Top question, please read
Top question, please read
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
Likes: 12
From: Gateway to the West
Its been discuss before and I even think someone here did it at one time. Alas I cannot recall who or when.
The major concern is the reinforcement of the body since you are removing the steel that maintains the gap for the doors. You would end up with body flex that would "pinch" the doors unless you reinforce the body down low to keep it rigid. The Bronco would suffer a similar fate that many late 70's convertibles suffered because auto manufacturers were building coupes and just leaving the roofs off to make convertibles. This would leave a major structural link (the roof) out of the running for keeping the center of the body rigid.
The major concern is the reinforcement of the body since you are removing the steel that maintains the gap for the doors. You would end up with body flex that would "pinch" the doors unless you reinforce the body down low to keep it rigid. The Bronco would suffer a similar fate that many late 70's convertibles suffered because auto manufacturers were building coupes and just leaving the roofs off to make convertibles. This would leave a major structural link (the roof) out of the running for keeping the center of the body rigid.
Last edited by greystreak92; Nov 18, 2003 at 07:01 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,195
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio, Texas
If you build an 8-point roll cage and have it secured to the body with plates then it should take care of the flex problem.
Then you could go and have a marine grade soft top made to fit it.
I thought of doing this to my 83, I might still do it when I have a bronco I can chop around on with a sawzall.
Then you could go and have a marine grade soft top made to fit it.
I thought of doing this to my 83, I might still do it when I have a bronco I can chop around on with a sawzall.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
From: Corona, CA
Yes they are right you will need some sort of a full cage to not only keep the structural integrity of the body but also save your butt if for some reason you get into a rollover (hondas make nice ramps)
Think of it this way you have a square box with all four flaps closed. try to twist it, cant do it. remove three of the flaps. the back twists but the front doesnt remove the last flap twist... RIIIP thats how a bronco is with it's top on top off and lastly with no top.
Think of it this way you have a square box with all four flaps closed. try to twist it, cant do it. remove three of the flaps. the back twists but the front doesnt remove the last flap twist... RIIIP thats how a bronco is with it's top on top off and lastly with no top.
Last edited by frogger01; Nov 19, 2003 at 04:49 AM.
