ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: Soupy on July 14, 2010, 04:22:21 PM
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I so I finally landed my mits on a zuki. Drove 4 hours thinking I was getting a 2 door. I show up and its a 4 door. The deal was sweet enough I took it. I traded a 94 nissan sentra 2 door (running), for a 1995 'kick, 4 door JLX 4wd, not running - some sort of electrical fuse blowing problem. Seller already through an ignition switch, fuel pump, 20-30 fuses at the problem and just flat out gave up. While I set out to resolve the short issue, I'm looking to find every picture of a 4 door that has had the top cut or made into a convertible. I'm not finding much. mayb I'm breaking new ground, but I REALLY want togo topless. I'm thinking a 2 door donor and a plasma cutter will go a long way. Cut out the roof section, weld into 4 door, making surnot to molest any of the mating surfaces on the door, and then solve the diff door length issue and figure out a way to secure top. - Massive velcro and bungy straps or 1" tie down straps sewn into top? to start. Will build roll cage etc. I just want to see what others have done. Must be someone out there with an itchy trigger finger and a sawsall. If you haveany pics, Can you post em up? Ortell me where they are? Thanks
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where are you located? I might have a 2 door kick for you to chop up. I have only seen one 4 door with a chopped roof. it was a white one, but cant seem to find where I saw it.
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tualatin OR -
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Probably the reason you don't see 4 door convertables is once you cut the top off
you jepordize the integrity of the frame (ie. weaken it), unless you stengthen the
frame with additional support.
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I intend on adding a rollbar after removing sheet metal /top
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id say cut it and weld in 2 front sections of soft top frame. then either get 2 front sections of hardtop or a custom softtop and run it like the 4door jeeps.
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I'm thinking of starting with a 2 door convertible top section, then I can use the canvas as a basic start. In a previous life I had a ford ranger that a did a hard tiop conversion. Brand name was Raticle. SO I've taken a sawsall to my draily driver once before and aint skeerd to do it again. Just was hoping for puictures of what the brave soals did before me. But then again, maybe not everyone is willing to chop up thier zuki's. Ehh, I'll try to take some pictures if I get the right parts assembled. Maybe I'll start a whole new tren din th zuki world... or maybe not :)
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Don't worry, you're not the only one, I thought of doing this for a while, and came up with a few different ways. It could possibly be done by cutting the roof between the doors but keeping the doors and door pillars intact, down behind the rear doors, then from front to rear under the quarter windows. Relocate the top tailgate hinge and use a softtop tailgate. I'd probably use a modified factory canvas top, extended in the front to reach the windshield, and shortened in the back to match the 4-door quarters.
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I may times thought about taking the flip section from a 2 door and grafting it onto a 4 door. If I knew how to cut and weld I'd have tried it. Instead I ended up buying a 2 door Wrangler Unlimited.
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Another idea is to trade the 4-door for a 2-door like you originally wanted.
-Eric
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Nah, that would be too easy :laugh:
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Nah, that would be too easy :laugh:
:)
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I have the thought of trading for a 2 door, but my wife has fallen in love with the idea of a 4 door for more room to bring the dog with on our grand voyages. and really, what is the fun in a trade, where are are the busted knukles, cut fingers and wondering if the damn thing will ever see the light of day again in a simple trade.
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Interesting idea, I'm not sure how easy it would be to graft on the top section of a 2-dr, the metalwork around the front is quite different on a 4-dr but the windscreen is the same so you could make it work.
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The old Scouts use to have an oversized bikini top that snapped across the window frame (if I remember correctly). Not the best for water tight, but worked... maybe you could take a Kick Bikini top and have an upholstery shop extend it to the length of the 4 door and have it supported by your roll bar....
Zig
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Here's an older discussion I found that has some pics. I think there's another discussion somewhere with more pics of the same zuk, but I couldn't find it.
http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/general-suzuki-forum/cutting-roof-off/ (http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/general-suzuki-forum/cutting-roof-off/)
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...I've got a 4dr out back that I will be doing this to come fall.
I will weld back doors and fill, and bend up some SS frames and make a canvas back (I do marine canvas/upholstery work)
Good Link.
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I'll def take pictures and post when I do mine. Not sure when I will get to it. I plan to start with a factory canvas, and extend it over a roll bar.
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Someone needs to do this to a 4 door Zuk!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/mrmontez2000/DesertMetal/DMCOM.jpg)
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that looks like a death trap
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anyone have an idea what it would cost to have a rollbar put in. 3 hoops total- 1 up around windshield, 1 behind front seats, 1 behind rear seat or at rear bumper.and then bar along the outside edge to tie it all together. I'd add a bikini top and call it good.
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that looks like a death trap
I agree. Didn't even bother to add reinforcement, it looks like. There's nothing tieing the rear together either. Pretty bad...but LOOKS badass!
anyone have an idea what it would cost to have a rollbar put in. 3 hoops total- 1 up around windshield, 1 behind front seats, 1 behind rear seat or at rear bumper.and then bar along the outside edge to tie it all together. I'd add a bikini top and call it good.
EXO cage