all the way to $18,500 for a profesional job it makes you wonder how much for the VX .

AEV fitted a Hemi V8 on a Rubicon jeep as well as other powerplants with some requiring Lifts. Though the JEEP is different than the VX I think this will give you some Cost ideas.

V8 and V6 conversion prices

I think that it would be easier to install a new stronger Transfer case such as the Atlas used by rock crawlers for the swap than remaining with the TOD. The Atlas is shorter. By doing this you will always have extensive parts on both the V8 , transmission and the Transfer case.

We will all have to wait for Coach to finish and he will tell us what is really involved and give us an accurate price sheet.

Two thumbs up for Coach!


I think I would wait. I think since Gas prices will be getting higher there will be many aftermarket companies like AEV offering HYBRID swaps. That might be the new move in the future and possibly a new thread on this site

[Triathlete]

We've seen it with the top down. What does it look like with the top up? Could make all the difference

The VX02 never had a roof. The concept car was a fair weather driver.

[tiggergreen]

In my opinion, the VX-O2 was beautiful and I would love to have one someday. They even had a video of it being driven on the road.

But this would be a second VX for me - I would keep the original. I also am going to do a Limo conversion on a third. These are all just pipe dreams right now, but maybe someday...

I do not go offroad that much and for a convertible, I wouldn't care if it could go offroad - too much dust to handle and all that.

Plus, I do not want a convertible such as the MR-2 Spyder, S-2000 or BMW whatever - a lot of people have those cars and I like being unique...

Brent

[BritVX]

I can't see why everyone is so frightened of chopping the top.
I thought the Wormgod image looked great and plan to do much the same thing next year but include an internal Roll Cage tying into chassis points and the top of the windscreen much as has been done on many other conversions of sports cars.
I agree with everyone on the VX02 it was a half hearted attempt with poor lines, the car needs the bodywork role bar to look right.

As for buying an Elise have you guys ever seen one of these in a crash? A few years ago there was a crash local to me where an Elise went under a trailer, both occupants were beheaded. I think I'd prefer to be high up.

[Ldub]

Slightly O.T. here, but I saw a P/T cruiser convert on the way home from work today. I don't care for the hardtops but REALLY dislike the conv.(esp. W/ top up) way too much vertical sheetmetal to look good as a conv....IMHO.

Ldub

[Tone]

Brit, I look forward seeing your chopped the top - few if any shops in the States would attempt that for liability reasons. Even with the roll cage, the rest of the vehicle will be severely weakened and will become loose and noisey in a relatively short time. Cars that come off the assembly line as convertibles are VASTLY different stucturally than their sedan counterparts. But I guess if you weld structural beams inside all the body panels and tied them in properly, it might be close to the original tightness.

The VX02 had the same lines as the current VX except for a more raked windscreen.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/sh...php?photo=5029

[VCrossfan]

Being a vcross is a "real" full framed vehicle it shouldn't be a problem at all.. Most if not all the new vehicles today and for the past 15-20 years are unibody (stamped frames). Some of the factory convertibles have frame connectors to help the unibody but it's still nothing compaired to a full frame. I have tied in frame connectors on the unibody of Mustangs and Z28's that are convertibles due to the torque.. And in some cases a nice 4 or 6 point cages on some help alot. Boy if I could find a light rollover vcross it would be a perfect canidate for a topless project with a nice loop behind the driver/pass with each loop reinforced at the bottom. Here of any rollovers or rough cheap vcross's let me know.......

Steve

[Tone]

It was NOT built to a be a convertible and cannot be easily converted - period. When you cut the top off of something that DEPENDS on the roof for structural rigidity, it will have profound effects on the vehicle. Even cutting out for a sunroof has to be done very carefully so as not to cut into the front to rear supports on the outer edges of the roof (under the rails) and they put back in a frame and gusset around where they cut out the roof. But please, someone step up, do it instead of saying how easy it is and prove me wrong.

[Cyrk]

Tone what year and issue is that mag?

-Dave

[SGT.BATGUANO]

I had a full frame, 1987 Buick Regal that I made into a convertible, Grand National clone. I grafted on a power top from an early '80's Chrysler "K-car". Got some compliments on it too. It was stolen in Chicago from the street right in front of a friends house. When recovered, it was stripped clean of eng/trans and GN goodies. except for the 4.11. They even cut the hydraulic lines for some top-down joyriding becuse they couldn't find the switch.

I can tell you that even with a full frame you will lose a lot of structural integrity and it will never be as tight as as a hard top unless you go with a 12- point cage or better. Most serious racecars are hardtop for this reason. Otherwise, I'm sure they'd shed the top to save some poundage.

Having said that, if anyone wants to donate their VX to me for some nip/ tuck, just bring it on over

[Francesco Rizzo]

Thread Tefth!

I looked up the mag and found:

Top 10 Sport/Utilities - Motor Trend
We test 'em, we rate 'em


Motor Trend, May 01, 1999
Chevrolet Suburban, Ford Explorer, Honda CR-V, Isuzu Vehicross, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover Range Rover, Lexus RX 300, Lincoln Navigator, and Mercedes- Benz M-Class

notice we came in 4th after the CR-V!

And to have a search for MotorTrend click here for other articles

[nater]

Tone, there are almost no models of convertibles that come off of the assembly line as convertibles. Just about all of them are chopped by ASC in Michigan. I have seen the Mustang conversion building with my own eyes; taking a back road out of detroit once in the late 80's I saw a large building, with several hundred Mustang hard tops one side, and several hundred convertibles on the other.

The reason they look so good is they are done to high standards with manufacturer engineering and trim pieces supplied. They are done by hand, and the roofs are indeed cut off of a coupe.

ASC has done all the Mustangs of late and all the Toyota Celica convertibles ever made. i believe they do the Sebring and Solara as well. They leave their tag on the car; search around, typically on the driver's door jamb you will find it. Older logos says "asc" in lowercase letters with a red dot, spelling out "American Sunroof Company" in smaller letters. The new logo has changed along with their company name; here is their website:

http://www.ascglobal.com

They keep a low profile, but they offer hints about what they do in the "at a glance" tab. Note the convertible top stuff and the Toyota and Honda awards.

A few exceptions:
-Miata
-Cadillac Allante: a special case, designed from the ground up as a convertible, to a level never equaled before or since. It was a dismal failure in terms of profits.
-Honda S2000
-SLK

A special note on the new Toyota Camry Solara: This was one of the first vehicles ever designed to be chopped on the cheap. The trunk is reused, and some of the body stiffening is already in the floor. This reduced the cost of the new Solara by almost $3000 compared to the previous generation. Very cool.

Just about any car can indeed be chopped. The Vx is actually an excellent choice because it is a 2-door body on frame. However, no convertible will ever, ever ride as well as a hard top (except maybe the Allante).

Nate

[MZ-N10]

i believe the rx8 is built to be a convertible....they then made it a hardtop.....

but anyways back to the topic....if u ahve the money anything is possible....just build the vx from scratch to be a convert.....then bolt on the fenders, cladding, hood, etc.....
________
Velvettouch