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In Reply to: Question... posted by Josh on February 22, 2000 at 21:37:42:
: How do you compensate for the tremendous reduction in structural rigidity by removing a key element in the structure of the car?
In a phrase: You Don't! That's not to say that a properly done conversion will lose all cross-structural stiffness of the pillar/roof. Many of the conversions I've seen add extra cross-members behind the rear seat or in the forward section of the trunk when they put in the top lowering mechanism and stowage area. There is a converter in L.A. (Straman?) whose convertibles are reported to retain a high percentage of the original stiffness, thanks to added components. But you cannot fully compensate for the loss of the roof, there will still be body shimmy, especially at high speed. If any of you have experience with a Targa top, you'll know what it's like to loose that extra stiffness. Let's face it, a convertible 850 is a novelty item, and as such will always have someone trying to build/buy one.
Stan C.
'92 850i auto, Maur. Blue, 77K mi.
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