It's been raining every day for the past 2 weeks here, and my Camaro hasn't been driven during that time. I've had it sitting in the driveway. I had to get something out of the car and I noticed my headliner is covered in mildew and sagging really bad (It needed to be replaced anyway). So I start looking for the source of my leak. I think I found it. The back (rear-most) side of my driver's side t-top isn't sitting in it's place perfectly. It kind of sticks up too high. The same thing is happening to my passenger's side t-top, but in the front side. This makes me believe that my car's body is twisted. The car was wrecked 3 years ago this month. The wreck took out the front passenger's side of the car, the nose, fender, and corner of the hood, about $3000 of damage. I also found out recently that I've been riding on 3 bent wheels, and I think this had screwed with my car's body (ripples in the door panels). My headliner hasn't started to mildew and the t-tops haven't leaked until recently, just a couple months ago.
So do you think my car's body is twisted, or do the t-tops need to be adjusted (I've heard of this being done but I cant figure out how to do it). Any help is really appreciated and I'm sorry you had to read so much!!

 

Chances are its twisted... You can adjust the t-tops by taking off the plastic trim by the mounts and loosening up a screw and moving the mounts around. Its not really a big deal to do. If the body is twisted it probably had something to do with the wreck.

 

Are the mounts on the t-tops or on the body? I took off the plastic triom around the t-top lock and handle and I didn't see anything to adjust in there

I really hope the body isn't twisted.

 

on the body, under the trim pieces, by the holes where the tops pins hold them in.

typical Tools needed: 7mm nutdriver, and #2 Phillips Screwdriver should be all you need.

John

 

It sounds like the car is definitely twisted. With everything you're describing, I think you'd be better off finding another car to work on. Trying to work on a car just to get it to par from accident damage is such a frustration and money drainer. Best thing you can do is try to find someone selling a rolling body in good condition and start there. Assuming you have the space for another car.

Thanks for the ttop tips; I always wondered how to adjust them. Since getting the SFCs put in, they need a touch of adjustment.

 

If it is twisted, there are frame straightening machines. I have no idea what it costs. This is why I will never have another bird without subframes. Stops the body flex!

Though is seems odd that is would have only started to leak after 3 years, if it was related to the wreck. You may want to make sure there is no rust around the center back of the t-tops. The 82 was so rusted it had a hole right at the back center. You could not see it with the center bar on, but I could see the rust around that area...This will not explain the sitting problem, but it maybe why it has only showed up now.

Now the wheels you told me were sold to you bent. They were on how long? Darn my memory! And how bent were they?

 

Ss Black_Widdow how did the adjusting go? did it help at all..

 

I haven't adjusted them yet, I haven't been able to use the computer until now, but I will try it in a few minutes.

As far as rust goes, I have NEVER seen any rust at all anywhere on my car. Even the floorboards are new looking. My t-top weather stripping was replaced not long before I bought the car, and it seems to be like new.

I noticed something today that probably proves my body is twisted. The fender gar on the driver's side, between the front fender and the door, is twice as wide as it is on the passenger's side. It looks like my Camaro might be lost. I'll probably have to part it out. I'm attached to that car too . Like CaysE said, thaere's no need in putting tons of money into a car that is twisted like that.

Also today I killed my GTA. I think it's a piston ring or a rod or something. I guess it's time for that 383.

I'll probably replace my Camaro with a 4th gen.

Redraif, you have mail.

 

TTT

So who thinks my car is done for?

 

Well, have you taken a look at the frame underneath the car? Does the frame have any indication that the car is twisted? Before you part out your car, I suggest taking it to a reputable collision shop and have them inspect it for you to see what type of damage it has.

A collision shop can repair frame damage, depending on how severe it is. If you are attatched to the car, you may want to look into it. Good Luck

 

Agreed. Todays technology can repair just about anything!

 

Since the car was damaged long ago, and this is your first hint of problems, I might consider that the t-tops might just be out of adjustment, before we go and throw away the car. If you cant get them to line up properly then go from there... and start measuring things.


John