rigidity

[74runner]

prostreet, my little bro rolled my duster a while ago, and now he wants to make it a 2-seater convertable. my question is: how much bracing is going to be needed to keep the car rigid? can I just fab a subframe behind the seats, or which would be the best way to go about it?

[Prostreet]

Hi Runner
When you say two seater Im guessing you are going to fill from the back of the front seats back to the sail panel in with sheet metal or some type of material to close it off. If so that helps you hide some structure that will be needed to secure the integrity of the cars side to side structure, but will need additional support front to back. My thoughts would be to come up into the striker pillar area and forward to the hinge pillar area. I would add tubing inside the rocker and connect to the ones that go up th pillars, and this should give you structure to keep the door gaps from closing when going over uneven pavment or two people are in the car.. A subframe would be a great add on along with the others to keep the strength in the floor pan area. :)

[74runner]

ok thanks for the help, It's just in the planning stages now we should get started around spring, so there will be alot more questions then:D

[Daffy]

I think I'd go with a six point bar as well since your brother has shown us he likes to drive inverted:D Plus it would make up for the loss in stiffness from the removal of the roof.

[74runner]

I don't know if we're gonna go full cage, won't look as good. I'm thinkin just a rollbar right behind the seats and have that welded on to the support behind the seats.