Draynor's S13 Vert (Hardtop)

[Draynor]

I picked up another vert ( yes, another one ) !

Little back story first...

Last November or so I picked up a starlet for $300!



I traded that for a MK2 supra...




Traded that for a S13 coupe...



Traded that for my first S13 vert, with a sr20det swap!






I initially pulled the SR out of that vert to swap in the 510. Sold the shell for $1000. So I was gonna swap the 510 with the SR, but then I got offered a complete LS swap for a s13 for my sr.

L33 5.3L (aluminum block)
Z32 twin turbo tranny with adapter plate
Lightened flywheel & stage 3 clutch
Full mount kit for s13



Ok, so that catches you up.

Now that I have the LS, I wanted another vert that I could actually build this time (last one was too rough of a start for what I wanted with the car). So...I picked up another vert last week, a lot cleaner one at that!

$850 and I drove her home









Top was opened while driving, completely busted to the point of it not being worth fixing.



Hardtop it is! Using a coupe roof I got from a friend, this is just a hour or so into cutting!





It's gonna take some tricky fab work to make it all seal and function properly while still looking presentable!

I need a roof, rainy season is coming!

[yello620]

So, after all the trading, are you going to use the L33? I could be interested in one if its getting sold.

[Taterhead]

Yay, he's back. I was wondering what "vert (hardtop)" meant. Can't wait to see how you pull it off. (The fabrication, not actual removal)

[Laecaon]

Pretty sure the L33 is going into the s13. The s13 currently has a good ka24de in it...

[draker]

Ka for sale?

[Draynor]

So, after all the trading, are you going to use the L33? I could be interested in one if its getting sold.

The plan is to swap the L33 in. But if something unexpected comes up and it needs to go I will let you know!

[Draynor]

Yay, he's back. I was wondering what "vert (hardtop)" meant. Can't wait to see how you pull it off. (The fabrication, not actual removal)

Haha I have a few ideas rolling in my head! The roof is actually surprisingly light after taking all the inner crap off it!


I'm thinking some sort of J-hook on each rear pillar with a channel seal in the original vert trim.

[Draynor]

Ka for sale?

Gonna keep it for now, nice to have a KA hanging around

[draker]

I agree. Just checking

[Laecaon]

Some work done on the s13.

What we started with:






Soft top removed:




Dog:


Derek:


Original front locking plate from the soft top. We are going to use it on the hard top.







Cut off wheel! (my Hilti grinder)


Front locking bar on the roof (not at all in the final location). It fits surprisingly well.




And where we left off. Its fitting a lot better. Still need to trim the front edge more. And then a lot of cutting and planing for the bottom edges. Looks like it going to get a Lexan rear window.

[flatcat19]

It definitely looks a bit different. Can't wait to see you finish that.

[510freak]

That is going to be a one of?
great idea given the weather in the pnw

[Laecaon]

Updates. We have been working on it off and on for the last little bit. Came to a few conclusions. Took off all the trim on the vert as it was in the way of making the top sit on the car. We think we have found a way to actually run stock glass for the rear window. There is a lower edge for the rear window welded in (not pictured). Its sitting just about exactly where it needs to go. At this point, its a matter of getting the front lined up, and then everything should work out swell once we make it work with a seal. We still havent done much to the car itself, but that will change as we make an area for it to seal.

Also, after having cut the roof up, and a bit of trimming on the car, we have concluded that a S13 vert is in fact 100% a Coupe with the top cut off.

[Draynor]

Picture of the piece for the rear window.

[Draynor]

Jacob found a s13 coupe part out, got the window and all the trim pieces I needed for the roof for $80.

Just got home with it, more pics in the day light!

Thanks Jacob!

[Draynor]

Daytime pics! So excited, is so close!

[izzo]

Damn dude. I have never seen someone do that. Good job!

[Draynor]

Been a while...Been Busy...Life

I'm getting back to my own projects, I haven't been working on them but that hasn't stopped me from collecting a lot of parts to get them done.

New turn for the vert is the power plant is now a 99 Camaro LS1 mated to a 02 Silverado 5 speed (NV3500).

Have most my stuff for the swap, just finishing chassis cleaning, undercoating and suspension overhaul before I do the drivetrain stuff. I want a nice clean car all around.

Well here is what it looks like until I get my clutch and flywheel setup in!

[Laecaon]

This will be fun!

[DRIVEN]

I'll be curious to see how that transmission works out in a car. I'm fairly familiar with them but the closest I've seen someone come is a swap into a Gbody that was never completed. Be sure to get some GM Synchro Mesh fluid for it. Makes a huge improvement in shift quality. Cheapest I found was Amazon.