SE to hardtop

[turbobus]

First I must apologize to anyone offended by me turning my SE to a hardtop! A little history is in order, I've had this car since 1979, my first car! I was actually looking for a hardtop but could not find one so I purchased an SE with a 400 2bbl electric Windows and factory sunroof. Kids are grown and gone so I find myself in a position to build the car I always wanted! New quarters installed, power bulge hood on, paint and body complete, 440 sitting in garage. All parts required to convert to hardtop have been purchased, but I have a question about the galvanized roof rail weatherstrip holder, how far should it protrude into the space between the b pillar and t he inner structure? The ones I purchased end just past the gutter. Is there another piece that holds the roof rail weatherstripping for the quarter Windows? Any help would be greatly appreciated😀

[Tom]

Well...I am not offended.

I'll leave it for Nacho to explain the conversion. Over the years, I have seen him go thru all that many times. 

[Nacho-RT74]

Is it posible?, yes

I would do it?, definitely not

I'm still at bed posting from the tablet LOL, so still lazy to writte up long posts but to be honest, I'd sell the SE and get a hardtop. I think in all these years ( and I'm talking around 16 years ) have seen just couple of guys on boads making it and no one posted the final results. Maybe got tired ? Dunno.

Will need to get lot of parts from some donor including interior trim. Being your car is powered windows, will find how hard is try to get powered REAR regulators AND the harness for them. Unless you don't care to get a manual rear setup. Will need body job to elongate the drip rail and cut the U jam cut for the glass to be able to roll up and down the glass... etc. if you have brougham interior panels, will find how exclusive are hardtop brougham rear upper panels and without the crank hole done on rear, unless you change upper front and rears from a coupe if gets powered rear windows, or from a hardtop if you get manuals and forgett about brougham panels. THEN A GOOD CONDITIONS interior sail panel set...

[DynoDave]

I have nothing to contribute except to say Welcome aboard turbobus!



Pretty cool that you still have your first car. I look forward to following your build. I hope that you will keep us posted on your progress.

[turbobus]

Thanks Guys,
Drip rails were lengthened prior to paint and body work but your right,,,the manual regulators were all I could find, they'll have to work until I can find electric ones, wiring isn't a problem. Got used sail panels, as none are available,as far as I know. The ones I got are in OK shape, they are the molded plastic kind. Slots were cut in jamb prior to paint as well.
Still not sure how far back the roof rail weatherstrip goes, does it seal the quarter glass?

[montclaire]

I *think* there should be a sweep on the sail panel piece, and a sweep on the quarter sill.

[Nacho-RT74]

weatherstrip mold and weatherstip itself gets into the C pillar area in fact.

Sail panel is virtually imposible to find unless you fabricate it. But if you found them that day was your lucky day

if you go with manual rear windows will need to open the crank hole on upper panel... then getting the power setup, will need a new upper panel because the hole will be there, unless you use somekind of plug to cover it.. Windows switches mount onto lower panel.

( I didn't take care of this update on the conversion )

[Nacho-RT74]

Jan 16, 2019 14:40:35 GMT -5 montclaire said:

I *think* there should be a sweep on the sail panel piece, and a sweep on the quarter sill.

yes, they usually are already attached on any piece you get... however could need some replacement

[montclaire]

Nacho, so you would have the roof rail seal ending at the back corner of the window, then a short sweep on the sail panel trim, and then a sweep along the quarter, correct? I don't know if the sweeps clip in or what, or if the flange is stamped for them on the SEs. I thought there was a small difference between quarter panels, an unstamped flange might be it.

[odzking]

I have an SE and I am not offended. I always say it's your car, do what you want with it. However having said that with Nacho, find the car you want.
Back with my original 73 in 74/5 I always wanted an A/C car but didn't buy one. So I had it installed, looked factory and all was fine until the overheating issues started. One of many with it. A/C cars have different components, water pump, larger radiator etc. After having all these items converted and repaired I spent more that if I'd just found the car I wanted. I have stuck to that many times over. So again, if you want a hard top, buy a hardtop, they are out there.