Are Convertable doors and Coupe doors the same size
 

Just a random "hmm".(thought).
I was looking at the vert door and thought they would be kind of cool if you could have them on a Coupe.
Reason being that they have a small window at the front and would block air when you had the "other" window down.
Thanks Guys.STYX.

Meh, that would look so 1980's...


Wait, nevermind.

except that the upper door area on the coupe would not be sealed and look retarded, if it even fit that is

No.

the vert window is frameless

Im not sure about size difference but if you added a thick black seal like the Impreza GC8s it could be done.

Panels, window regulator and stuff are different size. So im guessing the doors arnt going to be bolt on fit, without any modification.

Lots of hearsay in this this thread........ask someone who knows first hand.....like me!

Coupe and convertible door shells are the EXACT same size. You can bolt one style door onto the other style body and it will line up perfectly. Interior panels are interchangable (with the exception of speaker placement).
HOWEVER.....The trailing edge of the door glass is cut at different angles and will not line up with the disimilar body.

Dave....Besides having to get crafty with sealing the glass to the body, you would have to have custom glass made to the correct shape.
Last estimate I got (about 4 years ago) put the pair of custom, tempered glass windows in the $1500 range. :eek:


Here are a few pics I took while doing the exact opposite of what you ponder......modifing coupe doors for my vert....

Upper window frame removed, belt line filled
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...h_8f461dc2.jpg

My buddy Chris doing his thing
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...h_0cfbd1d5.jpg

Mocked up
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...h_75fddeb4.jpg

Sectioning the trailing edge
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...h_0d2aab1b.jpg

Grafting in the piece from the vert door
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...h_3cd893a6.jpg

Quick test fit of the weather strip
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...h_e0b7df8a.jpg

^^seems TOTALLY worth the trouble

:lol: Yeah, well.....
My car came with trashed doors, and I was adamant about eliminating the triangle windows while doing the body work. After some investigation, I deceided it was easier then altering the guts in a convertible door.

By the way......I didn't shell out the cash for custom windows. That's why I'm attempting to build a removable hard top instead. Can ya tell I like a challange? :facepalm:

my opinion is that the triangle window buffers some wind

Probably, but if you wanted protection from the wind, wouldn't you have the windows up? I don't drive my vert on the highway with the windows down. I like the cleaner look of coupe sized windows...but as you said, quite the effort.

The triangle drives me NUTS! would be a sweet mod.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the bar that separates the two pieces of glass also act as a support for the windshield?

HA!! correct me if I'm wrong...on the interwebz....

IDK I think converting a coupe to a vert in the 80's was a lot different than it is today - chop & cut vs re-engineer?? just a thought. As much as I really like the looks of the vert, seems like they just chopped the roof off and made the rest work IMO.

No, its a flimsy piece with just enough strength to hold the weatherstripping and little window in.

Yes, you're wrong about this. A lot of design work and planning went into converting the FC coupe into the 'Vert. Check out one of the very good books on the RX-7 to read all the details. I like the ones by John Matras and Brian Long. There was a lot of aerodynamic testing, Mazda essentially invented the concept of the "Windblocker" for the 'Vert, a good deal of structural bracing was added, etc. Definitely not a quick chop and cut.

Why can't the glass be swapped?
Edit: Nevermind, I know why.

I always have the windows down, the top is up windows up or the top is down windows down
I have been in many convertibles and this is one of the best as far as wind buffering goes.

Its one thing to be in a convertible its another to have the wind just whipping all around you, even with the top up it is a fairly quiet car for what it is

I agree Rob. The triangle windows do offer some protection from wind buffering. That is the reason Mazda designed them the way they did.
However from an aesthetic stand point, I feel the car looks better without them. That's why I did what I did.

I'm sure it does offer something, but somehow I doubt the guy in the F-430 driving beside me last summer was thinking "damn, I need to get me some some wind blocking triangles." :D I'm not saying I'm going to do it, but I'm not saying I'm not, lol...

About an hour after I posted this I remembered that the Vert doors were frameless.(Crap!)
Ah well,now I can spend money elsewhere..
Thanks alot Guys.I appreciate the Info and suggestions..Very appreciated on this End.
Cheers Dave/STYX!~

we are a stain in the underwear of a F430, I dont think they care what kind of windows we have

Yes, I doubt the Ferrari driver paid any attention at all to the Mazda.
At most, he thought, "Oh look...another chicane".

and the Mazda owner said..HMM..only 10k left in my Bank account..will it RUN after that???