Can any body here tell me if i cut the top section of a gbody will the body collapse or sag? If i need to reinforce, what & where? or if any body can guide me to someone who has done this that would be greatly appreciated, thanks. 
frame structure ?
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I really dont know what needs to be done but I heard you have to do some bracing if you want it done right because it will eventually start folding on you.chevyss415 said:Can any body here tell me if i cut the top section of a gbody will the body collapse or sag? If i need to reinforce, what & where? or if any body can guide me to someone who has done this that would be greatly appreciated, thanks.
Check out this thread & contact the owner to see where he had to brace everything
http://www.kingofthestreet.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=77080
if you are talking cutting on the roof you for sure need to reinforce it in the door openings, you messing with touchy stuff there. i would see if you can find a frame shop that does cheap work for cash. i have a local guy that will cut a roof section out and reinstall one for around 200 bucks, only reason i know that is because i was gonna swap some t tops onto my regal, still might...
i would sugesst atleast plating the belly of the frame.
a couple peices of 4"x4" 1/8th inch angle iron will work wonders.
we built a regal, 2 pumps, 8 batterys. and the guy got the bright idea to cut it as a targa with out reinforcing the frame. it didnt colapse on the doors as long as it was setting normal on all 4's but when he would hit a switch it flexed like hell.
we losend the body mounts, and jacked the body up off the frame as far as we could, and took angle placed it along the outside of the frame, and welded it up. its not the greatest way, but it works just like like plating the frame.
a couple peices of 4"x4" 1/8th inch angle iron will work wonders.
we built a regal, 2 pumps, 8 batterys. and the guy got the bright idea to cut it as a targa with out reinforcing the frame. it didnt colapse on the doors as long as it was setting normal on all 4's but when he would hit a switch it flexed like hell.
we losend the body mounts, and jacked the body up off the frame as far as we could, and took angle placed it along the outside of the frame, and welded it up. its not the greatest way, but it works just like like plating the frame.
Boxing the frame and adding a couple of the universal crossmembers to the frame should be plenty. A GBody is not going to lose structural integrity like a unibody car and fold in half :idea: They are good solid full frame cars. Talk to the guys that build the hydraulic cars, they go through a beating :!:
The gbody frame flexes allot as is . It was made to ride good . Thats way all extra braces were made. Box frame from front to body mount to rear wheel arch sections. No amount of cross braces will help . Its front to back . I owned 86 buick a conversion (made in 87 )convertible. They beefed up body at lower jamb points and frame was really built up .
It was 5 years old and the doors were starting to have movement going down road. I junked it to much movement
In other words I would not unless its just city cruiser car .
It was 5 years old and the doors were starting to have movement going down road. I junked it to much movement
In other words I would not unless its just city cruiser car .
Factory ragtops normally weigh more than coupe equivalents because of the reinforcing added to stop body flexing.
You definitely need to address this if you are intending to use the car after cutting off the roof.
What you need to do will depend on what you are cutting and on what car.
Roger.
You definitely need to address this if you are intending to use the car after cutting off the roof.
What you need to do will depend on what you are cutting and on what car.
Roger.
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