Blazer retractable convertible top

[zammer]

A set of 225'z?
For your blazer ? Sweet that would be
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[zammer]

I need some help from any of the guys who have a late 60's to 70's GM convertible cars...
I am looking into how I am going to finish the top of the windshield frame in order to properly Fab a front header BOW and Winshield frame combo from a Chevelle / Caddy / Pontiac / OLDS of that era. Now what i need is some measurements... The top of the blazer windshield frame is 60" end to end so I am looking for a frame and convertible header bow that is close to the same dimensions and curvature of the Blazer windshield. A close example which would be perfect is this reproduction frame top for rusted out convertible windshield frames from 68 up Chevelle and 442 convertibles on EBAY....
Any ideas and measurement would be very much appreciated! I dont have access to a bunch of older convertibles to measure or compare around here as they are not around anymore up here, just the odd one at car shows if you are lucky..
thanks
Kris

http://compare.ebay.com/like/3502267...Types&var=sbar

[zammer]

Ok, I just went ahead and ordered this windshield frame "Bridge" they call it from a 70-72 Chevelle. Its the only reproduction frame bridge anyone really makes anyways so its my best bet for a start on the blazer windshield frame to modify it, most likely section it to make it wide enough to weld onto the 60" Blazer frame over the which is an almost given being the Chevelle looks narrow in comparison. This will actually help me out alot by not having to find the top "Bridge" of a car in some field etc. to hack off and re weld on the top project... I'm actually pretty pumped I came across this today!
Now if i can successfully mod the blazer frame i just need to do the same to the actual Convertible top Header Bow so it will fit over top and seal properly and look factory intended possibly would be the ultimate!

[zammer]

Maybe I should start another thread in projects for this blazer now that the top is on hold but here's a new video we took yesterday with a quick cruise around the cul d sac first time in 3.5 years since its moved...

'71 Blazer First Ride - YouTube

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[babyblueoval]

Originally Posted by zammer

Maybe I should start another thread in projects for this blazer now that the top is on hold

I vote leave everything you do to it in this thread. It's still a blazer with a future convertible top.

[babyblueoval]

OK, question on the video; were you worried about your tires rubbing the fender or is that as sharp as it will turn?

[zammer]

Good question, I was watching to see if they would rub the fenders while turning but I have a bit more room I'm sure, I will test once I have it off the lift... I was actually aired out too so my driving height will be at least 3" higher so turning shouldn't be an issue. I aired out on the driveway for some pictures and since I'm on shrader valves still I decided I couldn't wait to air up again and went for a little spin..
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[babyblueoval]

Ok, good to know. Once I ever get started, I'll be running the Porterbuilt Dropmember C4 which is narrowed and centered in the wheel well and has the vette geometry so, in theory, I should have better turning radius than truck suspension with no rubbing anyway, but i was curious. Again, once I get to that point, we shall see.
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[YBNORML]

Nice!! I bet it feels good to drive it, even if it is just around the cul de sac!
As far as a new thread goes, just do what I did with my crewcab build. PM a mod and get them to move it to the projects and builds section.
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[zammer]

It was a killer two loops around the cul de sac lol. Felt pretty good alright but of course my next push is to see what it can do now and how it can handle, my biggest hurdle yet is passing the inspection to get it registered
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[brian26]

Sounds like header on your Blaze is stock width?

The very best fitting I ever found, was the front edge , outer skin, of a 67-72 Chevy truck top lid. 2 of these, sandwhiched together, would help make that happen. A beaded edge on the fabric, like the hemline on a girls skirt, and curtain style rod run through the edge, could help give an equal amount of resistance to 'pull', when the top fabric stretches out.

Somewhere between this and your header bow, and maybe a looksee on a blazer top, is the combo to fit there .

The rear cover can be hinged using 67-72 Chevy truck hood hinges. I used that on mine and it worked just fine. However, in the future I intend to use billett hood hinges for more accuracy. They would clear everything including the edge of the tailgate. I also have a great idea on how to get a tight fitting actuator device that would open the rear .

I would look at the door glass on a 2 door , 1960 GM Hardtop, not post, hardtop. Maybe even a convertable of that time. Study the operation. The glass may not fit, but there are some pretty slick ideas to look at for sealing.

I have subscribed to your youtube page, my handle is 'texonthebeach'. PM me if you want my phone number, or just to communicate in a backchannel fashion, to toss ideas around.

You are very close to doing what was said couldn't be done. For every issue, there is an answer. Really.

Originally Posted by zammer

Ok, I just went ahead and ordered this windshield frame "Bridge" they call it from a 70-72 Chevelle. Its the only reproduction frame bridge anyone really makes anyways so its my best bet for a start on the blazer windshield frame to modify it, most likely section it to make it wide enough to weld onto the 60" Blazer frame over the which is an almost given being the Chevelle looks narrow in comparison. This will actually help me out alot by not having to find the top "Bridge" of a car in some field etc. to hack off and re weld on the top project... I'm actually pretty pumped I came across this today!
Now if i can successfully mod the blazer frame i just need to do the same to the actual Convertible top Header Bow so it will fit over top and seal properly and look factory intended possibly would be the ultimate!

[zammer]

Truck top lid... Hmmmm that's a good idea!
When you say sandwich together two of them is that piggy backed or opposing?
Trying to picture how the two work together...
Thanks for subscribing and the tips / ideas.. I'm treading new territory with this header bow now...
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[1lo67]

Cool Vid...

[TonyJohnson]

I seem to remember when the bikini top project was going full swing, someone made a mold of the front section of a blazer top to create an attachment without the snaps... Can't find it now?

[zammer]

Dude that would be sweet if I had a mold to start from
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[skorpioskorpio]

I believe you are looking for this thread...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=526018

[zammer]

NIce! thanks for the link.. that would work great too for a top header and made out of glass would make it lighter as well... Now, reading the thread it seems it may take some time if/when he decides to produce them.. Very cool idea though..

[TonyJohnson]

Yeah, that's it. I always wondered if this was something that could be vacuformed from a thicker plastic If you did it in two pieces, assembled it could be pretty strong. Two pieces would also allow you to have two different applications- convertible top or soft top snaps...

Something I've wanted to play with since I was a kid and had a toy version.

[BigCountryx]

I gotta say, welding up the door tops around the rear was worth the effort.
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[zammer]

Hey thanks. I like the look as well. Once the joints are filled in and painted it will look much cleaner
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[JOHNORO]

Looking Good

[brian26]

Originally Posted by zammer

Truck top lid... Hmmmm that's a good idea!
When you say sandwich together two of them is that piggy backed or opposing?
Trying to picture how the two work together...
Thanks for subscribing and the tips / ideas.. I'm treading new territory with this header bow now...
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Yes one stacked on top of the other, piggy backed, like a cup fits into a cup.

The deal I got into with my sheet metal lid is it is only one layer of metal, and at 60 -70 mph , unbraced, the vacuum above it would cause it to slap. 2 layers would give a vise-like grip for material, and raise the speed you can go before the vacuum tries to pull the top back. I ended up using a 1" strip of metal to help raise the speed limit I could go. 90 mph was enough for me.

To reduce weight on the bottom layer at least, lightening holes , flared, could help reduce that problem. But then that may blow the point of doing it all together, if the strength is gone.

[zammer]

OK... a new update for the top.. I got the 68-72 Chevelle convertible windshield frame bridge in!
I am pretty happy because the curvature and overall demensions are amazingly close to the bridge on the blazer.. The top of the blazer windshield is approx 60" and the width of the chevelle is 53". So since i think i can actually make this work I ordered one more bridge to section in the 7" , i thought i could try to fab one but i dont have any decent tools to do so and this will much better! I also ordered all the hardware i need to secure the header BOW to the windshield as well ( including 2 brand new header bows @ $360 / ea) which is getting spendy but im into this convertible top for unknown $$ now so I want to continue to do it so it looks very nice and hopefully factory intended once its in action
heres some shots to show the size etc

[tubbedII]

Wow...that curvature really does match up well! Everytime I open this thread, I still think to my self "this is so damn cool".

[zammer]

Alright! Thank you I hope it's cool in the summer and warm in the fall lol
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