Convertible RX-8 Build Thread
 

This will be the main thread for this build. Built by Next Generation HotRods and Customs in Austin TX. Owner and designer is Craig Smith, CRAIGZTOYZ, with over 20 years in custom cars and unique engine swaps. This RX8 had some front damage @ pass headlight, and broke the windsheild while cutting roof, as you will see in pics. The car has over 400 hours in it @ the moment. A lot of the time was spent @ junkyards, auctions, tow yards inspecting how these cars bend in wrecks. Even more time spent designing it on AUTOCAD, and then fabbing up the undercarriage supports, and frame. Planning on a fully braced lower cage from engine bay to trunk running just above lower rockerpanels inside car.
There will be a complete A_pillar rollbar just inset of the windowframe.
There will be a nice and functional rollbar for rollover, sideimpact support.
The only part left above glass on door will be the triangle mirror mounting area/speaker. The window frame there mounted to windsheild frame, smoothed over with an extra layer of sheetmetal.(looking similar to a Solara A-pillar on the cleanliness.
There will be a hardtop with a very low roofline. The rear doors will have an insert window, fully framed. The frame will include a front 'B-pillar' to it so front glass has a rear sealing area.
Planning on having a mild, clean body kit, if I can find for good price the new frontend. (Really trip people out)
The car is an autostick.
The car has 36k miles at moment, been parked and on 4 post for last 4 months being built.
Did undercarriage not knowing if I was going to do top, or crazy V8 swap(VH45TT). Decided to do this because I don't like the stock rear doors/roofline and there is not one driving on the planet to my knowledge. Yes the factory made 1. It is a 2 door(sealed rears in) and just a ceremony vehicle, but it doesn't hit the streets, or track. Mine will.
Setting interior back in for some pics before interior tubing starts.
There will be complete trim throughout, aiming for as factory as possible. Working to hide as much of tubing as possible, while keeping safety 1st in mind.

Some will be purist and completely hate, or dislike this build. To those, this isn't the thread for you, move on.
To those with support, information on other RX8 converibles, and good knowledge thank you. It is appreciated.
The car will be driving in a few weeks. The roof won't be done for a few weeks after. Have a 6 car garage, not an issue.
Have considered 2 seater 2 door, but the Continental look is much more challenging. As it will be the 1 and only, it is very unique, and that's my thing.

Have considered making the rollbar above window height being removable, but it will affect to much of its purpose.
Seatbelt upper will be on rollbar in correct spot.
The upper door latch from the rears will be moved to just above the rear handle, inset in pillar. The D latch will be on the rollbar. This with the door inserted supports makes the doors very rigid and secure.
The rear deck will stay stock, clean outter black trim mirror to mirror the whole way around back ledge, forming 1 clean line.
Thanx for following, hope to exceed all expectations.
Yes I hope to take it on the new F1 track being built a few miles away.

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a few of the other builds going on @ moment
 

FC - VH45 with a lil over 400hp, vvt, 7300rpm, 5spd. Becoming flatback, sort of like a Del Sol in design. Rear glass verticle, powered up and down. One of a kind taillights, shaved handles, 95 Cobra R rims 17x9.5 all around.

1985 928S getting a Ford 302 built pretty wild, 5spd, custom subframe, rear diff from Q45, very clean and extra mean.

1992 SHO 3.2 Stage 1 cams, 5spd, lots of mods, 300hp daily driver.

1948 Chevrolet FleetMaster- 7k original miles. Now has 87 GNX subframe, and rear axle. Custom triangulated 4 link rear, air all around to lay frame flat on ground. 1994 350 TBI, 700R4. No rust

1938 MasterDeluxe 2dr Sedan. 95 SHO V6 built by Yamaha, custom adapterplate to T5 5spd. 12bolt rear (may put in Ford IRS from 95 Tbird). Front suspension and frame from 94 S10 4dr blazer with lots of mods, bridging. Tubular control arms. Body channeled 8.5" over frame. Louvers for heat removal, custom rear/trunk deck. 3.5" headlights, fenderless, a whole lot left to do.

Have built over 50 custom and unique engine swaps.
Just a little insight into what else is going on, and a few more with new things coming each day.

Sorry, thought it put at top of last post ' Other projects being worked on'


Would like opinions, input on body kit choices, would love the new front look, but not @ that huge of price.
Pics of what body kits, skirts might look good on it would be appreciated.

Haven't decided on a color for exterior, not fond of the, purplish silver.

I'll be watching this for sure... might I suggest a subtle body kit since there is such a drastic change being made to the car anyways.

Also, for wheels, no 20's please. 18's or 19's... I'll help you out on sizing when the time comes.

The wheels will be 18, , the body kit will not be wild in any way. Sporty is what I like, but the lines need to flow. Like the new RX8 frontend, hope to get lucky @ auction, yards. The sides need to match, or if there is an aftermarket that is clean newer look front, skirts let me know

I suggest the Spec-A kit from Shine Auto Body... best looks per dollar in my opinion. Nice and subtle with good fitment.

http://www.shineautoproject.com/autospec.htm

As for paint, do you have any ideas? If it were me, I wouldn't get anything too flashy...

This will be the first rx8 roadster! Cannot wait for the final results.

you guys are in Austin? where? never heard of you or your shop, either I'm falling down on the job or you're new here lol

Either way, good luck, I've seen 1-2 rx-8 verts before, but they weren't done very well and that was years ago anyway.

Been in Austin building since 97. Moved a few months ago from Ben White, to South Manchacha Rd. Used to work for South Austin years back, before the J.J. takeover, then specialized in exotics, and customs. Going back to what I love, and got a few good guys with skills to spread the load. Give me a ring, cruise by. Changed from CraigzToyz after 23years to a more mature name that fits the shop's main function....NGHR&C. Bet you know some of our cars. A number of Z32's w V8s, a few RX7 swaps local, and a few drift toys that are daily drivers. Have been converting some hotrods to modern engines, and makes a few sequential V8s into 4cyl when you flip the switch, back to 8, when its playtime... Have been custom building SHOs since 92, Still my fav d.d.

Also have a number of RHD customers, a few legal cars, but others getting 'converted' to be legal to drive in US. Its all DOT crap. The main focus has always been Unique engine swaps, broke back a year ago, and been taking some time off over last year. Only built 4 last year due to back pain, moving locations. Also been working on a hubless vehicle. Fully functional too.


So to your reply...... you have seen more then 1, or even 1 in person? When, where, by who built, pics....? Any info on other builds is always useful. Thanx. Getting new place set still, give a ring, swing by. Craig

cool man, my friend's shop just went out of business and used to pseudo sponsor my car, we did all the heatwave events with it etc. Unfortunately that's all gone for me now, probably won't be showing much anymore, but you're the second "new" (to me anyway) shop I've seen pop up recently so it's good to know I have options for my next build if my friend's are too burned out to help. When you say South Manchaca, are you out there a little bit past the neighborhoods etc. if I'm heading south? I've lived off "man chack" for years, since 79 actually so that's pretty sweet if you're that close. Either way, sorry to derail, I was just shocked to see you're from Austin. Are you guys open Saturdays?

The pics I saw were about maybe 3 years ago? It was a white one, looked to be in some sort of parade, it's on the forum somewhere, possibly in another rx8 vert thread. If I remember correctly it had some type of hideous canvas top hanging off the back, it wasn't really a good image either way. I've not seen one in person, just random pics here and there over the years.

I'm way south for Austin, about 1/2 a mile south of city limit now, Manchacha, literally. As a sole custody parent of a 7yr old, I try to keep lowkey. Build to drive, not to show has always been my motto. That has changed over the years as the younger crowd now starts to respect/drool over most of my builds. The new Shop is on my property have a 6car garage, 6car carport and lots of space to organize. Still getting things together, but on the right path. We work all hours, build what we feel is right, let others judge later....

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Craig @ Next Generation HotRods and Customs

The car you speak of, if the only 1, and only a ceremonial vehicle, a start in right direction, but not correct in lines and flow.

awesome, once I get my car more roadworthy I'll have to stop by, right now it's in a bunch of pieces, fixing lots of random stuff and replacing my air ride with something more reliable so I can start hitting the drives and parking lot meets again and all that.

Yeah that one I saw a long time ago was gross, at first I thought it was a photochop, turns out out it was just a roof chop in a photo. (haha)

Ya gota respect it though. For them to do it, wasn't that easy, but they showed me, it was possible, and with Texas strength will be way beyond what they imagined. I really want to do an engine swap, mild 400hp and over 25mpg, but know it could lower the overall value, depending on customer. The chassis calls out for real torque, would be a blast to use.

Ok, Shortening it as in the black pic.... not that bad. A bit@h and a half, but totally doable. Using rear door mounting, taking out needed in front seat mounting area. So seats would mount were rear are, the doors would be a blend of the 2. The doors could open normal or suicide, but with cowl, entry would be impossible.
Then with caging, easy to be solid.(tunnels in these have lots of space)

Have front end off completely, want to order a newer looking setup next week. If things go well hope to have in paint in a few weeks.
Windshield was a mess to get out. Wished it wasn't cracked, but a lot easier to do A-pillar rollbar with it out, dash out....

No metal till next week, so can't start its tubing yet. Plenty of other projects to work on.

I could live with that front, but not the skirts... they look like a walmart ad on. That's just me... they don't conform to the lines, and what I want is a whole new look wo lower sides, to flow with the new roofline

Ahh, well don't get something you could live with, get something you like. Most of the rest of the kits are made in Japan though.

japanparts.com has a great selection... or you could always get the $20 replica bumpers from ebay or any of the USA companies.

I haven't ever found an aftermarket front bumper that didn't expect you to have side skirts

I've always been partial to the AutoExe one offered by Corksport but again it would look silly probably without the skirts.

http://www.corksport.com/autoexe-se-...2003-2008.html

I think all builds of these sorts are cool, just for the fact that they are doing something different. When that's said I just FEEL when I put my design glasse on, like it will turn into an out of shape MX-5 NC. The RX's lines are ruined by removing the coupe. But I'm very interested to see how it will turn out, good luck :)

To each their own, I would agree that without the stock roof, its not the same... Some would say that is a good thing. I wanted different, and unique, well this does the trick. Its lines are very MX-5 now, a bit larger, and a unique door setup, and for a convertible very clean lines.

For the front 2 posts up, nice, but @900, would want the 09 look.

Anyone got good info on a reman, or salvage specalists in genII Rx8