Re: [Amc-list] Convertible conversion?

[Wrambler242@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Too much here to analyze tonight.
but, I OWN A 65 Ambassador convertible.
There is NOTHING light about the bracing on this car!

NOTHING!

Like I said, it can be jacked up on one corner and you can open and close the doors with zero signs of flex.

Cut the roof off a car and see what happens.
Mustang or Rambler, it'll bend.

Tha Ambassadors got a massive box "frame" running the entire length inside the rockers.
Corner bracing at the cowl, under the rear seat, up along the rear of the doors.

Theres a bunch of pieces.
Some of it could br added to any hardtop body.
Some of it would take a major dissection to get in there.

--
Mark Price
Morgantown, WV
1969 AMC Rambler, 4.0L, EFI, T-5
2004 Grand Cherokee Laredo, 4.7L, Quadratrac II
" I realize that death is inevitable.
I just don't want to be around when it happens! "

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Archimedes <Freedom@xxxxxxxx>
> 
> Victor the Cleaner <jonathan@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> >Just out of curiosity...
> >
> >I've got a two-door 64 Classic that's been reduced to a shell - the
> >287 was getting pretty bad (oil consumption), so I pulled it (and
> >the tranny) a few years ago and haven't yet gotten a chance to do 
> >anything with it.  Body's not in too bad shape - floor pan and front 
> >fender rust perforation and some minor front-end accident damage.  
> >But I've been wondering what it'd be like to chop the roof off and 
> >turn it into a ragtop.
> >
> >Can anyone offer any experiences (pos or neg) or opinions?
> 
> 
> You know, I had a 64 Classic hardtop, as well as a 64 Ambassador hardtop, and I 
> always thought it would have been perfect as a convertible -- and wondered why 
> AMC didn't do it.
> 
> They would need *some* additional bracing underneath.  The basic chassis is from 
> the American (as I recall the doors will interchange between the Americans and 
> the Classic-Ambassador, so that should be an clue...), and the 
> Classic/Ambassador hung some additional weight on the car -- so you'd definitely 
> want some more beef underneath.
> 
> I would think some time spent underneath a '65 Classic or Ambassador droptop, as 
> well as under a 64 American droptop, would be well-spent.
> 
> The extra bracing need not be very heavy, either -- it wasn't on the factory 
> 'verts.  The Rambler unibody was one of the stiffest designs ever built.  It 
> wasn't until the eighties that downsized unibodied cars from other manufacturers 
> started getting as stiff.  Anyone who has ever hopped from a Rambler to a Falcon 
> to a Valiant can tell you the difference in body flex.
> 
> Now that I'm thinking about this, I'm wondering why AMC didn't just take the 
> components from the convertible American and use them on the Classic/Ambassador.  
> If they are basically the same platform, then they already had done all the 
> engineering they needed.
> 
> Mark price says:
> 
> 
> >As for vert conversions.
> >I read the article in Hotrod in about 84-85 about doing the conversion on That 
> series Mustangs.
> >The roof assembly would be a beyotch.  The Mustand project used a scratch built 
> frame and I bet it was a nightmare!
> >The body takes wome serious, serious bracing!  We're talking full length tubes 
> inside both rockers, diagonal bracing etc; Lots of it.
> 
> 
> Yes, but that's on a *MUSTANG*.  They were well-known for having a weak 
> structure.  Remember they have those two additional long stiffener rods under 
> the hood.  Ford had to continuously diddle around with the chassis on the 
> Mustang, especially as larger engines were dropped into them.
> 
> If I remember right, the SC/Rambler had the same basic structure as the original 
> 64 American, plus just two additional braces under the floor.  Jack one up next 
> to a Mustang of the same vintage, and look closely.
> 
> 
> >The only ways I would consider doing a roof to convert conversion would be if a 
> convert was not available in the body style I desired 
> 
> 
> Indeed.  I always wanted to make a 69 Ambassador 2 door hardtop.  They're the 
> same width as the 67 Ambassador convertibles; all of the notable changes were in 
> front of the firewall (including 4" more length in the front frame).  I assume 
> the easiest way to do such a conversion would be to remove the entire front clip 
> of of both cars, from the front subframe upwards, by removing all the pinch 
> welds and swapping from there.  Everything behind the front door would be the 
> same.
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> MARC MONTONI
> Richmond VA
> Cu vi parolas Esperanton?
> Freedom.  Responsibility.  www.LP.org 
> I'd rather push a Rambler than drive a Toyota.
> Visit www.AMCRC.com or www.AMONational.com .
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> 
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