2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

Are Convertable doors and Coupe doors the same size

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 22, 2011 | 07:08 PM
  #1  
misterstyx69's Avatar
Thread Starter
Retired Moderator, RIP
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (142)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 25,581
Likes: 136
From: Smiths Falls.(near Ottawa!.Mapquest IT!)
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.
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2011 | 07:19 PM
  #2  
jackhild59's Avatar
Rotary $ > AMG $
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,785
Likes: 30
From: And the horse he rode in on...
Meh, that would look so 1980's...


Wait, nevermind.
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2011 | 08:17 PM
  #3  
Rob XX 7's Avatar
FC guy
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,713
Likes: 17
From: Long Island, New York
except that the upper door area on the coupe would not be sealed and look retarded, if it even fit that is
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2011 | 09:45 PM
  #4  
Spirit-RE's Avatar
Moderator
Tenured Member: 15 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (25)
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,941
Likes: 39
From: Whitewater, WI
No.
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2011 | 11:04 PM
  #5  
jjcobm's Avatar
Are you experienced?
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,099
Likes: 2
From: Illinois
the vert window is frameless
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2011 | 12:49 AM
  #6  
Ryan123's Avatar
The Slowskys
Tenured Member 05 Years
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 540
Likes: 1
From: Massachusetts
Im not sure about size difference but if you added a thick black seal like the Impreza GC8s it could be done.
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2011 | 02:47 AM
  #7  
wjk0817's Avatar
DD
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 631
Likes: 0
From: California
Panels, window regulator and stuff are different size. So im guessing the doors arnt going to be bolt on fit, without any modification.
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2011 | 10:38 AM
  #8  
lov-2-rev's Avatar
Mr. Nice Guy
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (87)
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 2
From: Jamesport, NY..."Movin' on up, to the east side!"
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.


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


My buddy Chris doing his thing


Mocked up


Sectioning the trailing edge


Grafting in the piece from the vert door


Quick test fit of the weather strip
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2011 | 10:47 AM
  #9  
Rob XX 7's Avatar
FC guy
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,713
Likes: 17
From: Long Island, New York
^^seems TOTALLY worth the trouble
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2011 | 11:04 AM
  #10  
lov-2-rev's Avatar
Mr. Nice Guy
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (87)
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 2
From: Jamesport, NY..."Movin' on up, to the east side!"
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?
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2011 | 12:04 PM
  #11  
Rob XX 7's Avatar
FC guy
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,713
Likes: 17
From: Long Island, New York
my opinion is that the triangle window buffers some wind
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2011 | 07:02 PM
  #12  
Flash's Avatar
re-amemiya body vert
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 503
Likes: 0
From: Calgary, Canada
Originally Posted by Rob XX 7
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.
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2011 | 07:10 PM
  #13  
AmT_T's Avatar
Make It Happen!
Tenured Member 05 Years
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 522
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, Canada
The triangle drives me NUTS! would be a sweet mod.
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2011 | 07:36 PM
  #14  
JustJeff's Avatar
Apex Seal Treachery!!!!!!
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,406
Likes: 2
From: Indiana
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....
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2011 | 07:46 PM
  #15  
AmT_T's Avatar
Make It Happen!
Tenured Member 05 Years
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 522
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, Canada
Originally Posted by JustJeff
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.
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2011 | 09:06 PM
  #16  
Spirit-RE's Avatar
Moderator
Tenured Member: 15 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (25)
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,941
Likes: 39
From: Whitewater, WI
Originally Posted by JustJeff
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....
No, its a flimsy piece with just enough strength to hold the weatherstripping and little window in.
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2011 | 10:36 PM
  #17  
daviddeep's Avatar
Rotary Powered Since 1995
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,178
Likes: 2
From: Potomac, MD
Originally Posted by AmT_T
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.
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.
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2011 | 11:20 PM
  #18  
clokker's Avatar
Cake or Death?
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,249
Likes: 64
From: Mile High
Originally Posted by lov-2-rev
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.
Why can't the glass be swapped?
Edit: Nevermind, I know why.
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2011 | 05:44 AM
  #19  
Rob XX 7's Avatar
FC guy
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,713
Likes: 17
From: Long Island, New York
Originally Posted by Flash
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.


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
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2011 | 11:29 AM
  #20  
lov-2-rev's Avatar
Mr. Nice Guy
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (87)
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 2
From: Jamesport, NY..."Movin' on up, to the east side!"
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.
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2011 | 07:04 PM
  #21  
Flash's Avatar
re-amemiya body vert
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 503
Likes: 0
From: Calgary, Canada
Originally Posted by lov-2-rev
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." I'm not saying I'm going to do it, but I'm not saying I'm not, lol...
Reply
Old Feb 27, 2011 | 06:59 PM
  #22  
misterstyx69's Avatar
Thread Starter
Retired Moderator, RIP
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (142)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 25,581
Likes: 136
From: Smiths Falls.(near Ottawa!.Mapquest IT!)
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!~
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2011 | 07:22 AM
  #23  
Rob XX 7's Avatar
FC guy
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,713
Likes: 17
From: Long Island, New York
Originally Posted by Flash
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." I'm not saying I'm going to do it, but I'm not saying I'm not, lol...

we are a stain in the underwear of a F430, I dont think they care what kind of windows we have
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2011 | 07:36 AM
  #24  
clokker's Avatar
Cake or Death?
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,249
Likes: 64
From: Mile High
Originally Posted by Rob XX 7
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".
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2011 | 09:29 PM
  #25  
misterstyx69's Avatar
Thread Starter
Retired Moderator, RIP
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (142)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 25,581
Likes: 136
From: Smiths Falls.(near Ottawa!.Mapquest IT!)
Originally Posted by clokker
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???
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:51 AM.