Converting Pop-ups to Polycarb

[aliusa]

Hi,

I've been looking into the Sterling for quite some time now. I finally found not one but two in my area. One is the original sterling (scoops on the hood and the Polycarb-style lights) and the other is a smother hood with pop out headlights. After comparing the two I really like the styling of the original. So my question is -- is there conversion kit that convert from the popup headlight to the the original style?

Thanks,
Ali

 

[letterman7]

Welcome to the forum, Ali. There isn't a conversion from pop-up to bucket. In fact, the pop-up may already have the buckets in place, at least in part, as that was a factory option later in the production line. I think the buckets were simply cut to accept the pop-up buckets and glassed over, though I could be mistaken. In any case, if you like the looks of the buckets, hoods are readily available to swap out if you prefer the 'nostril' hood over the smooth.

The one advantage of the pop-up lights is you can see better at night! And, they conform to most state DOT regulations for headlight minimum heights.

 

[aliusa]

Appreciate the welcome


Here's an example:

Reading the forum, unless the car is modified, the nose length is the standard factor. So I would likely have to purchase this hood:

But wouldn't I have to cut the headlight area too?

I don't mind getting my hands dirty, that's the idea. But I have very little fiberglass experience (zero experience) is something a novice can do?

EDIT: Actually I don't think that hood would fit the car above... Is that car a Sterling GT?

Thanks,
Ali

 

[letterman7]

Yes, that hood will fit that particular car. And yes, to get the factory look of the buckets on that red car, you will have to do some cutting and fitting of new fiberglass. It would be easier on your part to simply find a non-pop-up car, I think.

Personally, I like the look of the pop-ups. It smooths the lines of the car, IMHO. You could simply remove the pop-ups and box in the light area to create a pseudo-bucket look if you really wanted to go that way. Some of the early Cimbrias did exactly that, but had headlight covers than folded down, revealing the stationary light in the bucket.

 

[aliusa]

Personally, I like the look of the pop-ups. It smooths the lines of the car, IMHO. You could simply remove the pop-ups and box in the light area to create a pseudo-bucket look if you really wanted to go that way. Some of the early Cimbrias did exactly that, but had headlight covers than folded down, revealing the stationary light in the bucket.

That's a good suggestion too.

I think person is asking a bit too much--4000 for something that's not running, hatch not opening, supposedly all parts are there but no way verify everything is working, though he's claiming they. Body is clean. Paint is needs to stripped and redone. Some chips.. in fact he chipped a piece why using a crowbar to open the hood (tsk).

Car was sitting 7 years in his backyard, untouched.

Engine looks clean but rusty -- needs fuels lines replaced, exhaust replaced. It's a dual carb. Does that it's dual port?

Sorry i've digressed.

-Ali

 

[letterman7]

Yep, a bummer. In my opinion it's worth every bit of $3500 as-is; it's complete, though needs work. No doubt the pans will need replaced and the engine rebuilt (or new), but for what it is it seems to present pretty well in the photos. Dual carbs doesn't mean much - even single port engines can be fitted with dual carbs. The odds are it's a dual port, though...

Really, if this is the car you want, keep the pop-ups or find a different car. Pop-up cars are fairly rare if it's a factory car and I'd hate to see something like that get bodged up.

 

[aliusa]

Yep, a bummer. In my opinion it's worth every bit of $3500 as-is; it's complete, though needs work. No doubt the pans will need replaced and the engine rebuilt (or new), but for what it is it seems to present pretty well in the photos. Dual carbs doesn't mean much - even single port engines can be fitted with dual carbs. The odds are it's a dual port, though...

Really, if this is the car you want, keep the pop-ups or find a different car. Pop-up cars are fairly rare if it's a factory car and I'd hate to see something like that get bodged up.

I agree... I will likely keep it as is. The pop-up are rusted and needs repair. But the style is growing on me.

Thanks
A

 

[1/3RDOFF]

O. K. So I need to ask-pop ups r the ones w/the cover molded to the top of the assembly?? That's whats on my Sterling, well in the front under hood area. dang, why r they so ugly?? In the up position they are so out of place, same as the fieros. Currently proweling the new car lots to find a "sutible" replacement. So far the Fords have a shot, molded into the fender. Rick

Would anybody want "free" pop ups?? Just pay the shippng.

PS: the wife will not deal with the climbing gig to get in. SOOO-looks like i'll be glassing the body halves together & cutting out real doors, w/roll up/down glass. YEP- I know, it will be a short window!! Ploy-carb?

 

[nbb350]

the wife will not deal with the climbing gig to get in. SOOO-looks like i'll be glassing the body halves together & cutting out real doors, w/roll up/down glass.

Why go to all that work when it sounds like you have a PERFECT reason to leave the wife and home and take the dog instead? "There's nothing wrong with the car, honey...after all, the dog isn't complaining!"

 

[letterman7]

Good luck with that. Have you seen this thread: http://www.sterlingkitcars.com/memb...uce-yourself/850-confused-about-my-model.html and the subsequent follow up on the UK forum: Euro-Nova - View topic - Mystery ride ?
That's the only canopied car that I've seen that's successfully been converted to doors. There was a Nova in the UK (that I thoroughly forgot to get photos of) that had converted to doors, and it just didn't work - the rake of the windscreen and the roofline made for a very awkward entrance. If you're wife is complaining now, wait 'til she tries to get into something like that. And roll-up windows wouldn't work either - the angle of the window frame doesn't match the angle of the body. So unless you do half windows at the bottom or can figure out a track that will bend glass on the way up....

Rethink your strategy. Keep the Sterling original and have her deal with it or sell it and get something gull-wing. There are quite a few Cimbrias around and I've got a car here that I could let go for a reasonable price. It's not a Cimbria, but it does have gull wing doors!

 

[1/3RDOFF]

Hey, thanks for "ALL" the ways out!!! So far of all the women I've married have been into cars. 1st
wife could do anything I could on a car. That was fun. This wife has had a husband & another male friend who were into bastard rear-engined vehicles; VW's, Corvairs, now me-fieros & a Sterling. AND before we hooked up I spotted an acre of unused land out behind her barn-brain said, marry this gal. The rest is history.>>>As for the Sterling; I'm not @all above modifying it. My
fiero has some mods now, more to come. My street trike is waiting a drive train transplant, a complete 3100 w/4t60 w/all controls & body panels to be fabricated. My Brat would be abit more usable w/2.8 & 5 spd. have two complete 4.9s w/4t60s for fieros. I plan a 2.8 w/5 spd from an 88 formula fiero for the Sterling. The windshield is in it but severly scratched-will not polish out. So,,I
have syphored a rear 98 camaro glass to replace it. Before y'all burn me @ the stake on this
swap, I'll use the elastic coating on the inside to reduce shardes in caes it breaks & in our state there is no vehicle inspections & this will be my personnal driver. This swap is being done on other cars, like the fiero where folks r doing their own custom bodies w/no appernt issues. I truely hope this last part does not cause a rant. I'll ad; I'm old, set in my ways & do what I like w/my cars.

I have started veiwing others cars here & gain much knowledge & respect for their cars, those
returned to stock & those modfied.

The new doors can be done w/roll up-down glass. Actually I think there is depth enough to create a dolly/trolley set of side rails that would carry the glass up/down that can adjust for the curve of the body & still provde a seal for glass to the door frame in the up position. One should not assume that with a different windshield in place, more area for a small fixed forward side glass that would accomadate a roller window & a persons desire to do things not before done would make that person unstable,,,crazy perhaps.

But I will concede; putting a Sterling on a fiero frame would be a monumental task & not worthy of my time, not @ my age & with the other projects I'd like to do. With respect,Rick