Transparent Roof.

bullitt5897 · 04-25-2011, 02:03 PM

This is very doable in the Z and anyone who has seen the Z's bare roof knows it would make a killer mod... If my next Z is a coupe i May do this or make a CF roof... hmmmmm decisions....

m4a1mustang · 04-25-2011, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bullitt@UAMotorsports

This is very doable in the Z and anyone who has seen the Z's bare roof knows it would make a killer mod... If my next Z is a coupe i May do this or make a CF roof... hmmmmm decisions....

If you can retain the lines of the stock roof then it would be awesome. But if you had to flatten the lines out it would kind of suck.

bullitt5897 · 04-25-2011, 02:17 PM

You could retain the lines of the roof but the cost of the roof would go up... I will look into it though and see if it would be better to do a poly roof or glass... its definitely a trade off each has their own perks.

Poly:
1: retain roof lines
2: less expensive
3: probably safer then glass
4: Lighter than glass

Glass:
1: Higher clarity
2: Higher Quality
3: more durable

IDK those were just off the top of my head...

m4a1mustang · 04-25-2011, 02:25 PM

You're right. It would be very pricey but man would it be awesome.

If anyone is concerned with weight, on the Mustangs, the glass roof option adds about 20lbs of weight to the roof. The average sunroof (with rails, motor, etc) weighs up to twice that.

Econ · 04-25-2011, 02:29 PM

I feel like it would be a tough job, fitment would have to be perfect (to avoid leaks), yet still maintain the same lines.

would be awesome if it was done right....

roplusbee · 04-25-2011, 03:12 PM

Subscribed.....

AdobePhil · 04-25-2011, 03:20 PM

I'm wondering what would be a better way to go about it? Do the bare roof mod and just fabricate a glass top made of the same corvette material?

Or do a T-Top Mod and just fabricate the transparent panels to fit into the open cut outs?

AdobePhil · 04-25-2011, 03:21 PM

Personally, I think having an entire roof made out of that material would be killer.

m4a1mustang · 04-25-2011, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdobePhil

I'm wondering what would be a better way to go about it? Do the bare roof mod and just fabricate a glass top made of the same corvette material?

Or do a T-Top Mod and just fabricate the transparent panels to fit into the open cut outs?

My guess is you will just cut the roof, remove the entire roof panel,install the supports, weather stripping, and then the glas roof. Before it was a factory option there were aftermarket kits available for the Mustangs. Here's a pic of the install process:

That is probably the best way... you keep the roof support structure that you'd lose with a targa top, and installation should be fairly simple.

With any luck you'd end up with something like this:

Econ · 04-25-2011, 03:33 PM

^^ that would be very sick.

What was the cost of doing something like that to the stangs?

Cmike2780 · 04-25-2011, 03:36 PM

A Targa version would be a cool thing to see. If they can do it in a 911, why not the Z.

m4a1mustang · 04-25-2011, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Econ

^^ that would be very sick.

What was the cost of doing something like that to the stangs?

I want to say the glass roof kits were around $1,000 not including labor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cmike2780

A Targa version would be a cool thing to see. If they can do it in a 911, why not the Z.

It would be incredibly expensive (and heavy) for a motorized targa top. I think a fixed glass roof would be your best bet.

spearfish25 · 04-25-2011, 03:44 PM

Our roof serves functions beyond just weather protection. They are a main structural support. I was asking a local shop about chopping the roof and making a removable middle (leave the structure running from the A to B pillars) but they said I'd still need a lot of custom work to maintain structural rigidity. You can't just chop the roof, put on a clear one, and call it a day.

m4a1mustang · 04-25-2011, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

Our roof serves functions beyond just weather protection. They are a main structural support. I was asking a local shop about chopping the roof and making a removable middle (leave the structure running from the A to B pillars) but they said I'd still need a lot of custom work to maintain structural rigidity. You can't just chop the roof, put on a clear one, and call it a day.

Well it would definitely take some R&D. My guess is your shop hasn't chopped the roof on a 370 yet so who knows what it would take. We really need to see a structural drawing to determine what could be cut away. If the center section is just a sheet of aluminum body panel then there's a good chance it could be cut out without any negative impact on the structural rigidity of the roof structure.

If you look at other similar body structures it shouldn't be a problem. Trying to find a 370Z cutaway picture or drawing to get an idea of what the roof structure looks like.

Cmike2780 · 04-25-2011, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

Our roof serves functions beyond just weather protection. They are a main structural support. I was asking a local shop about chopping the roof and making a removable middle (leave the structure running from the A to B pillars) but they said I'd still need a lot of custom work to maintain structural rigidity. You can't just chop the roof, put on a clear one, and call it a day.

Yes, but it's not impossible. You would have to reinforce the chassis in the same way the convertible is designed. It's not going to be as rigid as a full metal roof, but it will still be more rigid than the vert. Does anyone know what areas were reinforced for the convertable. I could be wrong, but I though they designed the 370z with the convertible structure in mind, then designed the structure for the coupe.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/26/2...ork-auto-show/

04-25-2011, 02:03 PM	#16 (permalink)
bullitt5897 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: North GA Posts: 6,831 Drives: Twin Turbo Z34 Rep Power: 3682	This is very doable in the Z and anyone who has seen the Z's bare roof knows it would make a killer mod... If my next Z is a coupe i May do this or make a CF roof... hmmmmm decisions.... __________________ *Shop Cars: 2013 318whp Nismo VspecII 370z SOLD, 2009 1000hp+ 93oct 4.0L TT 370z Fast Intentions STAGE 4 #054*

04-25-2011, 02:17 PM	#18 (permalink)
bullitt5897 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: North GA Posts: 6,831 Drives: Twin Turbo Z34 Rep Power: 3682	You could retain the lines of the roof but the cost of the roof would go up... I will look into it though and see if it would be better to do a poly roof or glass... its definitely a trade off each has their own perks. Poly: 1: retain roof lines 2: less expensive 3: probably safer then glass 4: Lighter than glass Glass: 1: Higher clarity 2: Higher Quality 3: more durable IDK those were just off the top of my head... __________________ *Shop Cars: 2013 318whp Nismo VspecII 370z SOLD, 2009 1000hp+ 93oct 4.0L TT 370z Fast Intentions STAGE 4 #054*

04-25-2011, 02:25 PM	#19 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	You're right. It would be very pricey but man would it be awesome. If anyone is concerned with weight, on the Mustangs, the glass roof option adds about 20lbs of weight to the roof. The average sunroof (with rails, motor, etc) weighs up to twice that. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

04-25-2011, 03:12 PM	#21 (permalink)
roplusbee A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Killeen, TX Posts: 2,360 Drives: 2007 350Z NISMO Rep Power: 22	Subscribed..... __________________ 2007 350Z NISMO #0618: Zerolift \| UPREV \| F.I. \| Greddy \| Competition Clutch \| Injector Dynamics \| Aeromotive \| Pioneer \| JL

04-25-2011, 03:36 PM	#26 (permalink)
Cmike2780 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 5,059 Drives: slowwww Rep Power: 29	A Targa version would be a cool thing to see. If they can do it in a 911, why not the Z. __________________ [09][MB][6-Spd MT][Touring][Stillen Gen III][K&N][Borla CBE][Evo-R] [ArchitTEK Photography]

04-25-2011, 02:29 PM	#20 (permalink)
Econ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York City Posts: 2,546 Drives: Fiat? Rep Power: 19	I feel like it would be a tough job, fitment would have to be perfect (to avoid leaks), yet still maintain the same lines. would be awesome if it was done right....

04-25-2011, 03:20 PM	#22 (permalink)
AdobePhil Base Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Palm Harbor FL Posts: 211 Drives: 2010 370z Sport Trim Rep Power: 14	I'm wondering what would be a better way to go about it? Do the bare roof mod and just fabricate a glass top made of the same corvette material? Or do a T-Top Mod and just fabricate the transparent panels to fit into the open cut outs?

04-25-2011, 03:21 PM	#23 (permalink)
AdobePhil Base Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Palm Harbor FL Posts: 211 Drives: 2010 370z Sport Trim Rep Power: 14	Personally, I think having an entire roof made out of that material would be killer.

04-25-2011, 03:33 PM	#25 (permalink)
Econ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York City Posts: 2,546 Drives: Fiat? Rep Power: 19	^^ that would be very sick. What was the cost of doing something like that to the stangs?

04-25-2011, 03:44 PM	#28 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Our roof serves functions beyond just weather protection. They are a main structural support. I was asking a local shop about chopping the roof and making a removable middle (leave the structure running from the A to B pillars) but they said I'd still need a lot of custom work to maintain structural rigidity. You can't just chop the roof, put on a clear one, and call it a day. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

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