Debating a GT to RT Sail Panel Conversion

[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"


Stealths converted to GT with RT sails



Not sure if this was originally a GT or a Stealth, but it's almost what my car will look like.

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.