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From: ttynan on 15 Nov 2009 17:46
I've acquired one, an abandoned project to convert to a convertible,
along the lines of the common Morris Minor mod. Being a two-door and
with a reasonably low body line I think it looks pretty good with (so
far) just the roof chopped. Was wondering if anyone knows of such a
conversion? I am broadly familiar with the MMinor procedure regarding
stiffening and strengthenig/reinforcement to compensate for the absent
roof However, I expect that the stengthenig components need to be of
a heavier, larger design given the longer wheelbase and greater weight
of the Alpine.
I have no intention of giving it out to a 'specialist' shop as this is
a budget - but safety driven - project and I will buy in any skills
that I don't have myself.
Any thoughts?
Thanks!
TT
From: Dave Plowman (News) on 15 Nov 2009 18:50
In article
<f9f727f9-518f-4e01-89e1-961dce1a8d54(a)k19g2000yqc.googlegroups.com>,
ttynan(a)iol.ie <ttynan(a)iol.ie> wrote:
> I've acquired one, an abandoned project to convert to a convertible,
> along the lines of the common Morris Minor mod. Being a two-door and
> with a reasonably low body line I think it looks pretty good with (so
> far) just the roof chopped. Was wondering if anyone knows of such a
> conversion? I am broadly familiar with the MMinor procedure regarding
> stiffening and strengthenig/reinforcement to compensate for the absent
> roof However, I expect that the stengthenig components need to be of
> a heavier, larger design given the longer wheelbase and greater weight
> of the Alpine.
> I have no intention of giving it out to a 'specialist' shop as this is
> a budget - but safety driven - project and I will buy in any skills
> that I don't have myself.
> Any thoughts?
> Thanks!
> TT

My initial thoughts are is there a Crayford club or one that covers them?
There would likely be expertise there on the normal ways of strengthening
when removing a roof.

--
*If your feet smell and your nose runs, you're built upside down.

Dave Plowman dave(a)davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
From: Grimly Curmudgeon on 19 Nov 2009 18:58
We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember "ttynan(a)iol.ie" <ttynan(a)iol.ie>
saying something like:

>I have no intention of giving it out to a 'specialist' shop as this is
>a budget - but safety driven - project and I will buy in any skills
>that I don't have myself.
>Any thoughts?

A mate of mine had a Crayford converted Mk1 Cortina and I recall the
inner sills were strengthened with fairly large box section running
front to back. That was only the most obvious mod - quite what else had
been done to stiffen it, I don't recall.
Mind you, I made a Hunter convertible, simply by brazing up the doors
shut and angle-grinding the roof off :) No problem with stiffening,
there.
From: Chris Bolus on 20 Nov 2009 14:39
On Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:58:08 +0000, Grimly Curmudgeon
<grimly4REMOVE(a)REMOVEgmail.com> wrote:


>Mind you, I made a Hunter convertible, simply by brazing up the doors
>shut and angle-grinding the roof off :) No problem with stiffening,
>there.

Brazing... don't like the sound of that on something that has become
structural!
--
Regards, Chris (Please take out my car to reply by plain text email)
------1967 Riley Elf------1978 Mini 1000------1971 Mini Clubman------
--1972 Mini Clubman estate--1979 Ford Capri--1984 VW Type 25 camper--
From: Dave Plowman (News) on 20 Nov 2009 19:19
In article <62sdg5h5qgveq3lujt5rm6l1js6hvcv5bk(a)4ax.com>,
Chris Bolus <chrisB(a)RILEYELFb0lus.com> wrote:
> >Mind you, I made a Hunter convertible, simply by brazing up the doors
> >shut and angle-grinding the roof off :) No problem with stiffening,
> >there.

> Brazing... don't like the sound of that on something that has become
> structural!

Depends. Some modern brazing methods are as strong as a weld. Maybe even
stronger.

--
*Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups

Dave Plowman dave(a)davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
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