[ShadeTreeCarGuy]

Came across a 2004 Silver ZO6 with 9000 mile on the clock that has literally never been rained on that met its demise is the worst possible way. Solid hit to the front without damage to the engine or drive train. Got to thinking, these were great cars back in the day and are competitive with most new performance cars made now. With 9,000 miles on it, it would be a sin to salvage it out for parts, so here we go on a new adventure.

Bought a 2003 convertible Vette, never been wrecked, with just over a 100,000 miles on the clock and going to build out a show quality Convertible 2004 ZO6(I know there was no such thing from GM, but a conversion was available out of Canada).

Suspension, Electrical, Fuel, Interior, Engine, basically everything. The finished color will be the factory silver, with the front and door jams painted to match.

Since I am not a purist and won't claim it to be a Real Zo6 by VIN, the resurrection story, I think would be far more interesting by a long shot anyway.

What is the general thought on a project like this from the guys who have a more passionate interest in the ZO6 cars?

My personal ride is a 2015 Performance Pack Mustang GT with close to 800HP, and is completely road race ready, with a few other equally interesting built cars to go along with it.

 

[lilesv]

Neat idea; casual viewers will assume you put brake vents on the vert to be cool, which could make it even more fun. Suspension, brakes, and weight will be key, of course. If you haven't driven a Z06 before, you're in for a treat. The skid pad on an auto-cross course will show you how different it is from your 'stang. [I'm a fan of 90 degree turns at 60+, which the Z06 excels at...]

p.s. there's several tech aces on this site, with lots more wisdom than I have. Looking forward to what they say.

 

[ShadeTreeCarGuy]

Neat idea; casual viewers will assume you put brake vents on the vert to be cool, which could make it even more fun. Suspension, brakes, and weight will be key, of course. If you haven't driven a Z06 before, you're in for a treat. The skid pad on an auto-cross course will show you how different it is from your 'stang. [I'm a fan of 90 degree turns at 60+, which the Z06 excels at...]

p.s. there's several tech aces on this site, with lots more wisdom than I have. Looking forward to what they say.

Thanks for the motivation, looking forward having some fun with it when it gets finished.

 

[DanA_F99_1977]

Sounds like a fun project.

 

[ShadeTreeCarGuy]

Getting ready to start turning wrenches on the ZO6 conversion next Monday (4-25-22), posting a few before puictures before I start.

Here we go.

 

[ShadeTreeCarGuy]

Next week I'll will be start with tear down pictures. This should be fun

 

[camaro6662]

Good luck with your build cant wait to see it started on

 

[ShadeTreeCarGuy]

Begining of day one tear down,

 

[ShadeTreeCarGuy]

End of day one, hopefully by Teusday the parts needing paint will be out to the body shop. The goal is to try and finish up within a three week period, Kinda of a personal challlenge.

 

[ShadeTreeCarGuy]

Day two has come to a close and the sense ofaccomplishment will be here soon once the teardown is complete. The anticipation of getting it down the road is setting in.

 

[ShadeTreeCarGuy]

 

[ShadeTreeCarGuy]

Closing out day three of the teardown, soon it will be the ZO6's turn.
I haven't started taking the ZO6 apart yet, so I haven't seen how the hardtop is installed. I know there have been hardtop to convertible conversions, has anyone gone the other direction, convertible to hardtop. I am thinking of a full conversion.

 

[hiramabith267]

Came across a 2004 Silver ZO6 with 9000 mile on the clock that has literally never been rained on that met its demise is the worst possible way. Solid hit to the front without damage to the engine or drive train. Got to thinking, these were great cars back in the day and are competitive with most new performance cars made now. With 9,000 miles on it, it would be a sin to salvage it out for parts, so here we go on a new adventure.

Bought a 2003 convertible Vette, never been wrecked, with just over a 100,000 miles on the clock and going to build out a show quality Convertible 2004 ZO6(I know there was no such thing from GM, but a conversion was available out of Canada).

Suspension, Electrical, Fuel, Interior, Engine, basically everything. The finished color will be the factory silver, with the front and door jams painted to match.

Since I am not a purist and won't claim it to be a Real Zo6 by VIN, the resurrection story, I think would be far more interesting by a long shot anyway.

What is the general thought on a project like this from the guys who have a more passionate interest in the ZO6 cars?

My personal ride is a 2015 Performance Pack Mustang GT with close to 800HP, and is completely road race ready, with a few other equally interesting built cars to go along with it.

View attachment 17657
View attachment 17658
View attachment 17660
View attachment 17659
View attachment 17655
View attachment 17656

Closing out day three of the teardown, soon it will be the ZO6's turn.
I haven't started taking the ZO6 apart yet, so I haven't seen how the hardtop is installed. I know there have been hardtop to convertible conversions, has anyone gone the other direction, convertible to hardtop. I am thinking of a full conversion.

I OWN AS A DAILY DRIVER YEAR ROUND / A 98 CORVETTE COUPE Z06 CLONE WITH A FULL REMOVABLE BLUE GLASS TOP / A COUPE WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER TO REMOVE THE HATCH BACK CUT THE CRASH BAR OFF TO HAVE A SEAT COVER COMPANY INSTALL A AFTER MARKET CONVERTABLE TOP WITH ALL THE HARDWARE WITH A MANUAL ROOF, SELL YOUR PROJECT HARDTOP UNLESS YOU ARE A PRO BODY PERSON WITH A BODY SHOP BUT A COUPE IT IS A CONVERTABLE WITH A REMOVABLE TOP THAT MANUALLY GOES INTO THE TRUNK IT IS NOT HEAVY / LESS PLAYING GAMES

 

[ShadeTreeCarGuy]

Thanks for the information, at this point I am going keep moving forward. That will be a bridge to cross here soon.
Closing out day four, by the end of the day tomorrow the car should be down to just a frame and tub ready, then I can shift my attention to the ZO6. Hopefully the project can stay at this steady pace.

 

[ShadeTreeCarGuy]

Day five came and gone. Pretty much got the new chassis ready to start getting put back together.

 

[ShadeTreeCarGuy]

Day six marks the turnaround point. Got the wrecked ZO6 cleaned and ready for disassembly.

 

[ShadeTreeCarGuy]

Staged and ready for the next steps.

 

[lovecars]

Came across a 2004 Silver ZO6 with 9000 mile on the clock that has literally never been rained on that met its demise is the worst possible way. Solid hit to the front without damage to the engine or drive train. Got to thinking, these were great cars back in the day and are competitive with most new performance cars made now. With 9,000 miles on it, it would be a sin to salvage it out for parts, so here we go on a new adventure.

Bought a 2003 convertible Vette, never been wrecked, with just over a 100,000 miles on the clock and going to build out a show quality Convertible 2004 ZO6(I know there was no such thing from GM, but a conversion was available out of Canada).

Suspension, Electrical, Fuel, Interior, Engine, basically everything. The finished color will be the factory silver, with the front and door jams painted to match.

Since I am not a purist and won't claim it to be a Real Zo6 by VIN, the resurrection story, I think would be far more interesting by a long shot anyway.

What is the general thought on a project like this from the guys who have a more passionate interest in the ZO6 cars?

My personal ride is a 2015 Performance Pack Mustang GT with close to 800HP, and is completely road race ready, with a few other equally interesting built cars to go along with it.

View attachment 17657
View attachment 17658
View attachment 17660
View attachment 17659
View attachment 17655
View attachment 17656

Any reason that you are not using the grey one instead of the yellow one. All C5 Z06 cars are built on a convertible body. the hardtop is the on that you can buy for a C5 convertible. the hardtop is bolted on like the hardtop on a convertible, the back of the hardtop on the Z06 is glued on. All mounting points to install the convertible top is mostly there, you don't need to order anything just take the convertible from the donor car an install it on the original Z06 ..
And you get to keep the Z06 VIN. Although the C5 Z06 ones did not have their own special VIN but the numbers show the LS6 motor.

 

[Myliobatis]

Keep up the good work...waiting to see the finished product!

 

[MCKNBRD]

Hey Shadetree...question about the pax seat in the 'vert. If its a power seat, could you see what the difference is between the harness for it and the harness on the side of the Z06? I'm wanting to see if a power seat from a 'normal' vette would work in a Z and what would be needed to make it work. My Z (in the future) will be a cruiser primarily, and it would be nice to have a comfy seat for the wife.

Thanks!
Byrdman