4 door marauder convertible kit

[Odinson]

Hey

Talking this weekend and I finally know I am not the only one. I know some of have 'never made the convertible' on the top of their Marauder's short run regret list.

What if someone made a kit? A top quality kit. Everything you need in one huge box sans tools. Including a great instruction manual ah la trilogy 3 ring binder of detail. Step by step instructions.

It would have sensible structural bracing (maybe a second latch for the doors) A pillar for the front seat belts and the window trim. A good rear window with high end plastic or glass and a defroster. Quality headliner and the top motor, frame, and UV resistant fabric. A spare relocation/cd changer/subwoofer relocation pack (false bottom for trunk?) Some kind of door mount for rear speakers? Maybe even a small box to at least retain the compass and front reading lights. Maybe paper templates showing exactly where to cut. And of course molded plastic covers for all the trimmed metal that ascetically pleasing, structurally solid and functional.

Essentially something that an weekend body man or a reasonable body shop could install.

What would such a kit run? 5k? 6k? Obviously there are not a ton of marauders out there so maybe something that could also fit Crown Vics and Grand Marquis with minor (or no) changes?

I'd like to see some convertibles without 24" wheels that look like they might survive 1 winter.

[bolsen]

I'd be interested in seeing the kit, but I don't think I'd do it to my car. Maybe, you never know...

[Odinson]

Just so there is no confusion. (I wouldn't want to stop someone else.) I have 0 chance of ever looking to do this myself without a life changing event. Like inheriting a very profitable body shop from a mysterious unknown uncle.

Just seems like the last cars with a frame would actually be the last easy, cheap, conversion anywhere. Looks like the challengers need 18k for such a conversion. I'm sure most of that is body stiffness work. I can't imagine a panther being more than half of that.

Man life sucks for the 392 challenger crowd. No blowers or ragtops without big bucks.

[Mr. Man]

Making the body structurally sound would be a big job and most likely cost prohibitive.

[Blackmobile]

One good launch at the track and one of the front wheels may never touch the ground again.

[Odinson]

I guess I am overestimating how much work the frame does vs the body to hold the car together.

How the hell do they do it with an origami gt500? Does it have a subframe? Gotta take a lot of triangles to hold back 500+ hp.

[Juice]

If you chop the top off your MM, I'm lumping you into the group of people who paint theirs neon colors and put enormous wheels on them.

[Odinson]

Hahaha. Nfw. Just painted the roof.

If jesus came back and gave me a holy dictate to build such a kit I would still stress test it on an old crown vic first.

I also have an engine on crazy pills. Probably not smart for my MM to go first.

[Siege]

I guess I am overestimating how much work the frame does vs the body to hold the car together.

How the hell do they do it with an origami gt500? Does it have a subframe? Gotta take a lot of triangles to hold back 500+ hp.


Ford spent much time enhancing the convertible’s structural rigidity, with lateral stiffness improved by 12 percent versus the 2010 model. The V-brace has been stiffened by adding gussets. The secondary crossmember also has been stiffened, while a front Z-brace has been added, connecting primary and secondary crossmembers. A-pillar stiffening foam has been added to increase rigidity.

A unibody car has a front and rear subframe that is connected only by the sheetmetal of the body with the roof structure being a significant portion of that.

As far as turning a body on frame vehicle into a convertible it would be easy compared to a unibody car. Reinforcement would be needed to the A-Pillar and B-pillar to support the windshield and door locking/support respectively. The drivetrain and driving dynamics would be unaffected since the frame is untouched.

The challenge would be the folding top mechanism and where it would get stored in the body along with window sealing since the OEM door windows seal in the upper door frame that would no longer be there.

http://i754.photobucket.com/albums/xx185/sploaterboi/036-12.jpg

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm288/larryo340/CVN%20meet%204%2009%20and%20St uff/2bbb0830.jpg

[BlackJack]

You could chop or sink the windshield to get the convertible top to sit at the right height for the side windows or thicken the area of the top where it meets the side windows but you would have to have a removable/replaceable B-pillar to take up the space between the side windows in the doors when the top is up. The yellow car probably has a removable hardtop if any (note the 3rd brake light is still on the package tray). A lengthened Fox Mustang top might work.
IMO a droptop doesn't really fit the Darth Vader image of the Marauder and cutting up a limited production car is scary. The last production four-door convertible was the '66 Lincoln Continental.

[Odinson]

That's what I was saying about the frame. We can do this BECAUSE we have a frame car. MMs are rare, but in NYC Crown Vics are still a dime a dozen. Lots of taxis and police still in service. Look at all the R&D that has to go into the mustang.

Personally I LOVE big convertibles. Never owned one. Kinda bummed about that.:depress:

OK cool the yellow looks good (other than being yellow) and looks like it's not kludged together. I like the rollbar idea, and while it's not as clean is probably a very good idea for safety and a stable top. Hey maybe it's an excuse to pick up a low mileage CV or GM. Needs to have leather though.

As for the limited production, the time to try this as a one off has passed. Really only a hope while it was in production. The reason I specifically brought up a kit as IMO that is the only chance ANYONE will do now this much less a handful of folks. That way a MM owner could touch/test/use the fit and finish before doing it to a special car.

Maybe I just need to get an old Chevy Impala SS or something. Guess I'm living in the past.:loco:

[johnnyrauder]

http://www.google.com/imgres? if you like big 4 door conv. got to have this one...q=4+door+lincoln+contine ntal+convertible&hl=en&biw=1067&bih=503&tbm=isch&tbnid=nbHF3-p9C8e41M:&imgrefurl=http://www.hoobly.com/0/0/1183327.html&docid=x4_qDI2oMqqTgM&imgurl=http://pics.hoobly.com/full/YDKU2WMXP3FVECAT57.jpg&w=560&h=420&ei=T4yET7O7Jqe30QGbyujxBw&zoom=1

[johnnyrauder]

http://www.google.com/imgres?if you like big 4 door conv. got to have this one...q=4+door+lincoln+contine ntal+convertible&hl=en&biw=1067&bih=503&tbm=isch&tbnid=nbHF3-p9C8e41M:&imgrefurl=http://www.hoobly.com/0/0/1183327.html&docid=x4_qDI2oMqqTgM&imgurl=http://pics.hoobly.com/full/YDKU2WMXP3FVECAT57.jpg&w=560&h=420&ei=T4yET7O7Jqe30QGbyujxBw&zoom=1
if you like them big...

[BlackJack]

A four-door hardtop would probably be equally as challenging in different ways but like Mr Man alluded to, alleviating cowl shake and being able to keep the doors aligned even on a lift would not be simple.

[mrjones]

There are coachbuilders out there that would do this for you, but it would be a whole lot more than $6K. 4 years ago I saw some professionally converted 300Cs at a dealership in Houston. IIRC they were wanting $60K for it.

[SC Cheesehead]

http://www.google.com/imgres?if you like big 4 door conv. got to have this one...q=4+door+lincoln+contine ntal+convertible&hl=en&biw=1067&bih=503&tbm=isch&tbnid=nbHF3-p9C8e41M:&imgrefurl=http://www.hoobly.com/0/0/1183327.html&docid=x4_qDI2oMqqTgM&imgurl=http://pics.hoobly.com/full/YDKU2WMXP3FVECAT57.jpg&w=560&h=420&ei=T4yET7O7Jqe30QGbyujxBw&zoom=1


Very nice! :up: