Debating a GT to RT Sail Panel Conversion

[3000GTPro]

I have been given a very tempting offer to convert to RT sail panels on my GT for virtually very little money. Just the cost of the sealant for the windows, and maybe to have the RT sails painted, because I think the stealth red and the caracass red on my GT are different shades (correct?).

However, I was originally saving this idea for a future VR4 because that's what I really want. I'm wondering about the possibility that I could be hurting any chance of selling the car seeing how it's NA, it's an automatic, and it doesn't even have all the cool bells and whistles of an SL. Besides that the looks aren't going to be every buyer's cup of tea, could this make the car any more difficult to sell? It's not like I don't like the way the car is now, but it's an opportunity to do a mod that I had been wanting to do for a long time for as cheap as it gets, and now I'm starting to wonder how much I really want it. Obviously this can only be my decision in the end, but I want to hear other people's input.

[Scorch]

I've always thought the Stealth sail panels look a lot more modern than the 3000gt ones. I personally really like the sail panels on a 1g GT because I think they fit with the lines better. Either way though I don't think someone is going to look at it and think it looks so much worse because of the conversion. It might even look better to most prospective buyers, it's tough to tell because I've never seen one with a conversion done.

I'd look at it this way though, try it on your cheaper base model, that way if you don't like it, you won't have to mess with the VR4 when you get it, and if you do like it, you'll know exactly how to do it already and avoid making any potential mistakes on the more expensive VR4, and you'll be able to do it more quickly, so the VR4 will be back on the road that much quicker :)

[Unknownvr4]

Write up a local did...

http://la3s.forumsland.com/la3s-about25.html

[Scorch]

That does look completely awesome! I wish there were more pictures from different angles but it still looks great.

[Unknownvr4]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs448.ash1/24686_1295305945838_1326016661_30772065_6865849_n. jpg

Another view

[3000GTPro]

I've always thought the Stealth sail panels look a lot more modern than the 3000gt ones. I personally really like the sail panels on a 1g GT because I think they fit with the lines better. Either way though I don't think someone is going to look at it and think it looks so much worse because of the conversion. It might even look better to most prospective buyers, it's tough to tell because I've never seen one with a conversion done.

I'd look at it this way though, try it on your cheaper base model, that way if you don't like it, you won't have to mess with the VR4 when you get it, and if you do like it, you'll know exactly how to do it already and avoid making any potential mistakes on the more expensive VR4, and you'll be able to do it more quickly, so the VR4 will be back on the road that much quicker :)

Hmmm...yes, thinking back I think that did cross my mind. Although half of me wants to not experiment on this car, just because I'm not sure there is another 3S like this in the state of CA anymore. I first got the idea from Migstealth of socal, but I don't know if he owns the car anymore. So the idea that it would be different from most other cars in CA is rather attractive to me.

Anyway, here's some more angles I have gathered up from other people:
Migstealth's NA "GTO"
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/degamer/Cars/l_381e1ca571ac477aa32674597f88e817.jpg

Stealths converted to GT with RT sails
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/degamer/Cars/DSC_0289PP.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/degamer/My%20Car/DSC01238.jpg

Not sure if this was originally a GT or a Stealth, but it's almost what my car will look like.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/degamer/Cars/national-gathering-2010-suthnr-0230-autox.jpg

[TT4ME]

You really want a VR4. That said, I'd collect the parts now while you seem to have them for free, and then put them on the VR4 when you get it.

[3000GTPro]

Well the guy needs my quarter windows. I think that's the only reason I'm getting the parts for the cost of the window sealer.

By the way, is the stealth red a different shade than the GT caracass red? I have read they aren't the same shades of red.

[TT4ME]

No matter what, shades of red on 2 18 year old cars won't match up.

I believe new they were different as well.

[ntcmpjg]

I used the red from a 99 3000gt on my 94 stealth matched great cant even tell the difference. The stealths looks better

[Emilie@GZP]

the red throughout the years changed slightly. 1g red is more orange'ish, 2g red is slightly different, then it changed again in 98 or 99, a SLIGHTLY different shade. I don't know for sure if the stealth and 3000GT are the exact same color, I'm going to venture and guess they are.

[IPD]

i wouldn't worry about the red too much. i'm sure it's different, but i dont' think it will stick out that bad.

if you can do this for the cost of sealer, i'd go for it. stealth quarters is a dream of mine too.

[3000GTPro]

Keep all the opinions coming. This is good stuff. I'm getting some interesting feedback. :)

[Modern 3kGT]

Are there any other writes ups that go into detail for this conversion? I followed the la3s link but it didn't seem to go in depth on the process.

John

[Unknownvr4]

Yea i wish he would have wrote more..

[3000GTPro]

Well, it is my understanding that you have to remove the rear interior panels (speaker covers as well), and maybe even the A-pillar to get to 1 necessary bolt before removing the body panels. Which order those interior panel is removed before the other, is something I am unsure of, but I suspect the speaker panels first. Being that I have never removed the A-pillar, or removed and re-installed windows before, is what makes me a little nervous about the job. Considering this guy lives at least 2 hours away from me, I'm guessing I would have to remove the speaker panels before I even drive to his place.

[IPD]

yeah, you'll need to remove the speaker panels to access the quarter trim panels. i don't know if you have to remove the exterior a-pillar, but i'm fairly certain you need to remove the interior one; which is cake. the exterior one isn't that difficult either. the hardest part of this is glass removal, glass installation, and removal/addition of the triangle piece (depending on which way you're converting). everything else is tedious, but doable.

[3000GTPro]

Well, I went to a meet recently, and got to see an A-pillar from the stealth this guy is parting from. Whether they ever were the same shade from the factory, the stealth panels are more like a salmon red compared to my car, and they were scratched up, so I suspect the sail panels will be the same. So I am waiting to hear back from one of our vendors on Norcal3S will do me a favor and repaint them for reasonable price.

Any more input on whether this is worth chasing after?

[IPD]

imho, it is.

[Boomer3000]

Hmmm...yes, thinking back I think that did cross my mind. Although half of me wants to not experiment on this car, just because I'm not sure there is another 3S like this in the state of CA anymore. I first got the idea from Migstealth of socal, but I don't know if he owns the car anymore. So the idea that it would be different from most other cars in CA is rather attractive to me.

Anyway, here's some more angles I have gathered up from other people:
Migstealth's NA "GTO"
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/degamer/Cars/l_381e1ca571ac477aa32674597f88e817.jpg

Stealths converted to GT with RT sails
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/degamer/Cars/DSC_0289PP.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/degamer/My%20Car/DSC01238.jpg

Not sure if this was originally a GT or a Stealth, but it's almost what my car will look like.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/degamer/Cars/national-gathering-2010-suthnr-0230-autox.jpg

The bottom photo of the red 3000gt is a guy out our local STL3S club... His car was orginally a stealth es with the DOHC engine. He did a full conversion to the 1g 3k and then just added the look of the RT sail... All in all the kid did a great job for being 17 and doing it all him self.

[i3igpete]

2g stealth red and 2g 3000gt red are the same. this paint color doesn't have clearcoat so if you buff it good they should match just fine.

[3000GTPro]

The bottom photo of the red 3000gt is a guy out our local STL3S club... His car was orginally a stealth es with the DOHC engine. He did a full conversion to the 1g 3k and then just added the look of the RT sail... All in all the kid did a great job for being 17 and doing it all him self.
I agree, that is impressive. The guy must have some kind of skills from his picture.


2g stealth red and 2g 3000gt red are the same. this paint color doesn't have clearcoat so if you buff it good they should match just fine.
But 2g 3000GT red is different than 1g red isn't it? Off the top of my head they all look the same, but considering my car's paint barely looks the same shade with new paint (extremely hard to tell it's different), this concerns me.

[IPD]

red. blech!

[stealthee]

red. blech!

Better than green

[IPD]

...that goes without saying. :)

[stealthee]

Haha touche

[Keyan]

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/degamer/My%20Car/DSC01238.jpg


i took this picture and my car is in it. :)


also, this was originally a stealth ES that he converted and then painted.

[Jeremy C]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs448.ash1/24686_1295305945838_1326016661_30772065_6865849_n. jpg

Another view

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3480/3209015995_662dc02c6f.jpg

I knew that looked familiar.

I'll keep my 3000 sails. No Fiero look for me.

(and nothing wrong with green damnit!)

[IPD]

you go with stealth sails, you look like a 300z, a supra, a fiero, mr2, etc.

you go with 3kgt sails, you look like a firebird, corvette, camaro, etc.

you go without, and (some retarded people think) you look like a probe.

nothing has been done that hasn't been done elsewhere too.

p.s.

green is pure fail. it's a suburban SUV color for yuppies.

[Jeremy C]

When I had the spoiler off my car, from the back I felt it did kind of look prob'ish. Got the arc spoiler on there real quick.

And say what you want, but I am more than happy with my green 3S. Beats being "Oh, another red one" any day. :p

[IPD]

i'll invite those who judge the car as "probish" to also look at the SVX. however, you'll notice that both of those cars have a "squared off" corner in this area; whereas the 3/s is rounded perfectly (specifically the 3kgt).

i personally love the canopy of the SVX (no pillars visible), but think it would have looked better with a glass-top roof panel (black surround) and without the crazy mish-mash of windows they concocted on the sides.

[stealthee]

You're lying to yourself if you don't see the similarities to a Probe in a 3000GT. Now add the fact that you want no sails and it looks MUCH more like a probe because its so much glass.

[IPD]

You're lying to yourself if you don't see the similarities to a Probe in a 3000GT. Now add the fact that you want no sails and it looks MUCH more like a probe because its so much glass.

there's "some". reasons which are 1. why i don't have 3kgt tails anymore & 2. didn't buy a car with pop-ups.

that said, the 3/s canopy is a bubble; the last-gen probe canopy is a 3-dimensional trapezoid. the 93+ probe retained that blockiness from the previous generation.

anyways...no one's ever gone sail-less on a 3/s (not just removed the sails, but had glass over both b & c pillars). until that happens, it's all here-say about how it actually looks. and who knows...it might actually look good (of course, not to stealthee though) :)