Ok im not exactly sure where this should go so... Anyone had any problems with a bent or twisted frame with the convertibles? Ive had the Koni Red and Eibach Sportline setup with the struts set on the second to hardest setting for almost 4 years now and im wondering if anyone has had any problems with twisted or bent frames... Im asking for 2 reasons. #1 my driver side window does NOT line up anymore and #2 the passenger REAR of my car is almost 1/2 inch lower than the driver side REAR.. Im taking the measurments from the wheel well straight up from the center cap on my rim. The car is on level ground in my garage i checked it with a level also at the time of measurment there was almost no gas in the car and nothing in the car or trunk. Also if anyone else has had the trouble with the windows lining up i could use ANY advise. The window hasnt lined up for a long time and even the pontiac dealership couldnt fix the problem.
Thanks
-Justin
~Go Navy~ Accelerate your life... Right into the persian gulf!
Petty Officer Justin Hegenbart, USN
lenko should know, he has a vert!
The problem with convertiables is the roof is not there. So the frame must be strenghted to compensate.
This is the same problem with later 90s Sebring conv. If you hit railroad tracks above 35mph, it does bend the frame.
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
Granted I have stock parts and don't drive mine that hard, but I have not had any issues like you describe. I can see where chassis flex could occur though. Just by jacking the car up to work on it I can actually see the gaps in the doors get smaller and the car 'flex' a little bit. The only alignment issue I have is the driver's side window. But that has been a problem for years and isn't any worse than it was back in the day.
I would take the car to a competent body shop and put it on the frame machine. They can tell what's level, what lines up and what doesn't. Perhaps they could weld in some additional rocker reinforcements or bracing to help stiffen up your convertible if you plan on keeping it.
A friend of mine just did this with his Mustang after he noticed things weren't lining up anymore, and they found the undercarriage wasn't braced enough. They welded in some subframe connectors and smoothed things out for less than $600.
No idea if my frame is bent or twisted.... I've driven my two 'verts hard.... but I've found that no matter what springs or struts you have, the drop is never equal all around. Even stock, you're lucky if all four corners are the same height off the ground. Go measure a stock brand new car, it'll be different than the next car you measure as well.
As for lining stuff up.... most dealers don't do repairs on them often enough to be experienced at it. I grabbed a service manual suppliment for the convertible top, so i could do the adjustments myself.... helps immensely..... you do the work and understand how and why it works. Fix parts, adjust, etc.. water leak repair, roof replacement.... way cheaper than any dealer, ever.
Hey Lenko, where did you find the convertible top service manual?
Scott
When I boost, you boost, we boost
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You have been banned from NEJBODY.
You've displayed wayyy too many acts of pushing people to their limits.
It's never cool to tear people down for what they want to do.
NEJBODY is a team. We're not the same as JBO where everyone bashes on eachother.
I'm surprised you show up to our meets after half of the things you say on here.
all i got is window trouble and the seals are shot. my rear windows dont come all the way back up i think it has to do with te top + they need timed.....if they can even be timed. The top has shrunk and there is a giant hole in the side. funy to say my vert has been to hell and back and i think its tweeked too. I dont know cause its been screwed since I bought it back in 01. I wish I knew how to get my rear windows to come all the way up.
+ my power windows have a mess up in the switch that all I do there is wiggle the wires at the switch and pull up on the window cause the track is bent in both doors.
Anyone know if they make a manual door of the verts???? i hate the power windows.
Ever one lives 1 page at a time, some stories are longer than others. R.I.P to one of my many best friends. Keep all the tuners safe. See you soon, Love ya man.
How is the window not lining up? Are you talking that it's binding within the tracks inside the door, or is it not lining up with the groove that it seats into on the top when all the way up?
ConvertibleZ: Lenko will correct me on this (probably by means of a viscious humping
) but I believe that all 3rd gen convertibles came "loaded" meaning all power options. You'd have to use your existing door shells and pick up a manual window regulator and interior door panel.
I would venture to say that unless your frame/underbody is terribly rusted you are not going to bend just driving ove potholes and railroad tracks because it's so elastic between the wheels.
Your window probably got out of adjustment when your big, long and heavy door swung out too far. It's also probable that the stops in your window are bent or broken as I found in my 95 LS ragtop.
If you are really concerned about the variance in your measurements just take your car into a frame/alignment shop where they can easily check the trueness of the frame and straighten it out for you if it's needed. They do this sort of thing regularly on cars that have been in accidents.
Vic
no the window that folds down into the 1/4 panal doesnt meet up with the door window... like a 1/4 inch gap at to that leaks like a civ.
my rag top is in dier need of top, seals, window correction, carpet, seats, paint job......u name it she needs it. runs like a champ though.
Ever one lives 1 page at a time, some stories are longer than others. R.I.P to one of my many best friends. Keep all the tuners safe. See you soon, Love ya man.
