Twincharged, Wide-arched Convertible Peugeot 405
Discussion
davetibbs said:
My mate told me he thought Rollover Protection would be too much effort. I showed him this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd2UOK867zE
that is mental, hadn't realised quite how bad they were!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd2UOK867zE
davetibbs said:
Standard boring response: Why not?
Longer answer: It's been a project car (actually my first car) for as long as I can remember. Plans have expanded further and further over the years to the extent that it's reached a point where I want to see just what is possible. And at the end of the day, it was just a Peugeot 405 GL, so it's not like I'm chopping up a classic car.
I'm loving the technical challenge of it, and learning a lot in the process. Thanks for all the support
I can see exactly how you got to this point, having nearly started something similarly crazy a couple of years ago. In my case it was converting a Mk3 Astra saloon into a 2dr coupe but it didn't go head because i lack the skills, money and patience - which is why i wish you luck and look forward to seeing this come to life.Longer answer: It's been a project car (actually my first car) for as long as I can remember. Plans have expanded further and further over the years to the extent that it's reached a point where I want to see just what is possible. And at the end of the day, it was just a Peugeot 405 GL, so it's not like I'm chopping up a classic car.
I'm loving the technical challenge of it, and learning a lot in the process. Thanks for all the support
Hahaha! Well, it seemed fitting with a French car to use plenty of expanding foam, given most of the French "Work In Progress" cars featured on Barry Boys :-P
Actually, the amount of foam left on the bumper is very small (just a small lip around each hole) it's just a lot easier to get the shape you need then fibreglass over it.
Actually, the amount of foam left on the bumper is very small (just a small lip around each hole) it's just a lot easier to get the shape you need then fibreglass over it.
Colonial said:
I once chopped the roof off a Holden Gemini sedan (Opel Kadett kind of thing).
With an angle grinder.
I get the feeling this is going to be a lot more professional.
Love it.
Thanks for the comments With an angle grinder.
I get the feeling this is going to be a lot more professional.
Love it.
I hope it's going to be as professional as I can manage - I've got useful parts like the top of the windscreen frame for the E46 so this can be welded to both the top of the 405 frame, and the strengthening that will be added, and then blended in. This kills two birds with one stone as it firstly takes the effort away from removing any sharp edges, and also will have the catches in the right place for the BMW roof to latch onto.
Weirdly, the BMW roof appears at first glance to be (width-ways at least) a near enough perfect fit with the width of the 405 windscreen top, once the curves of the door frames have been welded onto the A pillars to finish it off and to provide more space for strengthening. Length-ways the measurements aren't so critical, as is the height, although it may require the windscreen angle to be changed, and this will have to be done before the strengthening is added.
The roof was one of the better eBay bargains I picked up, full hydraulic roof in fantastic nick, with all rams + valves attached, for £9.99 because the frame was damaged. Actually, all that had happened is that a bolt had come loose causing the frame to get caught and bend slightly, popping a rivet out. Re-straightening the frame and re-rivetting it fixed that one
FunBusMk2 said:
mig25_foxbat2003 said:
Coming from someone who has helped to build a 4wd Reliant Rialto... you, sir, are a mentalist. I'm glad there are people like you!
Sounds like that needs a thread of it's own too!
Bookmarked.Efbe said:
FunBusMk2 said:
mig25_foxbat2003 said:
Coming from someone who has helped to build a 4wd Reliant Rialto... you, sir, are a mentalist. I'm glad there are people like you!
Sounds like that needs a thread of it's own too!
I'll stick a thread up if people are interested?
Edited by mig25_foxbat2003 on Wednesday 22 February 13:34
mig25_foxbat2003 said:
Efbe said:
FunBusMk2 said:
mig25_foxbat2003 said:
Coming from someone who has helped to build a 4wd Reliant Rialto... you, sir, are a mentalist. I'm glad there are people like you!
Sounds like that needs a thread of it's own too!I'll stick a thread up if people are interested?
Edited by mig25_foxbat2003 on Wednesday 22 February 13:34
gary71 said:
Whilst I admire your madness wouldn't it have been easier to start with an E46 cab bodyshell?
I appreciate that's not the point, but at least the windows and hood would all line up and it might keep some of the water out.
Good luck!
Yes, but then it'd just be an E46 cabriolet I appreciate that's not the point, but at least the windows and hood would all line up and it might keep some of the water out.
Good luck!
Actually, making the windows and roof fit isn't as much of a challenge as you might think (Well, OK, it is, but...). The roof lining up with the windscreen frame is covered by having the E46 windscreen frame welded to the 405 detailed above (whilst still keeping the original 405 windscreen surround so I don't have to have a custom screen made). The rear doors have gone and will be replaced with solid panels (essentially moving the B pillar back along the car and using the original rear door skin chopped up to provide the shape), so I can use E46 rear windows so they fit the roof, then it's just a case of the front windows. I can't use 405 ones as the front doors will have been extended and the edge that seals against the rear windows is different, and I can't use E46 ones as the curve of the A pillar is probably wrong - however, it seems fairly straight forward to get custom windows (polycarbonate?) made up to a design, which could be based on the 405 with necessary changes.
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