Fools rush in...or...Here we go!
 

Here is what the car looks like after removing the stainless cover on the roll-bar.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378407572.jpg

The metal roll bar is formed around curves to make it stronger in case of an accident.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378407624.jpg

It is integral with the car and quite strong.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378407674.jpg

Since the car has already gone thru quite a transformation, like short hood conversion, 930 flares, RS America front and rear bumpers, and the like, we might as well go all the way!

So here we go.....
Step one, get rid of that Targa hoop.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378407956.jpg

Rushing Fools cont
 

After I cut thru with a metal blade on a skil saw, Ruben followed up with The Sawzall.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378408270.jpg

Instant Cabriolet

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378408392.jpg

Here's the cut on the passenger side, the hole will be covered by sheet metal and mig welded to the car.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378408471.jpg

Closeup of drivers side cut, it will get the same treatment as the right side.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378408590.jpg

With a little care, the cuts come out clean.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378408725.jpg

You missed the shot of the ex-Raikonnen/ex-Montoya Formula 1 McLaren that was next to this MP4-12.


edit:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18...psffbf6a71.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18...psf048ba89.jpg

McLaren photos
 

Larry didn't have any shots of the Mclaren from that event but here's a nice McLaren from another event for your pleasure.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378422642.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378422692.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378422747.jpg

Beginning modifications
 

By now you all must know my intention.
We are going to do a Targa to Coupe conversion. I find this such a fun thing to do that I am happy to document it.

First of all, 911 roofs don't grow on trees.
They are somewhat rare. I found one at a well known L.A. Porsche dismantler but the price was over a thousand.

I kept looking and did find one on ebay for 100 dollars.
It has some rust in the A pillars, and some surface rust on the back center but I will cut off most of the A pillars from the roof and utilize the clean A pillars from the Targa.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378482850.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378482894.jpg

Targa to Coupe conversion
 

Now we have moved the roof from the living room to the garage per my wife's request.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378483582.jpg

This roof was removed using a cutting torch, not an elegant cut. We will fix that later.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378483627.jpg


We need a few other parts to complete this project like a rear deck lid, wheels, gas tank, wiring harness, dash, gauges, and parts to convert the Targa doors to Coupe doors.

Targa to Coupe conversion
 

With a little patience a slightly damaged Whale Tail was found on Ebay for 100 dollars. Some slight cracking in the fiberglass around two curves. It probably flew off of a racecar.

The style of this Tail is like that of a RS America by coincidence, not too wide and a larger lip for added downforce.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378484566.jpg


Car now stable on Jack-stands in front, getting ready for conversion.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378484894.jpg


Roof is now moved to near Carport where the Targa sits.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378484976.jpg

Targa to Coupe conversion
 

As I was cleaning up the interior and putting parts away, a baby Rattlesnake decided to come around the house to visit me.

My wife's vision is not that great, she might step on it, and so to be safe I took off it's head.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378485607.jpg


At some point the car will need wheels and tires to sit on.
I found these 8x18 Fuchs on ebay $400 a pair due to some curb rash on the rim's lip.
Just a few seconds with the air rotary sander and gone are the imperfections.
Now they are ready for polishing.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378485868.jpg


Now the car has extra long wheel studs already installed.
So to make the 8 inch wide wheels fit the wheelwell better I got some used 3/4 inch wheel spacers.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378486092.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378486230.jpg

Conversion cont
 

Before we can mount the Whale Tail, I had to sand and primer the inside of it.
This is much easier with the Tail off of the car.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378486656.jpg

Now the Whale Tail has been moved next to it's final destination.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378486704.jpg

Conversion cont
 

With the Whale Tail on the car, it is beginning to look much better.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378487303.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378487348.jpg


Roof now moved to behind the car getting ready for measurement to cut it.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378487394.jpg

Conversion cont
 

Before any cutting can be done to both windshield frames (the one on the car and the one on the roof), we will need to do several critical measurements.

But most importantly...the windshield glass, the quarter glass, and the door frames have to fit perfectly or the project will fail!

We will start by fitting the windshield pillar on this project since the A and B pillars have already been cut short.

A windshield with it's rubber and trim attatched is needed to assist in fitment.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378572311.jpg

I got this cracked front windshield for now, it will do the job.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378572422.jpg

Now for measuring.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378572486.jpg

Conversion cont
 

I usually make myself little notes like this one while working on something that requires close measurement and patience.

I measured the windshield opening from lower flange to upper flange at the locations of the wiper blade holes.
In both circumstances, 25 1/8 inches was the opening size.

When the roof is welded on, it has to have exactly the same opening size at the locations we measured at.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378573705.jpg


In the note above, it also says to put reference marks on both window frames in the same place, in the middle of the radius curve.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378574217.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378574277.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378574345.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378574407.jpg

Conversion cont
 

This is the last time the car will look like this.

It's now time for fun!


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378575084.jpg

To eliminate all the rust possible from the project we are cutting close to the radius curve mark.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378575139.jpg


Cut 2.5 inches below the radius curve.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378575230.jpg

This side will get the same treatment.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378575297.jpg

Using a circular saw with a metal cutting blade, a careful cut at 90' was made on both sides at 2.6 inches below the radius mark to give extra room.
We will adjust final length later.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378575380.jpg

The metal is very clean on the body, no rust whatsoever.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378575433.jpg

Conversion cont
 

After all cuts were made, with some hesitation, I placed the roof into it's position.

The roof fits like it was made for the car. ;)


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378576685.jpg

I placed the windshield into position, it looks fantastic.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378576737.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378576851.jpg

The windshield fits so well, the frame needs little adjustment.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378576907.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378577017.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378577122.jpg


Still much to do to complete fitting the roof perfectly.
When done it should be difficult to tell that it was a Targa once.

More to come....

Wow, I never knew you had such skills. Did you do the chop top on the Carrera as well?

Bodywork
 

Thanks, but I did no bodywork to the Carrera.

The bodywork done to the Carrera was done by Don, a master craftsman who worked with Arnie V. on Ventura Blvd in Studio City.
Arnie was the previous owner of the car.

Don sloped the windshield, cut the drip rails, made the rear window flush, and clipped the front and rear of the car to accept the big bumpers.
A beautiful job! Thank you Don.

After getting the car home (while still in primer), I did some minor prep and took it to a warehouse in Santa Monica to get painted. Drove it to and fro with no glass.
What an experience. LOL


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378589757.jpg

Conversion cont
 

Each roof pillar must be fitted alone, and also together with each other to make for a good fit overall.
I raised the roof on wooden blocks temporarily to do this work.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378825510.jpg

You can see the rough cut on the C pillar from a cutting torch. What a mess.
I drew a pencil line across it as a guide for a clean cut.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378825565.jpg

After taking a circular saw to the pillar, it now looks straight and can be mig welded to without difficulty.
We will make a pattern out of cardboard first to copy to sheet metal later for a section to fill in the gap.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378825621.jpg

Conversion cont
 

The driver's side gets the same treatment.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378826194.jpg

Much easier to weld in a patch with a straight even cut.
It might look really bad to attempt patching without doing this. LOL

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378826243.jpg

Conversion cont
 

In order for everything to work out well, the quarter windows and the door frames have to line up with the roof line.

We will convert the doors from Targa to Coupe soon but lets see how quarter glass fits.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378826543.jpg

Not bad, some slight adjustment to height is all that is needed.
The attatchment tabs are not in all the way in this photo, that's why you see a gap in the back portion.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1378826592.jpg

Glad to see you put a roof on that thing. ;) I hope you still have the Type 34 project around as well ???