http://www.americanmuscle.com/convertible-top-black-83.html Never done business with them, but the top is CHEAP at $135 on sale. You said you had looked, but is $1k a real add-up or a guess?
I would poke at trying to fix it. I brand new top on a convertible makes it feel a whole lot more like a newer car. (bought my miata with a fresh robbins top.)
Same boat... my top is pretty shot, the bushings in the top-frame are all but gone, the motor take a second before it realizes that you've told it to do something, and it's all out-of-alignment.
I've actually put some thought towards just ripping the entire convertible assembly out and making a removable carson top for the car. Then I remember that I don't own a welder nor have I ever welded in my life, and it makes that idea a lot more far-fetched.
It'd be cool if someone made a hard top for the convertible Foxes that didn't look like ass.
Maybe something that mirrored the look of the notch?
Apexcarver wrote: http://www.americanmuscle.com/convertible-top-black-83.html Never done business with them, but the top is CHEAP at $135 on sale. You said you had looked, but is $1k a real add-up or a guess? I would poke at trying to fix it. I brand new top on a convertible makes it feel a whole lot more like a newer car. (bought my miata with a fresh robbins top.)
American Muscle is one of the best companies I've dealt with. I highly recommend them.
PHeller wrote: It'd be cool if someone made a hard top for the convertible Foxes, period
Fixed that for you.
Then again, you can't haul a hard top with you anyway...so if you get stuck in the rain you still need waterproofed interior.
My thought? Tear it out, and rock the Stang only on clear days.
Additionally, I've thought of buying a Fox Vert, widebody, wide wheels, lots of rubber, but I've never considered the idea that I'd get wet unless the soft-top was in decent condition.
I like the Factory Five donor idea :)
Jaynen wrote: I like the Factory Five donor idea :)
I do, too, but it's not exactly easy to scrape together $15k for the kit and I doubt my bank is gonna finance it, lol.
Is the car really that bad? Why scrap an 80's V8 when all it needs is top work? I know that's easier said than done but he could actually stand to make real money on this if he wants something else and isn't afraid to dive into the thing.
And this whole "scrap a good car and put the driveline into a different car you don't have!" bit is confusing... every 4cyl Mustang I see is ragged out, what's the gain again?
pres589 wrote: Is the car really that bad? Why scrap an 80's V8 when all it needs is top work? I know that's easier said than done but he could actually stand to make real money on this if he wants something else and isn't afraid to dive into the thing. And this whole "scrap a good car and put the driveline into a different car you don't have!" bit is confusing... every 4cyl Mustang I see is ragged out, what's the gain again?
About the only gains are lighter starting out weight, highly debatable though depending on the starting point and end result, and possibly a straight chassis that doesn't have the rear torque boxes beat up. BUT! There are a few COMPLETE replacement torque boxes available or if you are handy enough with a spot weld cutter, you can fix the originals and make them BETTER.
As to the weight, sure if you start off with "THE Tank", AKA: any GT convertible, and step into a stripper/no option coupe, the gains are lighter weight which leads to increased performance. But then where is the wind in your hair, if you have any left, fun in that?
Ranger: That's exactly what I'm trying to figure out. It really sounds like a nice cruiser or resell situation and people are telling him to do a bunch of junk to a 4cyl car he doesn't own then scrap a convert... seems silly. Go strip the driveline out of a P71 or something like that, come on people!
trade it for what ya want
If you don't want a vert i would just spend the cash and get the top fixed anyway then drop it at macco for a 300$ scuff and spray special and resale it. A clean looking gt fox vert with low miles should sale in the 3.5-4k range.
Strike_Zero wrote: Around here . . .peeps are selling 4 cyl Foxes (most non-running) for almost the same price as a running V8 foxTheir rationale . . . it's a straight, clean chassis . . .
yup.. no one buys a 4 cylinder Mustang to keep as a 4 cylinder Mustang... the market has spoken, and it says that any solid later Fox Mustangs are worth $$$.. there are still bargains to be had if you don't mind not having the dorky looking plastic headlights and silly gimmicky interior that they threw at them in 87...
The only reason I'd own a convertible fox body would be as a donor for something with a top (and preferably a trunk lid). That's just my personal preference...I don't like convertibles (it's a structural, think, mostly).
Find a capri or a fairmont wagon! 
Someone say Capri??
novaderrik wrote:Strike_Zero wrote: Around here . . .peeps are selling 4 cyl Foxes (most non-running) for almost the same price as a running V8 foxyup.. no one buys a 4 cylinder Mustang to keep as a 4 cylinder Mustang... the market has spoken, and it says that any solid later Fox Mustangs are worth $$$.. there are still bargains to be had if you don't mind not having the dorky looking plastic headlights and silly gimmicky interior that they threw at them in 87...
I have a '93 hatchback with the 2.3L and T5 that I got from my older brother several years ago. I've already gone down the V8/T5 & suspension upgrades road with my '86 notch (and still not finished 
) and am weary of doing the same to a floppy hatchback. BTDT
Is the Hatch that more floppy than the notch?
Notch = premium . . . . Can't swing a dead cat without hitting a hatch
Aussiesmg's notch makes me want to go and spend some monies. . .
"Capri" flares on a Notch would be pretty awesome, as would the 6 gauge panel they used to emulate the real Capri. I also like the look of the "Capri" front fascia.
Strike_Zero wrote: Is the Hatch that more floppy than the notch? Notch = premium . . . . Can't swing a dead cat without hitting a hatch Aussiesmg's notch makes me want to go and spend some monies. . .
Perception. Once you start adding in required roll cages to meet certain specs, it doesn't matter what you started with, the body has become a shell on a tube framework. There are literally tons of coupes that have had the rear package tray removed to fit cage structure. This is about the only difference between a coupe and a hatch, besides the body shape. If you want to talk bone stock to bone stock, yes, the coupe is the better starting point.
I have a strong desire to not install a cage or cut out the rear seat panel/package tray. Does that make me a bad person?
ps: those were taken (I believe) before I installed the front coilovers so forgive the body roll...and the ugly bodywork.
Love the flared capri
Moving_Target wrote: ps: those were taken (I believe) before I installed the front coilovers so forgive the body roll...and the ugly bodywork.
No apologies needed . . . Looks good to me!!
pres589 wrote: I know that's easier said than done but he could actually stand to make real money on this if he wants something else and isn't afraid to dive into the thing.
THIS.
Decent fox body GT convertibles can bring good money on eBay. Particularly stock ones, here in the northeast, where most of them have already rusted away.
I know someone who just paid $15,000 for a 1990 GT 5spd convertible. It only had 26K miles on it, but still. $15K for a fox body.
Aeromoto wrote: I'm thinking I should find a clean Fox 4 cyl coupe and transfer all the good bits over, as in the 5.0, 5 speed, 8.8 rear, etc, etc. So- am I nuts? Should I sell the ragtop and just buy a 5.0 hatch (since the 5.0 coupes are too hard to find? Should I shut up and fix the top?
5.0 coupes are easy to find. It's the four-cylinder models that are impossible, since everyone converts them to V8.
I'd love to have me a '79-83 four-cylinder notch. These simply don't exist anymore, though.
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