My Miata proves it!
Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: <svgkm@halley.ca.essd.northgrum.com>
To: <Fred_Katz@ci.sf.ca.us>
Cc: Andrew Jacobs <legal-z@worldnet.att.net>;
<datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2000 6:09 PM
Subject: Re: z-roadster
> Yes - a simple separate chassis/frame unit and body is the way to go for a
convertible,
> though with modern CAD software and the analytical capability it brings,
sizing and
> placing the requisite structures in a unibody is much simpler than it was
in the past.
>
> Gary McCormick
> San Jose, CA
>
> Fred_Katz@ci.sf.ca.us wrote:
>
> > Gary,
> >
> > Also, wasn't there a recent thread about the 240Z crumbling in the front
> > due to rust and loosing the suspension, because of the unibody design
that
> > is very different than our roadster body mounted to a rigid frame? The
> > roadster is inherently more stable than a cut-top Z because of our
separate
> > frame.
> >
> > Fred - So.SF
> >
> > _________________________adster
> > Author: svgkm@halley.ca.essd.northgrum.com
> > Date: 10/26/2000 1:18 PM
> >
> > Look up the weight numbers for the hardtop and convertible versions of
the same
> > car, any
> > car, sometime. You'll see that the convertible is always heavier. A
hardtop is a
> > mechanically efficient way to stiffen an automobile's structure - take
it away
> > and you
> > have to add heavier (both in section AND weight) members to the chassis
to
> > approach the
> > same amount of rigidity.
> >
> > Gary McCormick
> > San Jose, CA
> >
> > Andrew Jacobs wrote:
> >
> > > i actually drove a 240 with a similar conversion about 10 years ago.
> > > i had a great service guy in virginia who sold me my 240 and i
> > > happened to be there when a convertible 240 was in for service. the
> > > conversion was well done and the car looked great--i asked who ran the
> > > shop about possibly doing the same to my car, he told me to take a
> > > ride in the car that was there first--when i did, it was almost
> > > scary--the cowl moved all over the place, and when you would turn into
> > > parking lots, etc., the whole chassis would twist and make creaking
> > > noises when you passed over a dip or a rain gutter between the road
> > > and the parking lot. i decided to keep the roof on my car after that.
> > > andy
> > > 71 240z
> > > 69 2000
> >
>
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