Cutting roof right off 1966 Fury
- Thread starter rl000999
- Start date
Of course you can!
BUT, consider it is a unit-construction car without a formal frame under it! That means the roof is a structural component of the body itself. Which is why the little wedges on the rear of the door shell and matching "contact pads" are on the B-pillar just behind them, to keep things aligned so the body does not buckle, on convertibles and T-top cars! Convertibles also have extra bracing and such in their underbody areas, too.
The ONLY unit-body construction car that was designed such that a convertible could be made from a hardtop was the second and third generation of Ford Thunderbirds. Their bodies were designed for such, from their initial design processes.
On a body/frame car, as GM and Ford used back then, there was usually a "convertible" frame which was heavier-duty than the similar sedan/hardtop item. With the frame being the main structural unit.
BUT if you want to weld the doors shut, then you don't have to worry about their operation if the body sags enough to keep them from opening in the first place.
Finding a suitable convertible top mechanism might be an issue, too, no matter where you might life and store the vehicle.
Enjoy!
CBODY67
BUT, consider it is a unit-construction car without a formal frame under it! That means the roof is a structural component of the body itself. Which is why the little wedges on the rear of the door shell and matching "contact pads" are on the B-pillar just behind them, to keep things aligned so the body does not buckle, on convertibles and T-top cars! Convertibles also have extra bracing and such in their underbody areas, too.
The ONLY unit-body construction car that was designed such that a convertible could be made from a hardtop was the second and third generation of Ford Thunderbirds. Their bodies were designed for such, from their initial design processes.
On a body/frame car, as GM and Ford used back then, there was usually a "convertible" frame which was heavier-duty than the similar sedan/hardtop item. With the frame being the main structural unit.
BUT if you want to weld the doors shut, then you don't have to worry about their operation if the body sags enough to keep them from opening in the first place.
Finding a suitable convertible top mechanism might be an issue, too, no matter where you might life and store the vehicle.
Enjoy!
CBODY67
I read somewhere that the 66 fury hardtop had the same frame structure as the convertible...is that correct ???
rd92west
plan C
A ragtop has a 1/4 inch stiffener beefing up the rocker area.
So if I stiffened up the rockers it might work ???
rd92west
plan C
Do a search and find a picture of a convertible rocker showing the extra support.
Then decide if have the stamina to whip something up
Then decide if have the stamina to whip something up
rd92west
plan C
In my old age I start thinking of liability.
Consider if your car buckled crossing a bump on the interstate at 70 mph And you lost control and took out a mini van full of school kids
Guys make converts out of hardtop all the time. Search out what they do.
Consider if your car buckled crossing a bump on the interstate at 70 mph And you lost control and took out a mini van full of school kids
Guys make converts out of hardtop all the time. Search out what they do.
Someone just has to say this is just a bad idea.
I've actually done this... twice... (2 years in a row) Both cars were destined for scrap and we did them for a burnout contest at a large local show.
They looked like crap when they were done. I idled them around the show and they flexed like crazy. Of course, these were rusty cars that were all that structurally sound to begin with. The cars were scrapped immediately following our fun.
So, here's the issues if you wanted to do a nice job. First, you have to deal with the flex. If the car is sound, some time under a convertible will show where the reinforcement is, but some overkill with frame sub-connectors would probably work well. Next you have all sorts of cut edges that you have to deal with. The ones I've seen usually have a straight cut across the header a few inches from the top of the windshield. They then put some trim across the cut. It generally looks really unprofessional when done and you can spot it a mile off. Cutting off the C-pillars leaves some large openings in the rear. That would need to be reinforced and filled in.
You haven't mentioned if this is a 2 or 4 door, sedan or hardtop. A 4 door is going to be even worse as far as flex. A 4 door sedan has a b-pillar that the rear door hangs from and the front door latches too. That's going to wobble all over the place.
The next thing is now your car is 100% a nice day car. I drive a convertible. I can put the top up if it rains or the sun is boiling hot. It has to be garaged unless you work out some sort of tonneau like a boat. This means car shows, cruise nights etc. are going to have perfect weather. I checked your location, and RI does have rain and snow... It ain't southern Cali where you might get away with an always open car. Every time you park the car in the sun, it's gonna be hot on those seats and steering wheel. Forget about leaving your sunglasses and cell phone in the car when you run into the store too... They'll be gone.
This is without even talking about how you are pretty much married to the car now... You are probably not going to be able to sell it any time in the future. Even if you've done a nice job, the car is worthless to most guys. Mods like this don't age well, you'll get tired of fooling with it and you want to get rid of it.
That's just scratching the surface.... IMHO, if you want a convertible, sell what you have and go buy one. Yes, at the end of the day it's your car to do what you want, but take some advice from a guy that's been in the car hobby for an awful lot of years and put the beer and the sawzall down and back slowly away from the car.
I'm driving and my sons are the two little guys. My oldest boy turned 39 last month, so that's how many years ago that was.
Someone just has to say this is just a bad idea.
I've actually done this... twice... (2 years in a row) Both cars were destined for scrap and we did them for a burnout contest at a large local show.
They looked like crap when they were done. I idled them around the show and they flexed like crazy. Of course, these were rusty cars that were all that structurally sound to begin with. The cars were scrapped immediately following our fun.
So, here's the issues if you wanted to do a nice job. First, you have to deal with the flex. If the car is sound, some time under a convertible will show where the reinforcement is, but some overkill with frame sub-connectors would probably work well. Next you have all sorts of cut edges that you have to deal with. The ones I've seen usually have a straight cut across the header a few inches from the top of the windshield. They then put some trim across the cut. It generally looks really unprofessional when done and you can spot it a mile off. Cutting off the C-pillars leaves some large openings in the rear. That would need to be reinforced and filled in.
You haven't mentioned if this is a 2 or 4 door, sedan or hardtop. A 4 door is going to be even worse as far as flex. A 4 door sedan has a b-pillar that the rear door hangs from and the front door latches too. That's going to wobble all over the place.
The next thing is now your car is 100% a nice day car. I drive a convertible. I can put the top up if it rains or the sun is boiling hot. It has to be garaged unless you work out some sort of tonneau like a boat. This means car shows, cruise nights etc. are going to have perfect weather. I checked your location, and RI does have rain and snow... It ain't southern Cali where you might get away with an always open car. Every time you park the car in the sun, it's gonna be hot on those seats and steering wheel. Forget about leaving your sunglasses and cell phone in the car when you run into the store too... They'll be gone.
This is without even talking about how you are pretty much married to the car now... You are probably not going to be able to sell it any time in the future. Even if you've done a nice job, the car is worthless to most guys. Mods like this don't age well, you'll get tired of fooling with it and you want to get rid of it.
That's just scratching the surface.... IMHO, if you want a convertible, sell what you have and go buy one. Yes, at the end of the day it's your car to do what you want, but take some advice from a guy that's been in the car hobby for an awful lot of years and put the beer and the sawzall down and back slowly away from the car.
I'm driving and my sons are the two little guys. My oldest boy turned 39 last month, so that's how many years ago that was.
It's a 2 door hardtopSomeone just has to say this is just a bad idea.
I've actually done this... twice... (2 years in a row) Both cars were destined for scrap and we did them for a burnout contest at a large local show.
They looked like crap when they were done. I idled them around the show and they flexed like crazy. Of course, these were rusty cars that were all that structurally sound to begin with. The cars were scrapped immediately following our fun.
So, here's the issues if you wanted to do a nice job. First, you have to deal with the flex. If the car is sound, some time under a convertible will show where the reinforcement is, but some overkill with frame sub-connectors would probably work well. Next you have all sorts of cut edges that you have to deal with. The ones I've seen usually have a straight cut across the header a few inches from the top of the windshield. They then put some trim across the cut. It generally looks really unprofessional when done and you can spot it a mile off. Cutting off the C-pillars leaves some large openings in the rear. That would need to be reinforced and filled in.
You haven't mentioned if this is a 2 or 4 door, sedan or hardtop. A 4 door is going to be even worse as far as flex. A 4 door sedan has a b-pillar that the rear door hangs from and the front door latches too. That's going to wobble all over the place.
The next thing is now your car is 100% a nice day car. I drive a convertible. I can put the top up if it rains or the sun is boiling hot. It has to be garaged unless you work out some sort of tonneau like a boat. This means car shows, cruise nights etc. are going to have perfect weather. I checked your location, and RI does have rain and snow... It ain't southern Cali where you might get away with an always open car. Every time you park the car in the sun, it's gonna be hot on those seats and steering wheel. Forget about leaving your sunglasses and cell phone in the car when you run into the store too... They'll be gone.
This is without even talking about how you are pretty much married to the car now... You are probably not going to be able to sell it any time in the future. Even if you've done a nice job, the car is worthless to most guys. Mods like this don't age well, you'll get tired of fooling with it and you want to get rid of it.
That's just scratching the surface.... IMHO, if you want a convertible, sell what you have and go buy one. Yes, at the end of the day it's your car to do what you want, but take some advice from a guy that's been in the car hobby for an awful lot of years and put the beer and the sawzall down and back slowly away from the car.
I'm driving and my sons are the two little guys. My oldest boy turned 39 last month, so that's how many years ago that was.
You'll want to add torque boxes like from the factory as well.
Nobody is stopping you, it's your car. Just know that you'll be dealing with some bending and twisting of the chassis until you brace things.
This is probably in your future.
70-74 E Body Frame Connector for Dodge Challenger
Nobody is stopping you, it's your car. Just know that you'll be dealing with some bending and twisting of the chassis until you brace things.
This is probably in your future.
70-74 E Body Frame Connector for Dodge Challenger
Before it got too expensive (like 15 yrs ago), I'd watch the satellite Saturday morning car shows, one after the other. On the shows where they did fabrication, it all looked so easy to do. They made it look like "child's play". THEN you get to looking around the walls of their studio and see all of the various implements for bending, shaping, cutting, welding, and other metal working tools that aided them in their endeavors. Through the magic of electronics, compressing hours of work into seconds, not unlike the "Reels" on Facebook. Then they shot paint on what they'd done, drying instantly it seemed, and then it's ready to get a trophy at a local car show. That 30 minute show only showing about 10% or less of what it actually took to get the "fab job" done. NOR showing the pile of metal they bent that didn't work out right.
I'm a little cautious of saying "Don't do that" as the OP can easily get offended and fire back "I know how to do fab work", indicating they perceive they know how to run a Sawzall and to weld. NOT having any real knowledge of what makes a Unit-Body vehicle unique from a body/frame vehicle. Or knowing where the strength of a UniBody vehicle is and is not. So they can "learn by doing", unfortunately ruining a good vehicle in the process. A vehicle going to the scrap pile anyway is of less concern.
Can't forget about "hydraulics" . . . as in the hydraulics which run the convertible top up and down.
It IS the OP's car to ruin or make better through restoration/refurb/repair operations. This is certainly not in the same area as making a TF car into a 4-spd car, by any means.
Enjoy!
CBODY67
I'm a little cautious of saying "Don't do that" as the OP can easily get offended and fire back "I know how to do fab work", indicating they perceive they know how to run a Sawzall and to weld. NOT having any real knowledge of what makes a Unit-Body vehicle unique from a body/frame vehicle. Or knowing where the strength of a UniBody vehicle is and is not. So they can "learn by doing", unfortunately ruining a good vehicle in the process. A vehicle going to the scrap pile anyway is of less concern.
Can't forget about "hydraulics" . . . as in the hydraulics which run the convertible top up and down.
It IS the OP's car to ruin or make better through restoration/refurb/repair operations. This is certainly not in the same area as making a TF car into a 4-spd car, by any means.
Enjoy!
CBODY67
The reason I'm inquiring is because 30 years ago I cut the top off a 1951 Plymouth
business coupe with a full frame and made a roadster...NO problems at all....
I'm just trying to figure out if it's feasible on the 66 & worth the time, effort & cash
business coupe with a full frame and made a roadster...NO problems at all....
I'm just trying to figure out if it's feasible on the 66 & worth the time, effort & cash
Similar threads
