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Posted by: 9xauto Sep 14 2004, 11:47 AM

Does anyone have installed permanent metal roof? If yes. How did it work out? Any feedback will be appreciated.

Posted by: Elliot Cannon Sep 14 2004, 12:07 PM

One of the reasons I like this car so much is the roof can come off and stow in the trunk. Maybe it's the climate difference but why would you want to make your roof permanent?

Posted by: SirAndy Sep 14 2004, 12:12 PM

so you can tell people it's a 916!


more stiffness for the chassis would be one reason. i've never seen one, but i guess you could use a old targa top and lay some sheetmetal over it and hammer it into shape, then weld in (add some side support) ...

would be nice to see one done!
Andy

Posted by: Root_Werks Sep 14 2004, 02:08 PM

I was 18 when I got hold of my first 914-6. There was a guy with a 924 sitting in his yard that was a parts car. granted it had the big s/r in it, but I cut it out. I never had the nerve to do it and traded the 914 for a 911 so the project never got under way. But my father and I trimed the 924 roof piece so it fit just like the targa top did. I think a little creative welding adn it would have looked great! We planed on welding the s/r in place of course, actually, we did that before hand. Even the rain gutters looked good.

Go find a 924/944 and the roof man! the curve of the roof is just about perfect.

Posted by: 9xauto Sep 14 2004, 02:44 PM

The reason I'm interested, it will add stiffness to the structure and allow the use of the window net. It will also cut down on the size of the roll cage which I need to install. I do not like the open-roof "caged-out" 914. It destroys the likeness of the car the way it was not intended.

Posted by: ! Sep 14 2004, 02:54 PM

I bolted the f/g one down and use a race net.....but the net clips into the roll cage.

Posted by: Part Pricer Sep 14 2004, 02:55 PM

I'm having a hard time following that one.

Most roll cages that I've seen on 914s allow the roof to be on the car. In fact, some organizations require the roof to be on.

What are you prepping this car for?

Posted by: SirAndy Sep 14 2004, 04:00 PM

yupp, roof still fits just fine, pas de probleme ...

Posted by: Jeroen Sep 14 2004, 05:49 PM

They reasons you mention for getting a steel roof make no sense at all...
You don't need the added rigidity when you're installing a cage
You can clip the window net to the cage or the stock roof
A steel roof wouldn't add any extra clearance for a cage compared to a stock roof

The only reason to add a steel roof would be if you'd want to build a very good 916 replica
But what's the fun if you can no longer drive with the top off...

Just MHO

Posted by: 94teener Sep 14 2004, 06:46 PM

I think you will find that the rear trunk lid, which is significantly larger than the targa top, can be cut to make a rather correctly shaped steel top without too much banging on it.

Phil

Posted by: brant Sep 14 2004, 07:16 PM

9x,

you may want the window net attatched only to the cage and not the roof....

I believe SCCA and other orgs may even require this.

Its safer that way.

brant

Posted by: ThinAir914 Sep 14 2004, 10:56 PM

Hmmm... I hadn't thought of that one. I've got a hood that would do nicely for that. I'm one of those crazy people that never takes the top off the teener. Rolling down the windows is enough for me. I've thought of just such a project for my 72 once I finally get to working on restoring it, but I wasn't sure where to start. I like the idea of a hardtop because it would solve the problem of leaks between the rubber pieces. My 914s are daily drivers so they actually see rain, but I hate having it drip on my arm.

Posted by: SirAndy Sep 14 2004, 11:08 PM

and how exactly is a solid roof going to fix that?


you still need to seal the window against the top, which is the biggest problem, hard top or not ...
Andy

PS: also, molding a rear trunk lid will only work if you find a way to add the rain "channel" on the sides, otherwise your occasional drip on your arm will turn into a flood on each downpour ...

Posted by: ThinAir914 Sep 14 2004, 11:28 PM

Well when I put some RTV between the top-side piece and the angled front piece it took care of the problem until I took the top off and put it back on again. With a permanent roof I would not have to worry about it. Even though the fiberglass roof didn't leak anymore, it still squeeked and a permanent roof would take care of that for sure.

Posted by: SirAndy Sep 14 2004, 11:32 PM

oh, i see, so yours leaked where the front seal meets the roof seal.
that makes sense.
mine just leaks anywhere ...

yes, the squeeking can get annoying ...
<_< Andy

Posted by: redshift Sep 14 2004, 11:52 PM

Leaks anywhere... (sounds like Zappa 'In France')



Your teener has no manners Andy.


M

Posted by: SirAndy Sep 15 2004, 12:01 AM

you're probably going to apprechiate this ...

i was once given a Zappa record (remember, those *big black* CDs?). i had no idea what it was but it seemed like a big deal at the time.
never listened to it, didn't know what to do with it, soooo, like 2 years later or so, i'm having a party and this guy goes through my records and he's like "oh my god, you got one of those!?!" and i say, yeah, whatever, take it if you like it ...

turned out, it was a 1 out of a 100 ever made.

and the funny part? i didn't give a damm *bleep*, just gave it away to someone who probably still listens to it ...
Andy

Posted by: BatAc Sep 15 2004, 12:13 AM

I take my roof off as much as possible but it doesn't ever, ever rain in Seattle. Oh yea, maybe it's just to appreciate that big giant yellow orb!

Posted by: SirAndy Sep 15 2004, 12:19 AM

funny thing is, the more you get down to where the sun is out all the time the more people think you're a total freak for driving a "convertible" ...

on my last trip to phoenix AZ i rented a mustang convertible.
you should have seen the looks i got while i was driving down the freeway, top down, of course ...

what's wrong with these people ???? Andy

Posted by: Dr Evil Sep 15 2004, 12:31 AM

Their all A/C addicts, Andy.

Posted by: BatAc Sep 15 2004, 01:14 AM

Yea, I was talking to someone about it and they asked me if it got hot. I said it's no different than a motorcycle. Then they said "oh yea I own a Harly.".

Posted by: Brando Sep 15 2004, 01:37 AM

Oh yeah! I own a Huffy too...