leif

Does anyone know anything about increasing the front to back rigidity of an RX 7? i want to cut the middle section out of my Targa 7 to make it into a real targa, and am thinking of simply welding an X frame on the the chassis on the bottom of the car...has anyone tried this?

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

What are you gonna to about the door window frames?

Rx7carl

Search, there was some talk about the PA 1st gen verts. You might find some valuable info there about bracing.

leif

didnt think about the window frames...i giess i would make it a sunshine only car...or put the top of the frames on the fiberglass top (i figured fiberglass would make a light top)

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

Seems like a lot of work, and it will never look right. Just get a glass top, and enjoy the open feeling (and extra headroom) year-round. You can always take it off for the w-i-d-e open feeling.

If it's still not enough, then go 'vert.
(Although 2nd Gen verts are pretty inexpensive.)

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

i had one once upon a time that had a targa. they cut off the window frames at the targa part (it looked kinda like an fc with a 1/4 window) and used the new "top" to seal it to the glass. imho, having owned one, dont do it it turned the car into a noodle, and with the top on it made all kinds or noise and didnt seal well. they built the top out of glass, and it was actually pretty nicely done. just for posterity the car was an 80 with the full flare kit and supposedly it had a turbo engine (it was stock when i had it), apparently some dealer built a couple but i dont know anymore than that

mike

JIMMY54

iTrader: (2)

Here is a vert, from what I know about this car, it was a 50 grand build up. (canadian) and a few years in the making. I know that the owner of this car isn't on the forum but some of his friends are. Track them down and maybe they can tell you what was done to the car structurally.

P.S. try the canadian section...

DriveFast7

iTrader: (1)

I have personally seen at least 4 targa 1st gens with a canvas targa roof that snapped on the top of the windshield frame, and snapped on the roof right behind where a factory sunroff is.

The roof is a structural member and I recall emails from a shop that used to cut the roof off a junker and drive it around convertable before it went to the wreckers. In 2 weeks it had folded along the floor just behind the doors. I'd say that is the first place to strengthen it. Weld some tubing onto the framerails from front to rear wheelwells and you might as well put a roll bar in there while you're stripping the interior and cutting the targa off.

Also adding some bracing to the floor left to right is a great idea too!

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

On the bottom, you can see how the Verts were reinforced by PA.

Maguire

iTrader: (1)

man, they straight up lied in that ad. On the chart with with power to weight ratios. I dunno who was doing there math but, 3170lbs/307hp=10.33. It threw me off because they show the same weight for the lambo. but it has 18 MORE horses. anyway. sorry for the rant.

djmickyg

so they have.... the lying little..
write to them they have the address down the bottom.. ow wait u cant they have crossed it out so u can't see it..

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

It's definately a lie. The company closed shop in the late 80's, after Mazda introduced their own (FC) vert.

The reason I posted the ad, was so you could see where they reinforced the body.

leif

thanks for all the help...i guess i have alot to think about...but i have a wad of cash and a mint new car which already says targa on it...so im thinking now...why not. i think it would look good and add a little flair to winnipegs RX-7 community...also there is a rally in wisconsin at the end of aug that i want to go to and i think a targa would really make peopel look twice(by targa i mean only cutting off the roof not the back end...i dont have the time or resources to make a full open top car, also i like going fast, which is harder to do in a cab.

i think im going to do a little photoshop work to try and figure out what it would look like...thanks again, ill post the photoshop pictures when im done.

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

Save your effort..

Rotary13B1

iTrader: (8)

great old pics DF... BTW.. what pic do you NOT have in the HD??

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

My HD is like a black hole, sucking everything that goes near it into it.

leif

those picture settle it...im going to do it...wieght be damned...thats what horsepower is for...i bet i can do it and keep the weight below 3000lbs...and if i make a header and switch over my engine from my '83 i bet i can make close to 200bhp...thats more than enough

leif

i talked to a friend of mine who converts beetles into convertables...and he told me how to doo all of the bracing...if anyone is intrested...funny enougth it is the same way lotus strenghens the elise

Rx7carl

Well tell us, Id love to have more info on this.