[curtis73]

Auto designers go through billion-dollar budgets to design convertibles that don't literally crumple into a pile. Your aspire started out about as rigid as an aluminum can. It was satisfactory for an economy car, but it is a complete box. Designers used CAD software to design a complex geometric shape that would support itself. Cutting off the roof of that car would literally cause it to just collapse in your garage. It would bend in the middle like Godzilla stepped on it. Picture it like a cardboard box. The the top flaps open, you can squeeze and flex the box in all directions. If you tape down the flaps, it becomes very rigid.

You would have to go to extreme lengths to first build a chromemoly tubing frame that incorporates a triangulation the entire way from the front suspension to the rear. This would involve extensive disassembly of the car including all of the drivetrain, body panels, interior, suspension subframes, the works.

Even after those auto designers spend millions on reinforcing the car, its still a floppy tin can but at least it doesn't collapse. One of the tightest cars I ever drove was a BMW 3-series. The loosest car I ever drove was a convertible BMW 3-series.

From where I sit you have three options (and this is not mocking, just fact). 1) cut the top off and let it collapse. 2) block up the car so that it doesn't collapse, then build your frame. That will save you a couple days work, but you'll never get your doors, trunk, or hood to close again. 3) do it right and build a complete cage first, then cut the top off.

The problem is you're starting with a tin can and making it weaker. In the end you'll have a $15,000 Ford Aspire that you can't drive in the rain.

I say, take the Aspire, sell it for $800 to a sucker and buy a 73 Buick convertible. It will leak less than your Aspire, already be a drop-top, and will probably last longer.