Converting A Gti To A Cti?

[cybernck 402 1 Cars]

I know the sills are strengthened, the boot is not just a cut-up 205 boot and there's obviously no roof ,

but what are the other differences (or should I say obstacles) in converting a GTI to a CTI? I mean,

would it be possible to just cut the roof off, replace the sills, fit the roll hoop and put CTI doors and boot on?

And obviously the folding roof and mechanism as well.

 

Absolutely massive and stupid amounts of work, but don't ask .

[Cameron 16]

I'm sure with enough work it's.. convertible.

[engine killer 6]

iirc, you also need a cti carpet.

[Weser 30]

From what I remember by looking at my two. The rear seats are different and obviously the parcel shelf arrangement. the rear windows roll up and down and are definately different to the gti but you could probably get away with that with a different style hood

[james_pug 26 1 Cars]

Sourcing all the parts would be difficult, windscreen frame will be differnt where the roof clips into, there's were the roof bolts to aswell.

[cybernck 402 1 Cars]

I'm sure with enough work it's.. convertible.

 

 

Sourcing all the parts would be difficult, windscreen frame will be differnt where the roof clips into, there's were the roof bolts to aswell.

Ah, what I failed to mention is, that in this scenario, I'd have a CTI donor car, so parts shouldn't be a problem.

[welshpug 1,657]

I dont get it, WHY?!

[Anthony 1,003]

Would it not be easier just picking up a cheap CTi (or even CJ) from the UK, rather than trying to convert a GTi shell?

 

CTi and CJ's seem to be worth absolutely nothing over here at the moment, budget airline flight wouldn't be much, and then just drive it back.

 

Sure, it would be RHD, but I'd imagine that with a suitable LHD donor it wouldn't be too hard to do a RHD-LHD conversion if you've access to a welder.

[jackherer 543]

Cybernck is only allowed to import cars younger than 10 years old IIRC. And the price of a one way ticket from Zagreb to Luton is surprisingly high.

 

Forget all that though, Cybernck, have you gone mad? You want to cut the roof off a perfectly good 205 GTI?

[steve@cornwall 100]

Rear seats/brackets have to be different because the cross beam the bottoms bolt to are MASSIVE compared to the Saloon, the rear uprights are different because the inner panels (to carry the winder mechs and rear seat catches not to mention the roll over hoop) are different. The X- member the front seats bolt to is fully enclosed and strengthened as opposed to the saloon which is more flimsy and open at the back. With the cills, It's inner, outer and jacking points that are totally different. Would have thought it much better to repair whatever may be wrong with the donor shell - Or as said, even source a sound one !

[cybernck 402 1 Cars]

205 GTIs are very rare here and CTIs/CJs are rarer still - maybe only 3-4 in the whole country - and we're not able to import such old cars here.

 

I wouldn't cut up my GTI, but get a cheap bad registered one for basis, along with a cheap good "stranger" CTI as a donor for parts.

 

Although I don't really like convertible cars, I've always liked and lusted about CTIs (I think they look better than GTIs )

and having had a ride in couple of perfect (German and Austrian) ones on Sunday - I now must have one .

 

Sounds like waaay too much work though...

[feb 47]

Wouldn't the other way around be easier?

Get a foreign Cti that has been damaged in the chassis number area and fix it with parts of your local one?

Only joking of course

It would be safer to do that IMHO than chop an otherwise good car.

Edited September 6, 2011 by feb

[GLPoomobile 958]

Probably easier to just move home to a new country

[harryskid 193]

Shame about the gti though!

[welshpug 1,657]

what GLP said!

[Henry Yorke 269 3 Cars]

If you were to do it, I would look at making a Pugster like Hilgie is slowly doing and there was a Rugarri arched one previously made. It depends what you want to use it for. A CTI without the roll bar is no more dangerous than any pre 70's convertible classic car. You wouldn't not drive this just because it didn't have a roll bar.

 

(Welcome to the pink side Nik!!)

[cybernck 402 1 Cars]

Sure, I've been thinking about that too, as I certainly wouldn't be going through all the pain only to drive with the roof on .

 

However, I'd like a more or less standard-looking CTI, maybe slightly modernised (as they take exterior mods better than GTIs).

[scottypug 0]

space frame your gti and then chop the roof as that will add all of the strength you need in regarrds to the chasis as auto grass cars do then chop the roof off and build your own convertble top.

scott