Nice V-20 Hardtop Pics

shicks007

shicks007

Senior Member
Here's a couple of V-20's with hardtops Iv'e saved over the years. Thought you might enjoy.

Scott

v-20hardtop2.jpg


v-20hardtop.jpg
 
Got any more? I'm saving the pics for reference when I make my own. I like the ideas. I'm just waiting to order the right die for the bender. It's just money! right?
 
How about I practice on yours? ;D Then I'll build mine. Just, kidding...I wouldn't feel right about putting anything together for someone else until I was confident in mine. I've never built a t-top or hard top. The closest thing are roll cages and misc. tubing accessories for off road vehicles. But bending and making stuff is all similar, except the material. I'm leaning toward aluminum due to weight, but SS sure is pretty! (and expensive!) If mine comes out worth bragging about, then we'll talk. But it might be late summer before I get my $heat together.

Franco said:
Hey Havis, I'll split the cost of the die with you and pay you to build me one too, Franco
Click to expand...
 
Man!!!...if it weren't for the LOW bridges to where the BIG stripers play...you're right MJ...that first one's a woodie-maker... ;) ;D...don't know if it's the curved ladders on back or the black trim...but it's somethin'... 8)...
 
Hey Havis, Count me in, I could use a little time my self, I think aluminum is fine. Especially for the weight savings. I can get the scoop on building the top part out of fiberglass, my brother is the fiberglass guru. keep in touch
 
Word to the wise. I screwed myself on mine. I was(still maybe) in the prcess of builbing my own. I didn't spec out the material properly and ended up with some alluminum that was not what I wanted. I bought 6061 T6 alluminum. The T6 means it's hardened and will not bend, even with a properly sized mandrel bender, so spec it out good. I'll take some pics of what I have for you to see. I still might do it but I'm not sure how it would look with all straight pipes. What do you think?

Scott
 
Yes, T-6 is HARD and fatigue cracks easily. I've never tried to bend it, though; just used it to make structural compontents using angle or plate. I'd think it would bend, though, as long as it is fastened to the die properly. Does it kink? Before I write it off completely, I'd buy a stick and try it. The fatiging doesn't bother me because that would be an issue at the welds and welding it makes it softer and less prone to cracks from flexing. Still, 6061 alloy might be a little overkill. And cost more, too. Since you've got a little experience doing this, I'm all ears. (and eye's for the pics.)


shicks007 said:
Word to the wise. I screwed myself on mine. I was(still maybe) in the prcess of builbing my own. I didn't spec out the material properly and ended up with some alluminum that was not what I wanted. I bought 6061 T6 alluminum. The T6 means it's hardened and will not bend, even with a properly sized mandrel bender, so spec it out good. I'll take some pics of what I have for you to see. I still might do it but I'm not sure how it would look with all straight pipes. What do you think?

Scott
Click to expand...
 
Here's a quick pic of the basic top frame I was going to use. As far as buying a stick and trying it .............How about two 1-1/2" sticks, two 1" sticks and a 3/4" stick all totaling somewhere around $250 (I can't remmember exactly). I tried the 1" several times on two different benders. I even tried to anneal it, no luck. I think the custom top guys are buying pre-anodized stuff, I don't know what type of material. I had to miter the corners since I couldn't bend it. I did all of this at work awhile back, but now I don't think I could get away with it. So I would have to borrow a wire feed machine and have a straight legged top. It might be O.K. but I'm not going to put anything on there that I think looks like $^#$.

hardtopframe.jpg
 
Wow!!! That first one sure is purdy!!! But the closer I look, the more I wonder if that top isn't TOO tall. Granted having the electronics box overhead is nice, but there is such a thing as Center of Gravity... can you say Roll-over? When you compare the height of the windshield to the two hard-top pictures it seems like the first one is taller than the 2nd one.

Just my 2-cents.
 
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