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  • May 20, 2024, 05:53:33 AM

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Author Topic: Sundancer Fiberglass top  (Read 3947 times)

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Offline GreatcarSX4

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Sundancer Fiberglass top
« on: March 18, 2014, 04:25:50 PM »
Anyone have an idea, whether I can take a Toyota Sunchaser top and modify it to fit the Sundancer. It is about 3" shy from side to side and about 1/2 inch too wide from front to back. I considered cutting it down through the center  from door to door and taking out the 1/2 inch and then cutting it twice through the overhead of the drivers-side and passengers-side and gaining my three inches.  How well it would re-fiberglass up is what I am unsure about. I am not a fiberglass technician. It appears to fit down over the window nice and along the back nice. Any thoughts?
1981 Eagle SX4 4 cyl. automatic White
1982 Eagle SX4 6 cyl. automatic Beige
1983 Eagle SX4-6cyl.- automatic Red 

1981  Eagle Sundancer- White
1981  Eagle Sundancer- Brown
 
1981 Eagle Kammback  6 cyl. Blue


1987 F-250
2007 F-150

1978 Chevy Corvette

Offline Prafeston

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Re: Sundancer Fiberglass top
« Reply #1 on: March 18, 2014, 04:37:34 PM »
Sounds like a good start to me. Beats trying to build one from scratch!
1983 AMC Eagle SX/4 - Penny

Offline AMC of Houston

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Re: Sundancer Fiberglass top
« Reply #2 on: March 18, 2014, 05:02:37 PM »
Sounds like a good idea to me too.   Do you actually have a line on a Sunchaser top for sale??
George G.
'81 Eagle Sundancer
'85 Eagle Waggie
1960 1902 Rambler Replica
'64 American
'70 AMX (Big Bad Blue), '70 AMX (White)
'77 Gremlin
'78 Pacer Coupe, '78 Pacer Wagon
'79 Pacer Wagon
'73 Jensen Interceptor
'86 Audi 5000 Turbo
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Offline GreatcarSX4

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Re: Sundancer Fiberglass top
« Reply #3 on: March 18, 2014, 05:30:33 PM »
I actually bought one. I have it sitting on the car. It is offset to one side. It appears to fit decent on the lip towards the back of the car and also the passengers-side window. But, I would have to split it twice to make it fit from door to door, keeping the center correct for the pin and expanding the overhead on each side by about an 1-1/2. The latches appear to line up, so far on the passengers-side, so by splitting it, I should be able to do the same on the drivers-side. As far as front to back, I would have to cut it down the center across the whole top and shorten it. My dilemma is refinishing it. and strengthening it and filling it in. I bought it for $99.00 from some guy when I was researching Jack Griffith
1981 Eagle SX4 4 cyl. automatic White
1982 Eagle SX4 6 cyl. automatic Beige
1983 Eagle SX4-6cyl.- automatic Red 

1981  Eagle Sundancer- White
1981  Eagle Sundancer- Brown
 
1981 Eagle Kammback  6 cyl. Blue


1987 F-250
2007 F-150

1978 Chevy Corvette

Offline vangremlin

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Re: Sundancer Fiberglass top
« Reply #4 on: March 18, 2014, 05:46:10 PM »
This does sound like a good option, rather than starting from scratch.  I would maybe start at some hot rod shop.  They seem to do a lot of fabrication.  And even if they can't personally do the work they will probably know somebody.  Or maybe a boat shop, they have to know somebody that works with fiberglas.
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

Offline Prafeston

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Re: Sundancer Fiberglass top
« Reply #5 on: March 18, 2014, 05:48:05 PM »
Some Toyota Sunchaser guy is gonna be :censored: at you! :)

Are you going to be trying to do this all by yourself?

Sounds like a lot of work I'd rather have a shop do. Maybe even take it to a shop tell them your plan and see if it would be cheaper to just start from scratch. If you don't wanna go to a shop and would like to use the Sunchaser top you already have there are a bunch of DIY videos on YouTube for Fiberglass and Repairs. Etc.
1983 AMC Eagle SX/4 - Penny

Offline Prafeston

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Re: Sundancer Fiberglass top
« Reply #6 on: March 18, 2014, 05:51:35 PM »
maybe a boat shop, they have to know somebody that works with fiberglas.

I was thinking this too. A boat shop should have a lot of experience in fiberglass.
1983 AMC Eagle SX/4 - Penny

Offline AMC of Houston

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Re: Sundancer Fiberglass top
« Reply #7 on: March 18, 2014, 07:10:23 PM »
Or a shop that messes with small fiberglass airplanes.  I was a complete fiberglass rookie when I modified some 'glass nose parts on a little Grumman Tiger I used to have.  It wasn't all that difficult -- and fiber-reinforced bondo is great for inner strength bracing where needed.
George G.
'81 Eagle Sundancer
'85 Eagle Waggie
1960 1902 Rambler Replica
'64 American
'70 AMX (Big Bad Blue), '70 AMX (White)
'77 Gremlin
'78 Pacer Coupe, '78 Pacer Wagon
'79 Pacer Wagon
'73 Jensen Interceptor
'86 Audi 5000 Turbo
'98 Aston Martin DB7
'09 Nissan Titan
'10 Nissan Maxima

Offline 1985amceagle

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Re: Sundancer Fiberglass top
« Reply #8 on: March 18, 2014, 07:37:54 PM »
a shop that has done a lot of bodywork on corvettes may be an option as well., if they would venture off on side jobs.
1985 Eagle Wagon

Offline twoslowinwyo

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Re: Sundancer Fiberglass top
« Reply #9 on: March 19, 2014, 02:26:04 PM »
have you thought about using polycarbonate sheet? it can be had in many thickness and can be bent easily with boiling water or a heat gun if you're careful. I have made many custom parts with it, it would be a cheaper way to go than paying someone to make one. LAZ
LAZ
1984 wagon
1984 wagon-daughters car
1985 wagon- parts car
1984 wagon-working on
1983 SX/4- working on
1974 matador- future vintage racer

 

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