Who all has done the 3x8 GTS/B Hybrid Mod?

about to join as an uncontested #6.....i must say that looks much better.

 

If my car was other than black, I would do the roof.

 

Me.

I painted the top on my 348. It looks SOOOO much better. The psudo leather bumpy fiberglass look was plain ugly, and a pain to keep clean. As Mule said, unless you car is already black, paint it.

 

Couple of comments:
- I wanted a GTB because I like the lines so much better but couldn't really find one.
- MikeC's neighbour did the louvres. They have to be custom made, regular GTB louvres wouldn't work on the GTS.

Here one of my favourite shots as it shows MikeC.'s car and mine together. Rare opportunity since we live in very different states. This was at FCA National and it just happened that we waited in line next to each other to take the cars to the USGP F1 track.
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If I can find a passenger side louver, mine will be ready to mod. My tops already painted, and I have a spare driver side louver.

Anyone have a source?

By the way, does the louver mod improve your visibility at all?

 

yes, notably

 

Interesting. Looks like yours are closer to the real GTB louvers. I like yours better, but hey, beggars can't be choosers. I was happy Mike's neighbour did mine at all.

 

This is why I just bought a GTB in the first place

 

The louvres are too cool,driver can see out,traffic cant see in.The louvre mod looks to increase drag,not good for racing.Why run a Spyder with a top on? It weighs like 15lbs,mine stays in the barn.Mr Tillman hows that ITB conversion going? I have extra mint TBs laying around.

 

Certainly looks better; IMO the GTS should have been made like this in the first place.

Question: Since I already have a GTB, I don't know about racing the GTS, but wouldn't the effect of drag negate any weight-saving advantage that leaving the top off might offer? Just curious if anyone has done the math. . .

 

For high speed interstate work I always run the top.For autocross I even remove the cigarette lighter element.

 

You can get a carbon fiber targa top that has more a a GTB shape here for a mere $2,000. They say it provides more headroom due to the GTB shape as well. I assume it is smooth and would not require sanding. Can carbon fiber be painted?

 

I bought that one. It is very nice. Uses the clamps from the old roof. The headroom is indeed a tad increased, but more importantly it looks fresh and nice. Tiny bit of weight saving as well.

Downside is, that the cf scratches easily, so painting it or adding a clear coat wouldn't be a bad idea.

Yes cf can be painted.

 

Smart man!! GTBs rule!

Just about everyone who sees my GTB takes a step back and says "Whoa! I should have bought a GTB!"

 

Mike Charness (mod on here) has a neighbour who does the GTS louvre conversion to make it look more like GTB. He made a pair for my car as well.

 

My mod's have been done for a few years, guess I'll post a pic....
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Thanks for resurrecting this old thread.

I've heard (secondhand) that the early GTS models (I'm guessing the carb cars?) had steel rear window louvres, which was changed to plastic as the years passed.

Mine are all plastic, for instance. Same material as the QV and 328?

Point being that it seems to me that it would be hard to cut up the plastic louvres and have the end result be sturdy.

Wouldn't cutting up the metal ones result in a stiffer louvre "frame" around the opening than would cutting up a plastic one?

Would like to hear some "BTDT" comments on this material question!

Thanks and Cheers - DM

 

Mine have been done for 3 years.. just the plastic no re-enforcing metal and no problems. I put some black tape behind the louvre to improve optics.
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+1.

Plastic is plenty strong. See the picture I posted.