Targa Top Prelude

I've got a 98 prelude and i was wondering if anyone would know what the cost range would be to get the roof made into a targa top. I saw a pic on a honda website of a concept prelude targa and it looks really tight, if anyone works at a body shop and could give me an idea i'd appreciate it. http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/500/114672Honda_Prelude_Targa.jpg

That's not a targa top (ttops have 2 removable pieces, one on the passenger and driver side), but yeah same difference. On a Prelude, do the doors have that metal part on top like this

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/uploads/71957/door1.jpg

..or do they look like this? If they look like this you could hack up the roof a lot easier.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/uploads/71957/door2.jpg

You'll have to reroute the dome light wiring, or just cut it (prolly easier and just not use the dumb thing anyways). You'll have to get some kind of custom weater stripping in there too, or rain will be a bitch. As far as getting it to lock into place and shit, I have no clue. Personally I wanted to do this to my hatch for a while, but my doors have metal around the glass like the first pic and it just wouldn't work out without dropping some serious cash.

yeah off the top of my head the 97-01 preludes are like your 1st artistic rendering...i dont really feel like walking out to my car...

problems youd more than likely run into:
-(as ricochet said) completely ditch the dome lights. theyd look stupid behind the open top.
-obviously removing your sunroof, but in doing this youre taking out more of the roof than youd probably like to...i think the sunroof is just ahead of the b-pillar, which would make it difficult when hacking away at this.
-frame rigidity...you cant tell me youre car is gonna be as stable.
-the door frames.
-weather, wind, water, etc problems...no matter how good you do this its still gonna leak, be loud, among other things...

other than that this sounds like a kick ass idea, i almost shat myself when i saw the targa concept pic. it now sits as my wallpaper...

Man I want to phochop my car to see what it looks like.. In my car (or any other 4-seater) the rear would probably act like a drag chute though.

it looks awesome, but definately isnt worth it. it would be very hard and costly. your handling would be down to shit after it. its one thing just to hack up the roof, but you would need to add reinforcement all over the car to make it rigid. thats why convertables are always heavier than their regular versions. unless your car is only meant for show, i wouldnt do it.

well yall have definitely given me some negatives i didn't think about. I was willing to drop $2000 on it, but yeh the way it sounds it definitely would prolly cost a lot more. I'm just into unique customization and have never seen that in a real lude, but i dont think it would be worth all that trouble. Thanks a lot for all yalls input...i guess i can still dream cuz thats some tight lookin stuff.

by the way, thats a tight lookin civic ricochet. I hate that i don't see enough of the 96-up hatchbacks around where i live cuz they look really good to me, especially with the type r lip and spoiler.

Man I want to phochop my car to see what it looks like.. In my car (or any other 4-seater) the rear would probably act like a drag chute though.
the part about the back seat being a drag chute is exactly what i wanted to say but didnt really have the words for. i can imagine putting a chopped up prelude through a wind tunnel and seeing the difference...just overly excessive drag. as was said though, would look stupid-sick for shows.

Man I want to phochop my car to see what it looks like.. In my car (or any other 4-seater) the rear would probably act like a drag chute though.
well I thought I'd try it for you, just remember I'm not too good with it yet and I did it kinda quick









http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid97/pc33d36ef56f5f9c68105d9dd30d21359/fa06fbcc.jpg
:D

:owned:
:iceslolan

dont know if any of you honda guys care, but some guy did it to a tib. scroll 3/4 of the page down to see the un photochopped pictures.

http://hyundaiperformance.com/forums/topic.php?t=32690

well I thought I'd try it for you, just remember I'm not too good with it yet and I did it kinda quick









http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid97/pc33d36ef56f5f9c68105d9dd30d21359/fa06fbcc.jpg
:D
HA AHHAHAHAHAH!!!!

kicker is still learning...

Ok guys, this is a bit off the wall but I thought I would throw it out there as a thought I have had...

Preludes have a decent sized engine compartment correct? Since the H22 fits in the nicely, but the Civic has to be modified a good bit to fit that beast in there I have come to that conclusion, Prelude MUST have a good sized engine bay... I wonder if anyone like me has ever had the crazy thought of putting the Accord V6 into a '92+ Prelude? Imagine that... 240 hp stock and then a mild turbo or something... it exites me just thinking about it. I imagine this would be a pretty damn hard swap though... what do y'all think?

well I thought I'd try it for you, just remember I'm not too good with it yet and I did it kinda quick









http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid97/pc33d36ef56f5f9c68105d9dd30d21359/fa06fbcc.jpg
:D
I can always count on you :grinno:

I can always count on you :grinno:
anything I can do to help :D

:dunno:

http://www.clanbbw.com/publicimg/data/images/convertacivic.jpg

:dunno:

http://www.clanbbw.com/publicimg/data/images/convertacivic.jpg
AHHAHAHAHHAH!!!!!!

photoshop is the best...

as for the v6 prelude idea...sounds good. i just wonder why you dont see anyone swapping accord v6's into anything...i just dont hear anything about them. i lov ethe idea though and im going to start looking for accords to steal...

as for the v6 prelude idea...sounds good. i just wonder why you dont see anyone swapping accord v6's into anything...i just dont hear anything about them. i lov ethe idea though and im going to start looking for accords to steal...

There are a few reasons people don't talk much about swapping the Accord V6s into anything (IMHO):

1) Because they're still relatively new. There aren't many 04 V6 Accord sitting in junk yards waiting to have their engines donated.

2) V6's are generally much less popular than 4 bangers as far as transplants go. You dont hear about many 99-03 Acura CL/TL -S engines being swapped either.

3) Prior to 2004, Accord V6s weren't available with manny trannies and were relatively underpowered and oversized. Why get a 200hp 3L V6 AT, when you could get a 200hp 2.2L I-4 MT (H22) ???
:2cents:


BTW: That drop top CTR is HIGHLARIOUS!!!! It looks like thos early 90s Geo Metro convertibles! :rofl:

why? because 3L putting out 200 hp would not be working as hard as 2.2L putting out 200 hp... at least I wouldn't think so.... what are the differences in torque numbers?

There are a few reasons people don't talk much about swapping the Accord V6s into anything (IMHO):

1) Because they're still relatively new. There aren't many 04 V6 Accord sitting in junk yards waiting to have their engines donated.

2) V6's are generally much less popular than 4 bangers as far as transplants go. You dont hear about many 99-03 Acura CL/TL -S engines being swapped either.

3) Prior to 2004, Accord V6s weren't available with manny trannies and were relatively underpowered and oversized. Why get a 200hp 3L V6 AT, when you could get a 200hp 2.2L I-4 MT (H22) ???
:2cents:

i shouldve spent more time on my initial post about the v6's. ive really wanted to know the answer to this question for a while now but just didnt have anyone that knew what they were talking about to answer it. when exactly was the first year that honda offered the v6 as an option in the accords? why, if people spend so much time making X engine fit in Y car (such as the h22 in a civic...), doesnt anyone spend the same amount of time/money to do the same with this v6 engine? i mean, as miataracer said, the prelude does have a relatively large engine compartment, and it appears as if a v6 would drop in there with a lower degree of difficulty...but thats just my feeble mind at work...

00accord44...i understand your points and they are very valid. what i dont quite understand is #2...WHY IS IT that v6's are less popular than the 4 cylenders? the biggest problem that i run into when thinking about this is the weight difference but that is just one more loop hole that seems to be easily accomplishable with stiffer springs...etc. i really want to see some crazy dude dropping the tl v6 into a 5th gen lude...adding a turbocharger and internals and pushing out some insane 500+hp #'s...

if anyone knows anything about this im really curious... :naughty: :dunno:

The first year Honda offered a V6 was 94 with the 5th generation. I believe it put out about 170hp.

The 6th gen Accord V6 (J30) put out 200hp @5500rpm and 195lb-ft @ 4700 rpm 20/28 mpg

The H22 prelude engine put out 200hp @ 7000rpm and 156lb-ft @ 5250rpm 22/27 mpg

7th gen Accord (engine code???- I forgot) makes 240hp @ 6250rpm and 212lb-ft @ 5000rpm 20/30 mpg

As for the popularity of V6s vs 4cyl, I think its mainly because the majority of people out there doing engine swaps drive sport compacts as opposed to your slightly larger preludes or midsize Accords :naughty: So any engine over 2.2L is a stretch to fit in the engine bay of say, a CRX or Civic. Anything is possible with the right amount of money and resources, but you have to think about wether or not it is worth spending $6000 on stuffing a V6 into a Rex or converting a 240hp 3L engine to work with a Prelude layout. You could use that same $6000 to get a smaller, more compatible engine with (for example) a turbo setup and be just as fast or most likely faster. V6 engine offerings from Honda just don't seem to be worth the time, money, or effort when compared to the variety of available 4cyl.

Although I personaly would love to see a C32 engine from the Acura CL/TL-S dropped into a Lude and modded to all hell, it just isn't worth it for most people looking for speed. But if your goal is show, then you would have a little better reason to take on a project like that.

Does anyone have information as to what body kit is on this Targa Top Lude?
Thanks