3000GT to Stealth RT(/TT) sail panel conversion

**sketch** · 09-26-2011, 11:33 AM

check it:

starting out:

the new sail panels

taping off the inside for the cutting, etc.:

**sketch** · 09-26-2011, 11:34 AM

window cut out, holes drilled and sail panel fitted on:

cutting out the triangle

triangle cut!

**sketch** · 09-26-2011, 11:34 AM

sail panel and window fitted on

sail panel painted

on the car

full album:
Photo Album - Imgur

**Mr Faust** · 10-08-2011, 09:39 PM

Thats badass man! I dont get why people go from the Stealth sails to the 3000GT?

**IPD** · 10-09-2011, 07:22 AM

because the 3kgt ones provide less drag?

good work, man. still need to get this done on my car. haven't found a matching set of base windows though. (i don't want the "DOHC" and other stuff on there.)

**Gamerse** · 10-10-2011, 01:54 AM

^meh, at what speed is this drag noticeable?

Grats on the conversion, looks like a cheaper alternative to 99s.

Did you change interior panels as well? I've always wanted to try 3000 panels becuase the stealths tend to warp because of the large window opening. I thought it might work if I blacked out the glass portion you cannot see through the 3000 trim.

**IPD** · 10-10-2011, 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by Gamerse

^meh, at what speed is this drag noticeable?

Grats on the conversion, looks like a cheaper alternative to 99s.

Did you change interior panels as well? I've always wanted to try 3000 panels becuase the stealths tend to warp because of the large window opening. I thought it might work if I blacked out the glass portion you cannot see through the 3000 trim.

you'd end up with a massive blind spot. and the 3kgt interior trim doesn't resist warping because it's smaller; it resists warping because there's a hard-plastic trim-ring around the opening. for some inexplicable reason, stealth trim doesn't have this.

p.s.
no way this is cheaper than 99 sails. 99 sails only require the exterior sail piece. this requires interior panels, exterior sails, and the glass that goes with it all. not to mention the work that you have to do.

**sketch** · 10-10-2011, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Mr Faust

Thats badass man! I dont get why people go from the Stealth sails to the 3000GT?

I haven't really seen any Stealth -> 3000GT sail conversions, they need a lot more work and cost a LOT more if they're done properly - window and interior trim panels are probably on par for same cost, but the sail panels (assuming that they're going '99) cost a helluva lot more. Not to mention they need the interior triangle piece where the Stealth window is.

Originally Posted by IPD

because the 3kgt ones provide less drag?

good work, man. still need to get this done on my car. haven't found a matching set of base windows though. (i don't want the "DOHC" and other stuff on there.)

It was a pretty damn easy conversion, the window cutting took the most time. I'd highly recommend getting some piano wire for it, none of the pictures on the wiki entry for this conversion were loading when I did it (a few days after the fact they were re-hosted) and it will make the job even easier.

Just for the sake of curiosity, are the numbers anywhere on the aerodynamics of the stealth sails vs 3000GT sails? (wind tunnel?)

I wanted windows that said "DOHC 24v" etc., but sadly mine also advertise All Wheel Drive, which I (again, sadly) do not have. I guess I'll just have to make the conversion sometime...You'll probably have an easiest time looking for the blank windows on ebay o_O

Originally Posted by Gamerse

^meh, at what speed is this drag noticeable?

Grats on the conversion, looks like a cheaper alternative to 99s.

Did you change interior panels as well? I've always wanted to try 3000 panels becuase the stealths tend to warp because of the large window opening. I thought it might work if I blacked out the glass portion you cannot see through the 3000 trim.

Originally Posted by IPD

you'd end up with a massive blind spot. and the 3kgt interior trim doesn't resist warping because it's smaller; it resists warping because there's a hard-plastic trim-ring around the opening. for some inexplicable reason, stealth trim doesn't have this.

p.s.
no way this is cheaper than 99 sails. 99 sails only require the exterior sail piece. this requires interior panels, exterior sails, and the glass that goes with it all. not to mention the work that you have to do.

I wouldn't at all say cheaper, I managed to get lucky and strike a deal on the sail panels, the windows and the interior trim pieces for $275 shipped. Right now on 3SX 99 sails are starting at $288.95 (for red and black, $308.95 for white and $318.95 for green) and that's without shipping. Had I not luck boxed my way into that deal it would have been $325 or so for everything.
I actually didn't know that about the Stealth sails until mine arrived, one is slightly warped in the middle above the window - I was shocked to see that it wasn't hard plastic like my 3000GT window trim was. I'm going to have to find some way to put in some form of a rib or something to keep it straight, I don't need or want my (soon to be) "nicely" put-together car to have warped interior panels.

Time to go finish painting...the passenger side door and Celica mirrors are all that remain.