1977 Eldorado Convertible conversion

[rsuddeth]

I just purchased a 1977 Eldorado hardtop as a parts car for my 1976 Eldorado convertible project.  The '77 has a bad engine, but is otherwise in such good shape, that I am looking into putting the convertible top from the '76 on it and swapping the engines.  the engine part should be easy (i think), but the convertible conversion appears to be a big job.  I know a few shops did this, but they don't want to tell me how.  Has seen the process?  It looks like the biggest hurdle will be the mounting points for the side gearboxes of the top.  Also, it looks like there may be some fabrication for the rear windows.  Any help?

[jagbuxx #12944]

Why don't you just take the good '77 parts and put them onto the '76?

[rsuddeth]

Jag,  that was the original plan, but it seems that I will be transferring most of the car.  floor pans front and rear, trunk pan, rear deck lid, fenders, entire interior, etc , etc.  It may be less work to make the '77 a convertible.  And I thought it would just be cool/fun to do it. 

[JoeKarasinski]

Cars like the 79 Eldorado convertibles started out as hardtops. 76 and older Eldorado convertibles started out as convertibles.
So there's a lot more to it than just the top. It's everything from above the belt line and everything from behind the doors is specific to the convertible so you are talking about the windshield frame, a bunch of structural stuff and the tops of the quarter panels.

To me it would be easier to swap the floors and even the bottom of the quarter panels where your work is much easier to hide. Also in transferring the top and all parts if you make even a small mistake your top may never fit properly or door windows may never fit the a-pillar right.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Don't forget that the Chassis is Convertible-specific, as are the sills.

There is a lot more strength required to stop the body from flexing, and twisting, once the roof is removed.

Bruce.

[Barry]

There are so many 76 convertibles in every price range, do yourself a favor and just get what you like in a 76-get the best you can afford and enjoy it !

[rsuddeth]

The fun for me is inthe challenge and the build. It may be a great project for me and my boys. Or, it could be a lesson in humility.

[Barry]

Guess i'm fresh out of the challenge phase ! That's why I am selling the Talisman and love the 22K mile-turn the key and go Bicentennial Convertible ! Never a glitch !! Sounds like an overwhelming project to me, but have fun and hope all turns out well !!

[76eldo]

Fixing the 76 is a far easier task.  Not going to be very easy to make a 77 into a convertible.

Like the others have said, why not buy a decent 76 convert to enjoy?

Sell off both cars to get some cash to get going on a 76 convert.  A chopped up 77 will never be worth anything.

Brian

[rsuddeth]

Again, I am not building this to be worth anything.  I just building it as a project for me and my boys.  If it gets to a point that  i see it will not work, I will simply use the parts from the 77 to fix up the 76.  I know this conversion was done a fair number of times in the 70's and I was interested to see if anyone here has seen one of these done.  Of course it would be easier to go out and buy a convertible in good shape and i would do that if my goal was to simply have the car, but that is not my goal.  i want a challenging, fun, informative project for my boys and I to bond over.  Does anyone have any information on the actual conversions that were done to these cars?

[JoeKarasinski]

I've never seen a 77 or 78 Convertible in person but from searching around the internet here I read that a few 77 and 78s were built by custom coach in Ohio. They look exactly like 76's so it would be my best guess that they did it with parts supplied by Cadillac.
There were a couple of companies that made convertibles out of hardtops. I worked for ASC/McLaren back in the 80's and we'd start with hatchback Mercury Capris. I know that there were 77-79 Thunderbirds and 79 and newer Eldo's, and stuff built too but none of these cars are going to be nearly as complex of a conversion as you are undertaking (given that you have both a convertible and hardtop)


What you want to do is not impossible but it sure seems the longer road to the same destination.

[76eldo]

Do you have the space to cut off the entire rear clip of the convertible?

They are body on frame construction.  Get a plasma cutter or cutting wheel and just cut the clip off of the back of the car at the middle of the door opening.

You will also have to deal with the windshield frame so that the top will have something to latch to.

A project car is a great way to bond with your kids, but you could also teach them auto skills by fixing the 76 with parts from the 77.

The entire back of the car is different so it's a very advanced project even for a seasoned body man. 

Only you know what your skills are, but i have heard that with enough time and beer anything can be accomplished.

good luck!

Brian

[Barry]

I have owned several 76 Eldorado convertibles over the years. Possibly a better project would be to resurrect the 76 into the most beautiful shape you can get it into! These are not cars to be tinkered with. It's giving me anxiety attacks and it's not even my car or my business ! LOL ! Best of luck with what ever you decide !!
Barry

[Glen]

Again, I am not building this to be worth anything.  I just building it as a project for me and my boys. 

Bravo!  Cars are not tools to get money, money is a tool to buy and fix cars and have fun.  To me it is more fun to work on cars than it is to drive them.     

[rsuddeth]

Thanks for the remarks.  It looks like mounting the top would be the easiest part.  I am concerned with the windshield frame (A Pillar?) and the rear windows.  More the windshield than anything.  the two look very different.  the convertible windshield frame looks more like a roll bar.  I was hoping that that part could be adapted to work as is.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

You will have to take the top of the windshield from the convertible, after measuring it that is, and weld it together half way down the sided.   You will need to cut the outer skin away to give you access to weld the internal parts for greater strength.

Then you can simply screw the stainless trim back on to complete the task.

Here is one I saw in Canada (BC or AB) in 2002.   I inquired as to the vehicle and that Cadillac didn't make one for that year, to which he replied, "It wasn't a Convertible till this morning.   The Sawzall made short work of that."

It was surprising what a bit of contact cement and felt will cover up.

Bruce.

[rsuddeth]

Bruce,  That is hilarious.  From a distance it is hard to tell.  "not a convertible till this morning".. that is great.  I am trying to see if there is any difference other than the top of the windhsiled frame.  I will remove door and a front fender to get a better look.  If it is just the top portion, then I am not too discouraged.  Then it is on to figuring out the rear window.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

If the actual windscreen glass is the same, as in interchangeable, then it shouldn't be too difficult to swap over the top half of the frame.   Just welding it up to retain the strength of the convertible to stop the roof trying to pull it rearwards at speed with the top up is the hard part.

Bruce.

[JoeKarasinski]

No, the glass is different. Convertible windshield measures 30 x 70 inches and the Coupe glass is 32 x 72.

You'll need to swap out the full windshield frame.

[J. Skelly]

I've got a '77 with the Astroroof.  It has most of the open air feeling of a convertible, without the structural modifications you're talking about.  It sounds like a challenging home project.  You may want to consider installing the T-tops that were occasionally seen on these in the late 70s if a convertible conversion proves to be too much of a task.  Another consideration is a pickup with a removable rear window!  Good luck with whatever you end up doing.