Conversion...Not Necessarly An "Upgrade"

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

For the life of me, I just don't understand why someone would ruin a perfectly good Targa, but...

This guy seems to have posted some pretty indepth instructions on how to convert a Targa to a Cab.

Click here.

Sorry if this has been posted before. Just thought I'd share.

(Thom, this wouldn't be you, would it?)

Randy

RickM · RickM's Garage

That's Widebody911/Thom's car.

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

That's what I was thinking, Rick.

Randy

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

And if that wasn't enough for you, you can see pix of me doing the same to another Pelican's car here:

http://rennlight.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?string=cab+conversion

But that wasn't enough. I then took my perfectly good targa - I mean cab - and turned it into a coupe:

FenderGuy · 04-29-2005, 12:38 PM

I don't know why people would be down on the targa->cab idea - it was a factory sanctioned conversion, for crying out loud! If you look though PET, you'll see the targa and cab bodies were identical except for a couple of pieces in the rear passenger area. Later on they added more reinforcement

thrown_hammer · 04-29-2005, 12:43 PM

Down the road the wife's targa will be become a cab. I think I will save that link.....

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by FenderGuy
I don't know why people would be down on the targa->cab idea - it was a factory sanctioned conversion, for crying out loud!

I have scans of the original Factory conversion manual on my site.

chgrec · chgrec's Garage

I think the targa to cab conversion is a great idea. Having owned a boxster (and 30 other various convertibles), the targa top is a pain to remove on a whim or at a traffic light....I couldnt afford a real cab so the conversion makes sense.....

I was excited to see Thom's site & his threads on this board after I bought my targa.....I have already bought a top, frame, brackets & welder...I just waiting for my wife's honey do list to shrink and to learn how to weld, then my car is going topless...

And if anyone is interested, I have taken Thom's individual manual page scans and made them into a single PDF. Easier to print and put on the workbench...if any wants it, just send me an email...(thanks Thom, you have been an inspiration to me...)

Chris
Chgrec@yahoo.com

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

Thom,

I've seen a few pages you've put together scattered across the WWW. Your article on rebuilding a targa top is extremely detailed and is a great resource too.

You've got skills, man, mad skills!

Randy

DavidI · 04-29-2005, 07:48 PM

My 83SC is a conversion and I love it! Semper Fi Devil Dog....

David

real550A · real550A's Garage

"But that wasn't enough. I then took my perfectly good targa - I mean cab - and turned it into a coupe"

Now you're talking, Thom!
This is what us coupe guys have been saying all along. No more leaks!

p.s. NICE WORK!

RarlyL8 · RarlyL8's Garage

I have followed all the things you have done to your car Thom. Unreal. You need to post a couple of pix from the various stages. It cracks me up to see pictures of you driving that thing around town all hacked up at times. I still laugh thinking of the story you told about various dating experiences in that car and the female's response to it. Can't wait to see whats next. Only Doozer is your match when it comes to the lengths someone will go to when they become "inspired".

masraum · 04-29-2005, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chgrec
[...] the targa top is a pain to remove on a whim or at a traffic light....[...]

Huh? The only way I ever took mine off was while sitting in the driver's seat, and used to take it off or put it on while at lights plenty. Just gotta stow it behind the seats unfolded.

chgrec · chgrec's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by masraum
..... Just gotta stow it behind the seats unfolded.

I've tried that a couple of times and it was so clunky and didnt sit well, rear seats up or down.... It may be becasue I have boxster seats in my 84 and they are a little taller......Still, much more of circus act than a cab... especially if my wife is in the passenger seat......

Chris

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

I don't drive the 911 on the street much anymore, although it is still registered, insured, and smog-legal. I drove it to work one day because I was going to the track a couple days hence, and needed to make sure everything still worked. The new wing sets the RiceBoyz into a spastic fit.

My next project is a fuel cell, but I need to get caught up on heater ducts first. The heater duct and hardtop projects have stolen a lot of 911 mod time

hkspwrsche · 04-30-2005, 08:57 AM

What exact years will go on an SC? So many tops and never any near the east coast. I'd like to be sure I got the right thing.

thanks,

Shaun @ Tru6 · 04-30-2005, 09:13 AM

I'll be doing the targa to cab conversion as soon as Thom's hardtops become available.

chgrec · chgrec's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by hkspwrsche
What exact years will go on an SC? So many tops and never any near the east coast. I'd like to be sure I got the right thing.

thanks,

If you mean what cab tops will work for an early (pre 84) targa conversion, you need a top off an 85 or earlier....the 85 1/2 & newer use a roller type latch. The pre 85 use a J hook / Claw style latch. The early targas use the same latch.....
Your best bet is to use a cab top from an 83 or 84 cab.....I paid $1800 for mine with a good skin and all the brackets (including the rear hold downs) from another pelicaner......

Chris