Are Convertable doors and Coupe doors the same size
#1
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From: Smiths Falls.(near Ottawa!.Mapquest IT!)
Are Convertable doors and Coupe doors the same size
Just a random "hmm".(thought).
I was looking at the vert door and thought they would be kind of cool if you could have them on a Coupe.
Reason being that they have a small window at the front and would block air when you had the "other" window down.
Thanks Guys.STYX.
I was looking at the vert door and thought they would be kind of cool if you could have them on a Coupe.
Reason being that they have a small window at the front and would block air when you had the "other" window down.
Thanks Guys.STYX.
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#8
Mr. Nice Guy
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From: Jamesport, NY..."Movin' on up, to the east side!"
Lots of hearsay in this this thread........ask someone who knows first hand.....like me!
Coupe and convertible door shells are the EXACT same size. You can bolt one style door onto the other style body and it will line up perfectly. Interior panels are interchangable (with the exception of speaker placement).
HOWEVER.....The trailing edge of the door glass is cut at different angles and will not line up with the disimilar body.
Dave....Besides having to get crafty with sealing the glass to the body, you would have to have custom glass made to the correct shape.
Last estimate I got (about 4 years ago) put the pair of custom, tempered glass windows in the $1500 range.
Here are a few pics I took while doing the exact opposite of what you ponder......modifing coupe doors for my vert....
Upper window frame removed, belt line filled
My buddy Chris doing his thing
Mocked up
Sectioning the trailing edge
Grafting in the piece from the vert door
Quick test fit of the weather strip
Coupe and convertible door shells are the EXACT same size. You can bolt one style door onto the other style body and it will line up perfectly. Interior panels are interchangable (with the exception of speaker placement).
HOWEVER.....The trailing edge of the door glass is cut at different angles and will not line up with the disimilar body.
Dave....Besides having to get crafty with sealing the glass to the body, you would have to have custom glass made to the correct shape.
Last estimate I got (about 4 years ago) put the pair of custom, tempered glass windows in the $1500 range.
Here are a few pics I took while doing the exact opposite of what you ponder......modifing coupe doors for my vert....
Upper window frame removed, belt line filled
My buddy Chris doing his thing
Mocked up
Sectioning the trailing edge
Grafting in the piece from the vert door
Quick test fit of the weather strip
#10
Mr. Nice Guy
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From: Jamesport, NY..."Movin' on up, to the east side!"
Yeah, well.....
My car came with trashed doors, and I was adamant about eliminating the triangle windows while doing the body work. After some investigation, I deceided it was easier then altering the guts in a convertible door.
By the way......I didn't shell out the cash for custom windows. That's why I'm attempting to build a removable hard top instead. Can ya tell I like a challange?
My car came with trashed doors, and I was adamant about eliminating the triangle windows while doing the body work. After some investigation, I deceided it was easier then altering the guts in a convertible door.
By the way......I didn't shell out the cash for custom windows. That's why I'm attempting to build a removable hard top instead. Can ya tell I like a challange?
#12
Probably, but if you wanted protection from the wind, wouldn't you have the windows up? I don't drive my vert on the highway with the windows down. I like the cleaner look of coupe sized windows...but as you said, quite the effort.
#14
Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the bar that separates the two pieces of glass also act as a support for the windshield?
HA!! correct me if I'm wrong...on the interwebz....
HA!! correct me if I'm wrong...on the interwebz....
#15
IDK I think converting a coupe to a vert in the 80's was a lot different than it is today - chop & cut vs re-engineer?? just a thought. As much as I really like the looks of the vert, seems like they just chopped the roof off and made the rest work IMO.
#16
No, its a flimsy piece with just enough strength to hold the weatherstripping and little window in.
#17
Yes, you're wrong about this. A lot of design work and planning went into converting the FC coupe into the 'Vert. Check out one of the very good books on the RX-7 to read all the details. I like the ones by John Matras and Brian Long. There was a lot of aerodynamic testing, Mazda essentially invented the concept of the "Windblocker" for the 'Vert, a good deal of structural bracing was added, etc. Definitely not a quick chop and cut.
#18
Coupe and convertible door shells are the EXACT same size. You can bolt one style door onto the other style body and it will line up perfectly. Interior panels are interchangable (with the exception of speaker placement).
HOWEVER.....The trailing edge of the door glass is cut at different angles and will not line up with the disimilar body.
HOWEVER.....The trailing edge of the door glass is cut at different angles and will not line up with the disimilar body.
Edit: Nevermind, I know why.
#19
I always have the windows down, the top is up windows up or the top is down windows down
I have been in many convertibles and this is one of the best as far as wind buffering goes.
Its one thing to be in a convertible its another to have the wind just whipping all around you, even with the top up it is a fairly quiet car for what it is
#20
Mr. Nice Guy
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From: Jamesport, NY..."Movin' on up, to the east side!"
I agree Rob. The triangle windows do offer some protection from wind buffering. That is the reason Mazda designed them the way they did.
However from an aesthetic stand point, I feel the car looks better without them. That's why I did what I did.
However from an aesthetic stand point, I feel the car looks better without them. That's why I did what I did.
#21
I'm sure it does offer something, but somehow I doubt the guy in the F-430 driving beside me last summer was thinking "damn, I need to get me some some wind blocking triangles." I'm not saying I'm going to do it, but I'm not saying I'm not, lol...
#22
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From: Smiths Falls.(near Ottawa!.Mapquest IT!)
About an hour after I posted this I remembered that the Vert doors were frameless.(Crap!)
Ah well,now I can spend money elsewhere..
Thanks alot Guys.I appreciate the Info and suggestions..Very appreciated on this End.
Cheers Dave/STYX!~
Ah well,now I can spend money elsewhere..
Thanks alot Guys.I appreciate the Info and suggestions..Very appreciated on this End.
Cheers Dave/STYX!~
#23
we are a stain in the underwear of a F430, I dont think they care what kind of windows we have
#24