Bill, Could you give a little more detail on how the frame is reinforced, and have you tested the structural integrity of the chasis, in other words is it still rigid enough to keep everything in line without flexing. Is it something your normal shade tree mechanic could do? Also if you do it paint ready for $2500.00, what about the headliner, or basically the inside of the car? Tell me what you think about doing it to my car, and if it could actually be done in a week. How far are you away from Valrico, Florida?
Bill, Ok, you answered the questions about the frame.... Now what all is the exterior disassembly consist of that you mention? Is there more to the frame reinforcement then under the car? Again, I ask from looking at the picture of my car, do you think you can do it in one weeks time. I am seriously considering this improvement to my car, but I will be limited on the time frame. I sent you an e-mail asking basically the same thing, and if you believe it can be done I would be interested in trying to do business with you.
Actually $1300 for a weeks worth of work is pretty cheap. Less than $40 /hour so the real work probably doesn't take more than a few days, plus setup and tear down.
I too think that the turnkey solution would be worth it, I don't mind the cutting of the roof, (obviously) but welding under the bottom of the car sounds pretty unpleasant, (unless you can get it high up on a lift and not have hot metal dripping in your face).
Hey Wholf, You coming to Wheatstock? We can have a Firebird interior reunion
Do not think I was putting down his price.... As I said "it must be one hell of a job to do", and that is why I asked if your normal ST mechanic could do it. I personnaly prefer to have an expert do what they do when it comes to my car. I don't want to spend $1,200.00 only to have it come out crappy trying to do it myself. I am very enquisitive about this because I have family that lives about 40 miles from Clear water, FL. My problem is if it took more then a work week to accomplish... I am trying to have my car finished by the time WheatStock rolls around, and when I see something like this, all I hear is tick tick tick..... I guess that answers the question about coming to WheatStock, and yes I really look foward to meeting you and a bunch of other individuals I have come to know on this forum
Originally posted by Wholf: Do not think I was putting down his price.... As I said "it must be one hell of a job to do",
It's so difficult to convey context in a message...I was agreeing with you about the price. I think it's a lot of work to do the targa and $2500 installed seems very reasonable to me. It would have cost about that to have t-tops installed and i was thinking why not do targa instead? But then I realized I could do the t-tops myself because it doesn't require frame reinfocement. That's the part I would not feel comfortable doing myself.
That targa would absolutely rock on the 308 rebody. Like it was designed to be in the first place. I say go for it, and if it takes longer than a week just call in sick until you get back home.
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03:02 AM
NotAFieroAnyLonger Member
Posts: 4413 From: 75762/Texas/USA Registered: Dec 2003
It's so difficult to convey context in a message...I was agreeing with you about the price.
That targa would absolutely rock on the 308 rebody. Like it was designed to be in the first place. I say go for it, and if it takes longer than a week just call in sick until you get back home.
Yes it is difficult, and I agree, that you agree
I have a pretty decent boss, and I have already talked to her about taking the leave if this goes through. We usually have to schedule our leave a year in advance, and this is not scheduled. So I would really be pushing it by taking more then a week.
My main concern right now is what was meant by disassembling a good portion of the extrerior of the car. I am hopeing Bill will clarify this part because I really put my upper and lower rear clip on to stay. I will wait to see what Bill has to say, and if it is even possible.
Being from Tampa and still visiting from the keys all the time, This is something I may do. B&B, all of you work on this conversion looks GREAT. Mad respect for your tallent! I look forward to seeing you and your work at Daytona!
------------------ -Chris 86 GT 95 Camaro 3.4 swap, Ported and polished heads and intake, Cam, Isuzu 5 speed, Short Shifter, New Exhaust, No Cat, Flowmaster, Polly mounts, Full Polly Suspension, Intrax 2" drop springs, Sencetrack Struts and Shocks, Grand AM brake upgrade, steel braided brake lines, 17" Gun Metal Wheels, Khumo Tires, Racing Seats, Grant carbon fiber Steering wheel, Carbon Fiber Dash and shift knob.
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05:15 PM
Feb 26th, 2004
boristheblade Member
Posts: 501 From: Rochester, MN Registered: Nov 2003
it is weld in I believe. I have one of Bill Welch's original frames and I would think this is based on that, as Bill was a partner in B&B. IF i have the story correct.
Anyway, the frame I have is weld in. The coolant tubes ride inside the framing. Center section is removable for access to gas tank (this was different that the Automoda convertible kit)
Long story short, Bill Welch was building a convertible kit and we never completed the transaction over the years for many reasons and I lost out on a good deal ($2K for a complete converitble kit, with $1K paid in advance). But I have the subframe, rear fenders and a template for header. Maybe one day I will hit B&B up and see if he can make the top that I am missing.
Please note that my statements DO NOT reflect on B&B or any business they perform. I am just trying to provide background info of where my subframe came from. I have not dealt with B&B as my experiences were with Bill Welch only (who I consider a friend, BTW).
Thanks!
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12:58 PM
PFF
System Bot
Mar 2nd, 2004
PaulJK Member
Posts: 6638 From: Los Angeles Registered: Oct 2001
I had to pass on this for now due to some family issues. I did speak with Bill on the phone and he is a really nice individual to talk to. He is not real computer friendly , so if anyone is really interested I would suggest giving him a call.
If you look at ferrari 355 gts and the ferrari f50 which is the targa model they have a soft top for the targa...So this leads me to believe that they can fold in half, would that be a pheasable idea b&b???????? It would be alot easier to store ya know.....
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07:36 PM
Jul 7th, 2004
Silicoan86 Member
Posts: 1614 From: Savage, MN, USA Registered: May 2004
Is that top see-through like a sunroof? because that is what I want to do. How much weight is added with the reinforced frame? If it isn't too heavy I may be interested.
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02:48 AM
chester Member
Posts: 4063 From: State of insanity...moved in and comfortably numb... Registered: Jun 2001
If you look at ferrari 355 gts and the ferrari f50 which is the targa model they have a soft top for the targa...So this leads me to believe that they can fold in half, would that be a pheasable idea b&b???????? It would be alot easier to store ya know.....
They are working on a soft top for me as we speak...
Rob D.
------------------ The Dirty Rat Chopped, dropped and just plain NASTY! Choptop Targa #1 383 Stroker MPFI with N2O 1" Drop 3" Chop 11" Brakes 19" Motegi Roja's wrapped in BFGoodrich Gforce T/A KDW-2 rubber RCC Coilover Suspension Updated Jan 21 '04 www.dirtyratracing.org
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08:01 AM
chester Member
Posts: 4063 From: State of insanity...moved in and comfortably numb... Registered: Jun 2001
Is that top see-through like a sunroof? because that is what I want to do. How much weight is added with the reinforced frame? If it isn't too heavy I may be interested.
Not the way it comes but I'm sure it can easliy be done.
Rob D.
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08:02 AM
pavo_roddy Member
Posts: 4351 From: State with a city named Gotham Registered: Apr 2004
THat looks frickin awesome man.....!!! For the last couple months I've been wondering if a notchie targa would look good, and it totally does, like yeah!!!!! hehe
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12:04 AM
Soaper Member
Posts: 1417 From: Nashville, TN Registered: Jun 2002
B&B and anyone else with there Targa Top... ok with the X Frame underneath... if i had an lowered fiero lets say... any problems there? how much cleaerennce is there on stock fiero hieght? Thanks
Soaper
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12:35 AM
PFF
System Bot
riley Member
Posts: 965 From: Saskatoon, SK, Canada Registered: Feb 2004
B&B and anyone else with there Targa Top... ok with the X Frame underneath... if i had an lowered fiero lets say... any problems there? how much cleaerennce is there on stock fiero hieght? Thanks
Soaper
Soaper, Chester's car is lowered, he is riding on coilovers all around so i dont know how much lower it is exactly. you could ask him. you dont even see the frame in the pics of his car so i dont imagine it would decrease clearance too much.
I am wondering about the headliner though, i havent seen anything on it yet. and latches, and pics of the top being stored in either the trunk or the behind the seat.
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03:10 AM
FieroGTRwideboby Member
Posts: 591 From: Socal (Pasadena) Registered: Jun 2004
I've been reading all the posts and you guys do ask good questions. But for some reason am still not understanding how the targa will stay on to the car. Its has to have some latches right? I am really interested in this and considering it. I just wanted to ask If these: http://www.lambolounge.com/Interior/Roof/Latch/Roof-latch.asp would work as well. They are for the diablo roadster.
Thanks alot and great work!
forgot to mention its way at the bottom.
------------------ There's two types of cars in the world, Fieros and everything else.
[This message has been edited by FieroGTRwideboby (edited 08-03-2004).]
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01:47 PM
Aug 8th, 2004
shop_rat45 Member
Posts: 3271 From: Lapeer, Michigan Registered: Mar 2004
v8fiero400, if you could please take a few pictures of how its mounted, the clips or latches and I would also like to see just how the seals are set up or which ones are used?
------------------ Bobby from NW Indiana 93 Northstar and 5 speed Getrag thespeedshop@sbcglobal.net My build thread
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03:31 PM
Fierofreak00 Member
Posts: 4221 From: Martville, NY USA Registered: Jun 2001
It's about time, I thought this thread was dead.......oh wait it still is, there's no new news. Darn.
------------------ A coward dies a thousand deaths..................A soldier dies but once. Red 86 SE Yellow 87 GT Gold 86 SE (wrecked) Red 84 2.5 Coupe
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07:48 PM
TaurusThug Member
Posts: 4271 From: Simpsonville, SC Registered: Aug 2003
I think it's a lot of work to do the targa and $2500 installed seems very reasonable to me. It would have cost about that to have t-tops installed and i was thinking why not do targa instead? But then I realized I could do the t-tops myself because it doesn't require frame reinfocement. That's the part I would not feel comfortable doing myself. 
