[RolledMySTi]

Got the stereo installed. For some reason it is offset to the left. Don't know why, as there was no left or right adjustment. I used the Metra kit and it only requires trimming the top and bottom, not the sides. Has anyone else had this issue? Other than that the stereo works great. I didn't want one with an lcd since I can't lock the van. This one was under $200 out the door at Best Buy and I am really pleased. Works awesome with Bluetooth audio. Also, screw you GM for riveting in the rear door speakers! And of course the dash cracked due to cheap 24 year old GM plastic.

 

[RolledMySTi]

Fixed the rear wiring. There was wiring that went along the top of the back roof that I had to deal with. Unfortunately I forgot to take a before picture. I cut out all the wiring for things no longer on the car, taped it up, and redid 2 grounds.

I trimmed the panel that across the bottom so I could sneak the wiring below it.

Here's the final product. I'll have to get a better picture in the morning. It came out great. Once the roll cage is in I can clean up the side wiring nicer. Once the side panels get back in you won't see any wiring.

 

[tinworm]

Looking good!

 

[RolledMySTi]

Just picked the Astro up from getting the roll cage yesterday. It came out so much better looking than I expected. They built mounts so all the seatbelts are still 3 point. Drift Cave Motorsport hit it out of the park on this.

Next up is painting the cage and the bed liner the floor.

 

[Mmusicman]

Better put some overhead padding on those bars.. lol
Looks great

 

[RolledMySTi]

Better put some overhead padding on those bars.. lol
Looks great

Thanks!
The outside seats your head misses the bar, but the middle seats definitely has head bonking potential. Thus the middle seats are kids and short people only. Since I have a 4 and 7 year old I won't do padding, but if I was loading it up with adults padding would definitely be a good idea.

 

[RolledMySTi]

Here is another shot of the cage. Got the seats out so I can paint the cage and work on the floor.

 

[Mmusicman]

The roll bar turned out GREAT!

Despite that you've stated it's not needed, it wouldn't be hard to put an easy top on it like one of those African safari vehicles, or a Bimini top like a boat, something that snaps on and easily removable (no sides). Of course this defeats the idea of a convertible. Just an option.. if the need ever arose.

What can I say.. I live in Florida.
Carry on! lol

 

[RolledMySTi]

Thanks. I'm thinking more about a top now that the roll cage is beefier than I originally thought. We just had a week of 95 degree weather, and while we don't get the Florida rain, the sun was brutal. A little shade would definitely help on days like that.

Today, before it got too hot I was able to get the first coat of paint on the roll cage. The shop recommend I paint it with Steel-It. Stuff is expensive. $38 a can. And two coats is going to take 3 cans. Of course I ordered two so I can't do the second coat until Thursday when another can arrives.

 

[Mmusicman]

Yes.. here we usually daytime drive our convertibles with our tops UP in our HOT summer South Florida sun. Sun will cook you quickly. Pretty sure that sun is super summertime hot for much of the country too. Evenings however... tops come down and it's party time!

 

[tinworm]

That turned out amazing! I love it, makes me want to lop the roof off mine as well!

Concerning a top i would take that by a marine canvas shop and let them pattern it for a simple sun top (i work for one of these) as said, a bimini top like a boat, but with maybe some extra reinforcements or tensioning for road speeds.

Since you say you arent ever going to drive this in the rain, you can use a track and bolt rope along the leading edge. The track can just screw right down onto the roof and then the top would slide in the from the side, and you would have a solid connection to try and cut down on flapping. This arrangement would not be truly water tight for a car, but perfect for sun.

If you do this make sure you go by in the off season, like for example this week would be a bad time to visit a canvas shop as all the marinas a trying to get boats in the water for july 4.

This is an awesome job

 

[RolledMySTi]

Thanks!

That's actually a good idea if I do a top. I never thought of going to a Marine shop, but that makes sense. Might be a good thing to do in winter when they need work.

That turned out amazing! I love it, makes me want to lop the roof off mine as well!

Concerning a top i would take that by a marine canvas shop and let them pattern it for a simple sun top (i work for one of these) as said, a bimini top like a boat, but with maybe some extra reinforcements or tensioning for road speeds.

Since you say you arent ever going to drive this in the rain, you can use a track and bolt rope along the leading edge. The track can just screw right down onto the roof and then the top would slide in the from the side, and you would have a solid connection to try and cut down on flapping. This arrangement would not be truly water tight for a car, but perfect for sun.

If you do this make sure you go by in the off season, like for example this week would be a bad time to visit a canvas shop as all the marinas a trying to get boats in the water for july 4.

This is an awesome job

 

[RolledMySTi]

Three very expensive coats of Steel-It and roll cage is painted. I really like how it came out.

Next is bed line the floor.

 

[RolledMySTi]

Did get this installed now that the cage is painted. Gotta keep it fun.

 

[RolledMySTi]

Holiday gas prices for you Mmusicman

 

[tinworm]

Haha i love those lights

 

[RolledMySTi]

Got the floor painted today. I used Herculiner. It was pretty easy to use. The worse part, like always, was prep. The interior panels are going back on once I trim them for the roll cage. Thus the sloppiness on the drivers side. Overall I am very please with it. Next is putting trim pieces back, front seats back and 8" powered sub under the passenger seat.

 

[tinworm]

Looks good!

Ive been thinking about your sliding door.

What about using a heavy duty drawer slider that is used for a truck bed tool drawer?

One of those ones rated for a couple hundred lbs and with a long extension.

Then theoretically you could you could make a pivot point on the front top of the door and the top of the body behind the door, and mount a slider at full compression between them with the door open, so that it slides open and swings slightly as you close the door.

If the pivot points and slider were strong enough it might do the job of stiffening things up enough with a pretty simple install

Here is a childs diagram of the idea and a picture of a HD drawer slider i got off amazon rated for 250lbs, but they go up to whatever weight limit you desire.

 

[RolledMySTi]

That's a very interesting idea that just might work. I'll have to keep that in mind once I get further into the project and have wood over my cuts.

 

[markmitch]

I beg to differ on the gas tax thing -I just moved from California a year ago, And 51 Cents tax per gallon is outrageous and in my opinion the government of California cares only about themselves and the rich people that live there. But I do miss the great weather there. Dollar for dollar, It's just not worth it to me to live there. In the 1950s there were close to 30 military bases in California now there are maybe 7 left. Why ? Because the federal government deemed it too costly to have them there. Then there is the fact that the state is not nice to Veterans. I am quite sure other states have the same issues, but I lived there and experienced it myself.