Kaas

i know this is a really retarded question to ask, but i was wanting to get t-tops installed on my camaro that didn't come from the factory with em heh. the only thing i am worried that i have heard around from different people, is that if i get em as an aftermarket type thing, that it would weakin the frame...is this true? and if not, what would you guys think of this..has anyone done this before?

89cmrodriver

do a search, i see this topic weekly, u will need SFC's and its alot of work, your best bet would be to sell it and buy a t top car

CaysE

t-tops aren't all they're cracked up to be. stick with the hardtop or go with a convertible. In any case, get subframe connectors no matter what you do. They really give the car a solid feel with less rattles.

FruityOne

No matter how you do the T-tops, or who does them they will always weaken the frame.

84Camaro305

Anyone have pictures of a 3rd gen t-top job being done? I've seen the 4th gen pictures, and they don't look incredibly hard.

http://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread...highlight=ttop

Kaas

i'm keeping my car due to the fact that i havn't seen all that many z-28 5 speed manuals around here heh...but i love t-tops, and was just wonderin..i would have it profesionally done. i more than likely won't if it weakens the frame

89cmrodriver

the car does really have a frame, its unibody...i cut the roof off a parts car i had and it was saggin in the middle almost instantly, i have a parts car thats t-top and i always wanted to make mine have t-tops but its easier and less expensive to go buy another car....the only thing special about your z28 is that its a 5 speed? i see alot of them around

transam305

t-tops arn't all they car cracked up to be when it rains they leak if they arn't done right and if your seals go bad, they hold water because they don't have a way for the water to drain off, then if they leak it get worse, it rains the water sits there warms up from the heat and then drips down on you feels really bad, almost like the car is pissin on you, not a good feeling. anyway if you get them done get them done right or it will suck.

jcurrieirocz

any factory ttop is just as weak as a swaped one.

All you got to do is roll your car and get a ttop parts car chop the roof off weld it on your car paint it and your done,,,nothing hard about that,,,just need time and some cash if your gannapay someone to do it.....a hotrod guy who has experiance doing chops would rip thru a project like that in no time.
ttops might flex abit but mine hasint ever cracked my paint.....I am going to get SFC only cause i want too not cause i have to. And a stock ttop can hold up to alot of twisting,,,,,more then anyone here gives them credit for. I like my ttops and they dont leak much at all, cause i fixed them. Maybe if i take a pressure washer to them they leek but not in the rain there ok. And if people dont like the ttops they can keep there hardtops,,,cause its pointless to have a Z28 w/o ttops IMO!!!

transam305

hey i love my t-tops but when what i described above happends it isn't so fun but all in all i wouldn't trade my tops for the world.

85SportCoupeto89RS

I only know of a few members who have done it to their cars on here.

Just for anyone who doesn't know:

Theres one huge difference between the 3rd and 4th gen's in the t'top conversion. The 4th gen's hard top roof skin can be taken off to allow the t'top hardware to be installed with only slight modifications. Where as the 3rd gen has to have a roof from a t'top car cut off completely, you cant just pop off the roof skin and install t'top hardware like the 4th gens can. It would be great if GM decided to make it where all the 3rd gens had the same roof no matter if its for t's or not. That way all we'd have to do is cut the skin and make it a t'top car in no time.

Kaas

hmm..well, i think i;ve decided to try and find a 3rd gen 5 speed with t-tops to buy..my car is starting to give me some real problems, and i don't know if i will be able to fix them all without others popping back on me lol..so, if you guys would like to give me some advice, please do so, i have an 84 z-28 5 speed currently, that has about 2 grand of body damage to it, i have a bad waterpump and a coolant leak (not sure if the waterpump is to blame for the whole leak) and lately i have been driving and my power steering goes out and then comes back on, i think it might be the belt gettin some oil on it maybe...it has a 305 carb which i was wanting to switch out for a 350 TPI. if i buy another camaro, i will swap out the engine as well if it is a 305.....so that's that, if you guys know of any 83-88 z-28s or irocs, let me know if you could, my e-mail is megaparanoid@yahoo.com i'm looking to spend prolly no more than 3 grand, i don't want to much work done to it, for i want to do it myself, unless you think it might be alright to fix my car up...i want to fix mine up, but i don't want to be workin on a lost cause

89cmrodriver

do u wanna sell your car?

Kaas

i'd like to keep it, if it won't give me problems after i switch out the engine, but if it's gonna be more problems than what it's worth than i'd like to get another