Reskin top or go full vert?

[rampage]

I'm going to be fixing the body on my 89 Blazer soon, replacing all the failing powdercoated panels that have rust bubbles on them. My main issue is going to be the roof that the factory paint peeled off of long ago and is now rusted. I won't know how bad the rust is until I dig into it. I'm debating which would be the best route to go if the sheetmetal is beyond repair - reskin the roof with the skin off my 78 truck or go full vert. If I reskin it would be from the top of the windshield frame all the way back and from drip rail to drip rail utilizing the seams at the back corner by the door. If I go full vert I'd want to put in at least a half roll cage to make up for the structural integrity I'd be removing, possibly attaching the cage to the windshield frame. I already have a 75 top/complete windshield frame/seals/hardware to do the conversion. I might add that it has a passenger and driver side spotlight that my dad installed by drilling through the A-pilar so I'll be patching those holes when I remove them in either case. If I go full vert I'd be cutting the windshield frame at the midpoint and sleeving it with tubing which would be well above where the spotlights are mounted.
I've been trying to decide which direction I should go for a while now but can't make up my mind ...
I'd add a poll but I'm afraid everyone would check the "I'm nekkid" box.

 

[blazinzuk]

Full vert !!!

I got all the stuff to do my 89 as a full vert too. I am excited to get it done I had a full vert for several years loved it

 

[rampage]

I'd love to rip out the sawzall and tear into it, but I guess the reason I've had these parts laying around for 18+ yrs () is that I've always heard stories of the top sounding like a drum and that people can't get them to seal the wind and water out. Maybe I need some input from those who have a full top and their experiences.

 

[dremu]

Well, I went the other way, taking a full-vert and making it a half-cab.

I got tired of being wet and cold or hot and wind- and sun-burned. Call me a wuss, call me a redhead, whatever.

As an occasional driver when the weather is absolutely perfect for it, you can't beat a full vert.

For a truck you will drive more than those dozen days a year, the half-cab is more sensible.

My .02, which after inflation is worth precisely squat.

-- A

 

[76k5blazerr]

From what I have read on the conversion, if you take your time, measure 5000000 times and cut once, and do the job right then you wouldn't know it was a factory half cab, except for the fact that it's an 89. The write up on here in the tech section is pretty informative and step by step. I've been toying with the idea myself and have read numerous articles about it. Now if I could just find a donor full vert...

 

[rampage]

Well, I went the other way, taking a full-vert and making it a half-cab.

I got tired of being wet and cold or hot and wind- and sun-burned. Call me a wuss, call me a redhead, whatever.

As an occasional driver when the weather is absolutely perfect for it, you can't beat a full vert.

For a truck you will drive more than those dozen days a year, the half-cab is more sensible.

My .02, which after inflation is worth precisely squat.

-- A

12 days? Is the weather that different 25 miles away? Now you're making me think twice again.
Let me ask you this then, how hard would it be to convert back if I changed my mind.

The write up on here in the tech section is pretty informative and step by step.

Thanks, I know about that article and how to do it - only been researching/planning for 20 yrs. I think it's about time I either s--- or get of the pot.

 

[dremu]

12 days? Is the weather that different 25 miles away? Now you're making me think twice again.
Let me ask you this then, how hard would it be to convert back if I changed my mind.

Well, I may have slightly miscalculated -- but I'm serious about being a ginger, which brings hypersensitive to sun, wind, and astrological alignments

The conversion is the same either way, cut and weld. Well, depends on what you do for doors, i.e. get new ones or cut up your existing ones.

-- A

 

[rampage]

I've got an extra set of original doors, would just need to repaint them.
So when you had the full top did you have wind/water leaks and did the top make a lot of noise?

 

[dremu]

I've got an extra set of original doors, would just need to repaint them.
So when you had the full top did you have wind/water leaks and did the top make a lot of noise?

Full vert hard and soft tops both leaked water at the windows. Having never had a half-cab hard top I can't say if the top itself was noisier. Hard to imagine a K5 that isn't deafening, I guess.

-- A

 

[blazinzuk]

I do not live where it rains much but even in the self serve car wash I usually only had a couple trickles on my full vert. It takes some adjusting to the doors. I would say top on they are fairly comparable noise wise.

I enjoy having a full vert loved it in fact. Had the top off so much that I kept a couple of blankets a jacket and gloves in there in spring and fall

 

[rdn2blazer]

Just like you will NEVER regret a chick taking her top off, you won't regret taking your top off either lol!

 

[rdn2blazer]

Maybe these will entise you to go full vert . And the cage can be pulled right out too. My 73'.

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__________________
CANCER FIGHTER AND SURVIVOR

 

[chevysmithz71]

I'm with Dremu. I searched all over for a full vert to get away from smog in ca. Knowing now about sun, wind and everything mentioned, I would have found a half cab and vin swapped.
On the trails for me I need some cover. I went soft top and it works great except sealing it all up, completely. I see the whole 12days a year sure. I have trucks I maybe drive that. If you drive it way more then that I say half cab. Just my .02

 

[dhcomp]

Let me ask you this then, how hard would it be to convert back if I changed my mind.

It would be like doing it all over again.

At that point, it would be easier to buy another truck.

 

[rampage]

At that point, it would be easier to buy another truck.

Not an option due to sentimental value. That's why I've been debating. And I don't have room for another vehicle. It's either this one or get rid of the full vert parts and reskin it.

 

[Blue85]

Full vert or half cab is really your preference if you're forced to tear into it anyway. But as for the roof of a rig, the bodywork doesn't have to be perfect. Unless it's totally rusted through, it seems like some flapwheel, some body filler and an air sander could have it roughly paintable without too much labor. If you do the full vert conversion or if you "re-skin", you are doing the bodywork anyway.

 

[rampage]

Yeah, it's about the same amount of work either way I go. I love the full vert look but if it makes the ride unenjoyable with noise from the top or wind or it leaks water then it'd be a love/hate relationship throughout the year. Once I start sanding it to bare metal I'll know exactly what I'm dealing with. Just soooo tempting to

 

[dremu]

Be very careful of the creeping feature creature, aka "Might As Well"

-- A

 

[rampage]

Be very careful of the creeping feature creature, aka "Might As Well"

-- A

You mean "Greg's Disease"?
Too late, I've already been infected.

 

[colbystephens]

I had a full 'vert once. It was ridiculously cool. Full-time soft top. But when I replaced it I decided to go back to a half cab because of a number of reasons (a lot had very little to do with half cab vs. full 'vert). But one of the significant things I got tired of with the full 'vert is that the sun was always in my eyes. I left the top of the soft top on the truck 100% of the time to deal with that. And the wind would get exhausting on long drives too. Sometimes I think about how cool it'd be to go to a full 'vert again, but then I think about how I found driving one quite a bit more tiring than the half cab.