Blazer retractable convertible top

[PHAT TONY]

UUUMmmmm, that might be the koolest thing ever. When can you do mine?

[zammer]

Thanks man! It was pretty rewarding seeing the thing stoke for the 1st time without needed to fire up the grinder and welder..
I'll tell you what Tony, if you can spray my blazer in the next year or so I can do another one no prob now that I don't have to do 1200 measurements and use up 40-50 zip disks to make adjustments...
Start looking for a top rack laying around..
Now that the top is done the big hurdle will be trying to tuck the side windows into the bed sides

[Cartoonface]

Originally Posted by zammer

Thanks man! It was pretty rewarding seeing the thing stoke for the 1st time without needed to fire up the grinder and welder..
I'll tell you what Tony, if you can spray my blazer in the next year or so I can do another one no prob now that I don't have to do 1200 measurements and use up 40-50 zip disks to make adjustments...
Start looking for a top rack laying around..
Now that the top is done the big hurdle will be trying to tuck the side windows into the bed sides

I'll trade you a spray job for a top!....seriously!

[herb101]

"Yay! A Truck!!"

That is absolutely awesome! I am getting the shivers getting ready to re-skin my Mustang's convertible top and I don't have to mess with the mechanisms at all. Incredible out-of-the-box thinking man.

A suggestion for what it's worth...You might consider building up the bed top rails to match the body lines of the doors. This would allow a smother, unbroken line for the bottom the the finished drop-top and it would give you another inch or two of room to tuck the new rear windows away in.

Very cool work for sure.

Herb

[red71cheyenne]

That is awesome!! Amazing you could get it to work the way you wanted. Wish I had that kind of patience and brain power.

[QKENUF4U]

Originally Posted by PHAT TONY

UUUMmmmm, that might be the koolest thing ever.

my exact thoughts too....

[Effeckt]

That looks fantastic! You did a great job with it.

[kvn1011]

cool!! it will be interesting to see what you do with the rear side windows!

[brian26]

I can dig it. I got mine only as a halftop, and it's very nice to see someone tackle the rear seat version. Stay with it. I'll be checking in.

One thing you might add to the 'to do' list- "IF" you still have the rain gutter on the windshield header, you'll want to trim it. The vaccuum pulls pretty heavy as it comes over the top, creating a blowfrog effect. The top will have to be tight, and maybe the vaccuum ceiling being lower, you'll be happy.

Since yours is a custom, you have much more lee-way than I gave myself.

Build it.

[orangek5]

Originally Posted by brian26

I can dig it. I got mine only as a halftop, and it's very nice to see someone tackle the rear seat version. Stay with it. I'll be checking in.

One thing you might add to the 'to do' list- "IF" you still have the rain gutter on the windshield header, you'll want to trim it. The vaccuum pulls pretty heavy as it comes over the top, creating a blowfrog effect. The top will have to be tight, and maybe the vaccuum ceiling being lower, you'll be happy.

Since yours is a custom, you have much more lee-way than I gave myself.

Build it.

Not to create a hijack of this thread, but your truck does the same thing, it would be nice to see video of how yours works also

[brian26]

[brian26]

And by the way, I've been at it since '94 (now and then), and there are very few of us out there. Less than five I know, maybe less than that, in the world. For old Blazers of course.

Need any thing, let me know. I truly want to help.

[brian26]

Watching your video again has me really liking your actuators. The movement of the top is nice and balanced, without any rock and jive. Excellant craftsmanship too!

[brian26]

Yes, I'll be getting mine up soon. Finally learned about yoo-toobe and such. Just need to film it now............. I'm seeing some things this guy is doing here that interest me.



But, the room in mine is limited, and a "behind the rear seat" drop top is worthy to pursue(women like practical Blazers, for the kiddos of course). I did look into this avenue back in '98, but the mechanism I had ( fold out couch!LOL) had something that didn't jive......can't remember what it was. I did use the fold-out couch geometry for the half-top though. When I started, stock was "in". I see this new generation much more willing to cut and modify Blazer skin.

We really need to pursue this school of thought for old Blazers. And maybe, juuussst maybe, the rest of the world will quit calling us Bronco enthusiasts!LOL

This could set us apart.

[brian26]

I'm thinking 59-60 power sideglass rear window mechanisms from a Cadillac, 2 door hardtop. Maybe even use the glass too. Steel frames, chromed, and close to the shape here.

[zammer]

To give you guys an idea of what I am doing with the windows on the sides....
I picked some old doors that were rusted out on the bottom and I cut off the top 2.5" where the window comes through and I will be welding that on top of the bedsides to increase that height.... Where I have cut the top section already that will be were the top section will go .
I can then use the inner door for attaching the window regulators which will be powered on the inside of the bedside near the air cylinders... I mocked this up already but didn't take any pics, it looks pretty sweet as it follows the body lines nice and will be very functional for the side windows..

[1LoC10]

Coming along great... didn't Pat Maxwell do one of these in the mid 90's? or was I dreaming....lol

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by 1LoC10

Coming along great... didn't Pat Maxwell do one of these in the mid 90's? or was I dreaming....lol

Pat did a rendering for a customer, but it wasn't a retractable top. It was a phantom style removable top. That was an idea he and I discussed many times, but I never got one built.

This is amazing...

[zammer]

Wow... it has been a while again..
Geez where do i begin.. Well, first of course like many projects on here I had to put this one on hold going back to mid December... I am building my family a house and breaking ground on it in 3-4 weeks..
I am doing the building myself so needless to say it has become my new project... But the good news is I'll have a large garage to play in as well after I am done..
- As for the blazer, I did get some stuff done on it since my last post up until 4 weeks ago.. I finished all my floor and patch work, POR 15'd the under sides of the tub and I mounted the body to the frame with the body mounts etc. I wanted to get this done so the rest of the body work I am doing would obviously be required to have no shifting of the tub.
I decided to get all new body panels to speed up the project. I bought new doors, front 67 fenders, new 67 hood, 2 swb boxsides which I already cut down to blazer size and have one side finished. I'll get some pics of the progress when I get a chance. Another part of this taking a while is its freezing cold outside here right now and the house I'm renting while building has no heat in the garage so that takes a bit of motivation away..
It's all good though, I project by this time next year I will have a 1300 sq ft garage to work in with heat and I can enjoy the 2nd leg of the convertible progress... And I will definitly be finishing this, I pretty motivated on this blazer and really enjoy what it has become so far. I know it won't sit too long..
Its great to see interest in this top project, thanks guys..
Kris

[brad2]

Very cool!

[cvalcore]

its coming along awsome!!!!

[zammer]

Hey Thanks guys... I'll get some window pics out in the next week once I figure out where I can tuck the window in the inner bedside nicely

[AirSpeed]

Very cool! Keep it up!

[orangek5]

Time for another update. Because im an addict.

[PHAT TONY]

Ya...c'mon!