To do it or not to do it, is that the question?

[Ummgawa]

Well, Boys, It seems that I have run into somewhat of A "Moral" issue when it come to my project. When we speak in automotive terms, "Moral" is the best word I can come up with. No, I am not crushing the Heads of Baby Seals and using their lard as wax or posi lube additive. And no I am not making change in the offering plate at Church cause my project is getting expensive, Its just this:

I am Pro-touring a 69 Convertible (no rust-period), Nuttin special 327 3 speed drum brake car but as clean as a fire truck and strait as the road to hell. I keep reading about the repop bodies being **** and how "wrong" it seems to be to screw up (cut-up) a great original body, which I have.
Mini tubs, frame connectors, Yadda-Yadda (yes I have Yadda-Yadda'd fabrication work). I quite literally just stopped (5:45 pm Wednesday,1/5/04) drilling a hole in the stock tub, unplugged the SawZall, and came in here to ask; AM I DOING THE RIGHT THING? I am no longer a purist as I once was so I don't know why this is coming up in my mind!

And Hell yes I want Too!!

Is it the right thing? I have 35 large in this thing and I haven't done any thing but disassemble it!

Cuss me, Counsel me, call me a idiot !! Those of you with my phone number call and dog me!! I need advice here....

[XcYZ]

Jim, my only thoughts are what if this evolves into a serious hardcore ground pounder with a TT small block making 800+ hp? Do you want that in a Vert? Don't get me wrong, I love Verts, I love Trush's Vert, but what if you want to thrash this car, and go all out in the handling department. Would you be giving up a lot in chassis flex? I guess my point is I do not like rollcages in Verts. Will the project evolve to the point where you will have to run a cage?

[Musclerodz]

I say finish it with style. I think you are having a "I wanna go drive already" attack. I have been there already. You can't see the light at the end and you know ther is a lot more money that needs to be spent, where if you just kept it simple, you would probably be done and have a very nice driver. That why we have Lateral-G anomynous . We come here talk about our addictions and hopefully keep them in check. All you need is a little up and a from your friends at .

Mike

[Ummgawa]

No. It won't have a cage. It may have two roll bars (IE Audi TT) IF I can get the piece made for between the seats I told you about earlier. I have been repeatedly told (Kyle confirmed it- that the Verts are much stiffer than the coupes when all of the appropriate Stock items are in place) so that isn't a factor right now. I have considered tearing down my Z and making a clone Z Vert (Called a Phantom car in Street Rodder) and making the coupe car an all out screamer.

In the grand scheme of things this isn't really a problem, I just need advice from friends.

[galopin]

Are you planning on any track events (drag, road course)? If so, you should find out if the track or the event requires roll cages or other safety measures for convertibles.

[Ummgawa]

I'm trying to do what no body else has done...Twin Turbo Pro touring 69 Convertible. I haven't seen one yet (mini Tubbed with twins).

[jonny51]

Carry on soldier you already tore it apart!!It wont be worth putting it back together.Start sawing and dont look back

I also think you should take your act on the road,you are one funny dude err I mean lineman.

[907rs]

You know Jim, when I started cutting into my car I had the same feelings. I've had the car since I was twenty-one, and have a lot of great memories in that thing; hell, when I bought it, It had only been out of the little old lady original owners hands for less than six months!

I've always resisted the urge to do anything to my car that couldn't be changed back to stock....Well, until last spring, that is!

My car had been setting in the garage for a couple of years with a leaky wheel cylinder, and I was looking for another project car to spend some of my hard earned money on. To make a long story short, my wife actually talked me into cutting up my camaro!

I've wanted to do a pro-touring car since the magazines featured Mark Stielows first car, and I am finally doing just that!

So Jim, I have only one question for you...........Have you talked to the wife about the butterflys in your stomach?

I know what she'll say!

Cheer up, and keep cutting my friend.

[Steve Chryssos]

HACK AWAY!

Build the car the way you envision it. It will not truly be your car until you have personalized it. That you are starting with a clean foundation will only make the project easier. I guarantee that the car will be more valuable as a proper pro-touring car. And another thing: When I think of all the scars that I have earned while working on my car, I am reminded that the car has hacked away at me--just as I have hacked away at it. If it's too painful an experience, I will gladly come down there and cut your car up for you.

As for your roll bar, I'm seeing Porsche Boxter rather than double hoop--meaning one bar with a kink in the middle and a lexan wind blocker.

[touring67]

I too am at the point where I am going to hack up my all original sheetmetal no rust 67, mind you it isnt a convertible but I still feel a little immoral when I look at those plain unrusted panels and think to myself how I'm gonna cut and chop them to fit some huge tires or a 3 link etc in there...will I compromise the tires for the sheetmetal...NO I will not. My idea is that as far as these cars are concerned they are worth as much as you put into them and more (when done properly) so whatever you do you can get a return for. I don't intend to sell my car but thats just me. So go ahead, it's your car and I would take a PT car ANY day over an original stock one.