Convertible Vehicles Enthusiasts | Information | Maintenance

power to manual top

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 10, 2008 | 04:42 PM
  #1  
InsaneAuto86's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (60)
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,547
Likes: 1
From: Reading, PA
Default power to manual top

anyone remove the power motors, etc... and convert to a manual top?
Reply
Old Mar 10, 2008 | 08:55 PM
  #2  
pj4553's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
From: Covington, LA
Default

I did. The pump had a leak somewhere and I'm trying to drop weight any way so I just took it out along with my spare, jack, rear seats and carpet backing and put it in a box for safe keeping. That little sucker has some weight to it too..
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2008 | 04:12 AM
  #3  
InsaneAuto86's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (60)
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,547
Likes: 1
From: Reading, PA
Default

How hard is it to put the top up manually? Does the top stay secure when it is down? Any pics?
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2008 | 02:05 PM
  #4  
pj4553's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
From: Covington, LA
Default

Its easy. No pics required all I did was make sure the top is up disconnect the hydrolic extenders from the top. then you unhook the pump, remove the hydrolic lines and pull out the pump. I then pushed the extenders down in order to drain the fluid and left them down so I can manually lower the top if I want to. It takes about 15 min to do lol.
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2008 | 05:45 PM
  #5  
InsaneAuto86's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (60)
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,547
Likes: 1
From: Reading, PA
Default

Is the top secure when it is down? How about at high speeds?
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2008 | 07:47 PM
  #6  
pj4553's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
From: Covington, LA
Default

probably not lol. But I don't drop the top anyway. I'm sure you could just reach in and put the pins back in when you drop it.
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2008 | 09:04 PM
  #7  
LS1_Fonzie's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 252
Likes: 1
From: Visalia, CA
Default

Hmm.... I'd be interested in doing this as well if the weight savings was worth it. Around how much weight did you lose by doing this pj4553? Just the items for the top, not the rear seats, carpet, etc.
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2008 | 08:19 AM
  #8  
pj4553's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
From: Covington, LA
Default

I dont really know.. Maybe 15-20 lbs? I'm really on this whole weight reduction kick right now. I'm keeping comforts like a/c, ps, and pb but anything unnecessary is going to go..

If your car is a daily driver and you enjoy putting the top down and cruising around town then I wouldn't do it. I'm building a streetable car for track duty and to take to LS1tech meets by the N.O. lake front.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 12, 2008 | 09:11 AM
  #9  
bdrussell's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Redding, CA
Default

On my other manual top cars that I have owned none of them had any type of locking system to keep them down, it was just by weight and gravity, I would think the same would be true of the Camaro and I wouldn't worry about the top coming up at speed.

The power is more for easy of raising the top than holding it down.... at least that is my understanding of most tops.
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2008 | 12:07 PM
  #10  
jasonk's Avatar
TECH Regular
iTrader: (29)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 453
Likes: 0
From: Tampa FL
Default

I know it is your own car to do with what you may... but at which point do you just say its a convertible, and deal with the nicety in that, I mean honestly why buy a vert just to strip it down more? just curious not trying to start a pissing contest
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2008 | 07:17 PM
  #11  
pj4553's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
From: Covington, LA
Default

I bought my car for the motor and nothing more. I wanted an LS1 powered car and thats what I got. It was for a very good price from a desperate seller otherwise I would have gotten a ttop or hard top b/c they are indeed lighter.
Any more questions?
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2008 | 07:46 PM
  #12  
jasonk's Avatar
TECH Regular
iTrader: (29)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 453
Likes: 0
From: Tampa FL
Default

nope, like i said, they are their to do what we will, if ya got a vert in good shap for less then a hardtop/ttop, then thats the way it is.

I have just been noticing alot of vert weight loss program threads thats all, and was wondering what I could have been missing...
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2008 | 08:06 PM
  #13  
pj4553's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
From: Covington, LA
Default

I would never destroy the car and cut into metal if thats what you were thinking. Thats what fox bodies are for Anything I remove can be easily put back in place. If I were building an all out drag car just for track use I would have a notch back mustang with an LSX motor. It would take me maybe 5 min to put the pump back in.
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2008 | 08:09 PM
  #14  
pj4553's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
From: Covington, LA
Default

If anything, I saved the car. Just check out my fquick page in my sig to see before and after pics
Reply
Old Mar 13, 2008 | 04:13 AM
  #15  
InsaneAuto86's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (60)
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,547
Likes: 1
From: Reading, PA
Default

Yesterday I cut out the rear speaker panels and rear seat belt brace...
Reply
Old Mar 13, 2008 | 10:23 AM
  #16  
pj4553's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
From: Covington, LA
Default

You have any pics of your progress?
Reply
Old Mar 13, 2008 | 02:05 PM
  #17  
InsaneAuto86's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (60)
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,547
Likes: 1
From: Reading, PA
Default

Before:








Now:




Still working on it...
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2008 | 06:53 PM
  #18  
RE AND CHERYL's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (31)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,207
Likes: 0
From: Dover DE
Default

Not to be a jerk. But that was stupid. For the loss of maybe 10 lbs you weakened the structure of the car. That cover accross the back between the shock mounts is Vert speciffic to strengthen the car.

Next time buy a coupe, they're lighter to start with.

Re'
Reply
Old Mar 27, 2008 | 04:17 AM
  #19  
InsaneAuto86's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (60)
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,547
Likes: 1
From: Reading, PA
Default

Originally Posted by RE AND CHERYL
Not to be a jerk. But that was stupid. For the loss of maybe 10 lbs you weakened the structure of the car. That cover accross the back between the shock mounts is Vert speciffic to strengthen the car.

Next time buy a coupe, they're lighter to start with.

Re'
Yes it is vert specific..... to mount the rear seat belts.... How exactly is it weakening the structure if it only mounts to the back of the seat...? It is only mounted on the front and back, the sides have a piece of metal the width of my thumb attaching them to the top of the wheel well. If this was a structural piece, it would have been more securely braced to the sides. It was not. Regardless, it was not 10lbs I assure you that....10lbs is still 10lbs when you are going for the lightest possible car. What I should have done was buy an LS1.....

Anyways my 6pt will be finished today... will post pics b4 and after it is painted.


When I dropped it off:




Last edited by InsaneAuto86; Mar 27, 2008 at 04:23 AM.
Reply
Old Mar 27, 2008 | 09:15 PM
  #20  
RE AND CHERYL's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (31)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,207
Likes: 0
From: Dover DE
Default

What I should have done was buy an LS1.....
It's not too late. I converted mine.

Re'
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:36 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE