Is it possible?

[whitemike_04]

Is its possible to make a saratoga top for a 914?? Any ideas?

[Wayne 962]

Sure, but these weren't well made to begin with. You just want a sunroof in the 914? I'd say cut out the center section of the roof and put in a clear lexan glass.

I have a saratoga, and one of these sunroof-type roofs. However, since I don't ever drive with the roof on, I really don't have a preference...

-Wayne

[Rich Hilgersom]

http://www.smoothon.com/products.htm

You just need an oven larger than the top.

-Rich

[Rob-O]

Yeah, I guess you could make your own top, but it would be extremely difficult. I would take Wayne's advice and either put in a lexan material (I believe a form of polystyrene) or just install a sunroof in the top. I wouldn't encourage either though. I'm not sure the top would support a sunroof. Not from a strength point, but from a thickness point. The top really isn't that thick. I would think most sunroofs would have an edge thickness far exceeding the thickness of the 914 roof. So you'd either have part of your sunroof sticking up higher than the top, or a whole lot of it would be sticking into the interior of the car. I don't know about you, but I think the headroom is a little on the low side to begin with. I couldn't see losing any of that precious space.

I'm not a big fan on sunroofs anyhow. I found that I rarely used them in the cars I owned that had them. Now taking the roof off...that's another matter.

[Joe Bob]

Ever notice when something does not sell well when new, it becomes sought after when the company goes out of business?

Well the Saratoga Top, was an ill fitting, leaky piece of junk when it first came out and age has not helped.....now it is an expensive, ill fitting, leaky piece of junk.

Find one and sell it to a sucker on ebay....

Just my $.02.

[newestone]

while we're on the topic of making tops did anyone see the carbon fiber top on that superchrged V8 conversion at the October Pomona swapmeet?
just wondering I thought it was pretty cool, and was wondering if anyone knew where he had it made.

[JP Noonan]

Make a jig that outlines the size of the opening you want to match the Lexan. Use a router with a straight cut bit to make the hole. Then either use a ball bearing guided "rabbeting " bit, or make a smaller jig and cut a ledge the thickness of the Lexan. Use silicon and rivets or some fancy countersunk hardware.

Don't know if, like others said, weather or not the top is thick enough to do this though.

[sweater914]

what's a saratoga top? first time i've heard of one

[campbellcj]

Originally posted by sweater914
what's a saratoga top? first time i've heard of one

It's a smoked lexan (clear) aftermarket top that was sold for 914's as well as other cars, I think, in the past. Like this:

[sweater914]

that's slick, now why would the top leak so bad?, looks like a standard 914 top made of lexan

[Joe Bob]

Bad production, warped molds, crappy aftermarket seals....take yer pic.