Creating a convertible

Jordansdad · 06-26-2011, 08:13 AM

My wife has been bothering me to get her a convertible for quite some time but we live on a very rough and rutted gravel road and I don't want a jeep. I have been considering turning my 92 Dakota into a convertible as I really like the truck and it only has 92k on it. My question is, has anyone ever had a car turned into a convertible and how did it work out for you?
Before people ask why not just get a jeep. They get terrible reviews on reliability and doesn't look like much metal there to protect her in a crash.
Thanks in advance.

PecosBill · 06-26-2011, 08:18 AM

Make sure to paint it in a color that'll look good sitting in front of your double-wide.

jdiaz · 06-26-2011, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PecosBill

Make sure to paint it in a color that'll look good sitting in front of your double-wide.

Did you just make a redneck joke?

Pardus · 06-26-2011, 08:21 AM

I'd like to see pictures if you go through with this.

Jordansdad · 06-26-2011, 08:26 AM

I think that was a redneck comment , however the Dakota was sold in a convertible version for a couple of years.

PecosBill · 06-26-2011, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdiaz

Did you just make a redneck joke?

It's not funny if you have to explain it.

KeithinSC · 06-26-2011, 10:46 AM

http://www.airbagit.com/product-p/sof-gm8898.htm
(no association yadyadayada)

Ratical Tops were big back in the minitruckin days of the 1980's. Did a quick google and it looks like they are still around. Might rethink a convertible, might try making it a lift off top instead. I've seen trucks with their original tops held on with latches/buckles. Looked like a leaker though

Post pics when you get out the sawzall

Keithinsc

2whlrcr · 06-26-2011, 11:35 AM

Star-Bellied Sneetch · 06-26-2011, 11:57 AM

I bought a '93 S-10 brand new and got it made into a convertible a few months later. Trucks are ideal for making into convertibles since the roof doesn't provide much structure to begin with, although Ratical tops does supply a brace which goes behind the seat. It takes some guts to cut the roof off a new truck, and the first question the guy who did the work asked me was "are you sure you want to ruin a new truck?"

The truck looked fantastic, was quite an attention getter, and was really fun with the roof down. I got the soft top, which required a few minutes of work to detach. Undo some snaps, fold the top and frame, and slide it down behind the seat. It always leaked a little bit.

I drove it for years, and finally some asshole cut through the roof to steal my stereo. Because the soft-top was always pretty noisy, I made the mistake of getting my original roof retrofitted to be removeable, which is the other option when making a convertible. That was a huge mistake. It leaked like crazy, and I was never able to make it stop. Plus, the top was pretty heavy, and you'd have to stand in the bed, remove it, and place it in the bed. If you don't want to leave the roof at home, it takes up most of the bed.

I sold that truck eventually, missed it, bought it back, and a couple of years ago my father bought it from me to give to my nephew for his first car. By this time, the interior was a mess from all the leaking, but the truck was always totally reliable and the paint was nice. In this age where kids have cell phones, game systems, etc. given to them seemingly daily, and everything is disposable, he didn't seem to understand the concept of actually maintaining, repairing, or even washing a vehicle. He basically just let it rot, then sold it a few months back for next to nothing.

It was a great truck for me and I highly recommend you do the conversion, but get the soft-top and expect it to leak around the corners where it meets the windshield if you're not moving. It never seemed to leak if the truck was moving.

Range Motorsport · 06-26-2011, 12:26 PM

Just cut it off

Blinkerfluid · 06-26-2011, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordansdad

Before people ask why not just get a jeep. They get terrible reviews on reliability and doesn't look like much metal there to protect her in a crash.
Thanks in advance.

You want to turn a 92 Dakota into a convertible, but you're worried that a jeep doesn't look like it has much metal to protect her in a crash?? What do you think is going to happen when your convertible truck rolls over in a ditch?

Jordansdad · 06-26-2011, 03:31 PM

A rollcage installed will provide plenty of protection in case of a rollover, not that my wife drives poorly enough to roll a car.

wannaklr · 06-27-2011, 01:25 PM

How about this.

Sniper X · 06-27-2011, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdiaz

Did you just make a redneck joke?

I think he did.....

Sniper X · 06-27-2011, 01:34 PM

06-26-2011, 08:13 AM	#1
Jordansdad ^OP Jordansdad Joined: Aug 2010 Location: House Springs Mo. Oddometer: 72	Creating a convertible My wife has been bothering me to get her a convertible for quite some time but we live on a very rough and rutted gravel road and I don't want a jeep. I have been considering turning my 92 Dakota into a convertible as I really like the truck and it only has 92k on it. My question is, has anyone ever had a car turned into a convertible and how did it work out for you? Before people ask why not just get a jeep. They get terrible reviews on reliability and doesn't look like much metal there to protect her in a crash. Thanks in advance.

06-26-2011, 08:18 AM	#2
PecosBill Get off my f'n lawn! Joined: Jan 2007 Location: The State of Jefferson Oddometer: 41,129	Make sure to paint it in a color that'll look good sitting in front of your double-wide. __________________ "Am I not a man? And is a man not stupid? I'm a man, so I married. Wife, children, house, everything. The full catastrophe." Zorba the Greek "A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything." Friedrich Nietzsche Save $5 when you open your new SmugMug account, use coupon number: K0vxRpKbulMhM

06-26-2011, 11:57 AM	#9
Star-Bellied Sneetch Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Oddometer: 2,462	I bought a '93 S-10 brand new and got it made into a convertible a few months later. Trucks are ideal for making into convertibles since the roof doesn't provide much structure to begin with, although Ratical tops does supply a brace which goes behind the seat. It takes some guts to cut the roof off a new truck, and the first question the guy who did the work asked me was "are you sure you want to ruin a new truck?" The truck looked fantastic, was quite an attention getter, and was really fun with the roof down. I got the soft top, which required a few minutes of work to detach. Undo some snaps, fold the top and frame, and slide it down behind the seat. It always leaked a little bit. I drove it for years, and finally some asshole cut through the roof to steal my stereo. Because the soft-top was always pretty noisy, I made the mistake of getting my original roof retrofitted to be removeable, which is the other option when making a convertible. That was a huge mistake. It leaked like crazy, and I was never able to make it stop. Plus, the top was pretty heavy, and you'd have to stand in the bed, remove it, and place it in the bed. If you don't want to leave the roof at home, it takes up most of the bed. I sold that truck eventually, missed it, bought it back, and a couple of years ago my father bought it from me to give to my nephew for his first car. By this time, the interior was a mess from all the leaking, but the truck was always totally reliable and the paint was nice. In this age where kids have cell phones, game systems, etc. given to them seemingly daily, and everything is disposable, he didn't seem to understand the concept of actually maintaining, repairing, or even washing a vehicle. He basically just let it rot, then sold it a few months back for next to nothing. It was a great truck for me and I highly recommend you do the conversion, but get the soft-top and expect it to leak around the corners where it meets the windshield if you're not moving. It never seemed to leak if the truck was moving. __________________ Flying blind on a rocket cycle.

06-26-2011, 12:26 PM	#10
Range Motorsport Junk collector Joined: Nov 2007 Location: Da UP Eh! Oddometer: 1,589	Just cut it off __________________ 2007 KTM Superduke SNL Will Ferrell Yoga, google it. www.adventuremine.com www.upoverland.org

06-27-2011, 01:25 PM	#13
wannaklr Beastly Adventurer Joined: May 2006 Location: Back In Iowa. Quad Cities to be exactish.. Oddometer: 6,809	How about this. __________________ Back in Iowa! I like my music like I like my women. Loud, angry and with bagpipes! From Scottie Boy "If you calculated the money spent versus time actually used, vaginas cost more per hour than the space shuttle."

06-26-2011, 08:21 AM	#4
Pardus Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2010 Location: CO Oddometer: 210	I'd like to see pictures if you go through with this.

06-26-2011, 08:26 AM	#5
Jordansdad ^OP Jordansdad Joined: Aug 2010 Location: House Springs Mo. Oddometer: 72	I think that was a redneck comment , however the Dakota was sold in a convertible version for a couple of years.

06-26-2011, 10:46 AM	#7
KeithinSC Studly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2009 Location: Sandhills of SC Oddometer: 669	http://www.airbagit.com/product-p/sof-gm8898.htm (no association yadyadayada) Ratical Tops were big back in the minitruckin days of the 1980's. Did a quick google and it looks like they are still around. Might rethink a convertible, might try making it a lift off top instead. I've seen trucks with their original tops held on with latches/buckles. Looked like a leaker though Post pics when you get out the sawzall Keithinsc

06-26-2011, 11:35 AM	#8
2whlrcr gooligan Joined: Jan 2005 Location: Dubuque, Iowa Oddometer: 4,322

06-26-2011, 03:31 PM	#12
Jordansdad ^OP Jordansdad Joined: Aug 2010 Location: House Springs Mo. Oddometer: 72	A rollcage installed will provide plenty of protection in case of a rollover, not that my wife drives poorly enough to roll a car.

06-27-2011, 01:34 PM	#15
Sniper X De Oppresso Liber Joined: Jul 2006 Location: Central New Mexico, 7420ft above sea level Oddometer: 30,406	__________________ "I claim to be frightened of horses but do so only to get out of attending parades. It's peculiar but ...it works. The Horses get it. RESISTANCE IS NOT FUTILE. IT'S VOLTAGE DIVIDED BY CURRENT

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