87 Firebird

I have an 86 Firebird that I use for a parts car. Took a couple minor hits to some posts when not insured, so owner sold it to a wrecker, who sold it to me. Car has no motor or tranny, and rear hatch glass is shattered.

A couple days ago, I found an ~86 Z28 sitting at a frame + alignment shop. I ask about it, and was told that the owner was planning on fixing it up since it had been wrapped around a post or tree or something. Front glass is shot, rear glass is good, entire interior is gutted, Has a 305 TPI and 5 speed tranny. T-roof also on car. Frame is bent.
Here's the plan: Buy the Z28 if the owner'll part with it for cheap. Put it beside the 86 Firebird, and start swapping parts onto the Firebird. Between the two cars I'll be able to put together about 95% of a fully functional car, but that's just not good enough now, is it?

I want to know if I can cut the T-Roof off the Z28 and graft it onto the Firebird. Time isn't really and issue, and I have permanent access to all the cutting tools, welders, lifting equipment, etc. I can ever need for such a project. I'd probably get some SFC's welded onto the car just to shore up the strength and to take some pressure off the roof area, also. Good idea or bad idea?

un4givin89

I think the frames of the cars are different. A non-top/convert. isn't designed the same underneath... soemthign like that, not to postive.

87 Firebird

Are you referring to a convertible and a hardtop? Convertibles just have SFC's on them, IIRC.

91z4me

Hey I say go for it I know people have done it and it probably cost a lot of money, but it sounds like you have the know how and all the tools you would need so go for it. If it don't work you still have a good drivetrain and 2 parts cars now.

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91 z-28 305 700R4
3.73 gears out back
T-Tops and Black all over.

88gta57

hi there,

As for going from a Z-28 to a firebird i believe it should work. i done it from a 88 gta t-top parts car to a 87 non t-top car. well its a t-top car now. its not that bad of a price tag. its around 600.00 from a very good body shop. (dealer body shop done it). that inclludes a prep for paint also. you will need to have the glass done for yourself. but it looks like the glass is not a problem. it takes them around 2 days to do this and they done a GREAT job.

hope this helps ya
kevin

RARE-ROC-Z

the painter at the body shop i work at did this to a 92Z it looked great and stock.

so it can be done. do it man. but make sure you get SFCs.

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Jarrad
United States ARMY Military Police Officer 339th Division


formerly owned:
1990 IROC-Z L98

L98IROCZ89

$600 to get T-tops installed on a non t-top car??? You said something about a dealer... did GM do it? If not where? I want to do this real bad.

I feel my car is missing 2 things... manual amd t-tops!

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1989 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
L98 - 350c.i. TPI, rebuilt 700R4 auto w/shift kit, Dual catalyst Monza PaceSetter Cat-Back, SLP 1 5/8 Coated Headers, 3.23 Posi rear, Hypertech chip with 160stat, MSD 6A, Under-Drive pulleys, AFPR, K&N's, !Air Box w/ Ram Air, moddified MAF, !TB Coolant, Spohn Dual Cat SubFrame Connectors, Alarm, Keyless entry, remote starter, 92 Z28 AeroWing, Brand New Paint (6/21/01)

Future: ZZ4 TPI w/EGR, T56, 3.42 or 3.73, Spohn strut tower brace and LCA's, Accell 24# injectors

1989 Chevrolet Celebrity Eurosport
2.8 MPFI, no mods
225,000 miles and still ticking!

More info and pics on my webpage:http://go.to/iroc-z

AOL IMer: GPA 0point0

Setzer

Does anyone have any before and after pics on a t-top conversion like this? If so that would be awesome. I am thinking about doing this on my firebird as well. Thank you

~Josh~ beangta@aol.com

Belker

I'm gonna guess you could find the body of a t-top car cheaper than it would cost to properly do the conversion.

ChillPhatCat

Why is it that all I got was responses like: "It would be cheaper to buy a T-Top car" and "It would look horrible" when I posted a while ago... this post got so many responses compared to my last one... This topic has been discussed so many times and I'm glad to see we finally got real responses... The only problem I would see in doing it yourself is inacurate measurements... you have to be very careful so that the glass in your door seals properly on the T-Top... I think I may have to look into this myself, up here in NY it is rare to find a good body that isn't on a functional car, so the only reliable economical way to do this would be to graft a roof on it... (I don't have $3000 dollars which would be required to find a car in as good a condition as mine with T-Tops...)

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1984 Firebird - Daily driver, 305 LG4, T5 - Hurst short shifter, Edelbrock 600 CFM Performer Carb - Edelbrock Pro-Flow air filter, gutted cat, IROC 16x8 Wheels, Goodyear P215/60/R16, AIWA bargain basement (from Sears of course) CD player, Fuzzy dice, Eight-ball shift ****
Check out my ride here $1600!! Bye Bye on board computer!

Kills:
2002 Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon, Dodge Neon sport unknown year

87 Firebird

I'd think it'd be very simple to graft a t-roof on. The only thing you'd have to make sure fits perfectly is the windshield. The rear hatch has a bit of room for error, and the door windows can be adjusted up, down, in, out, front up, and back up within the door panel. How much do tops cost, btw?

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Kevin Harlow
87 Firebird - LB8 A4
!Cat, !MAF (sometimes), !TB Coolant, Cutout, K&N, Modified Air Intake, Tru-Cool Tranny Cooler,
Air Assist Springs, Ported intake!, Ported + Polished TB Blade
Corvette Servo coming soon...
HPH C.A.I. kit coming soon...
DIY White Face Gauges - www3.mb.sympatico.ca/~bharlow/

Setzer

I have seen tops on EBAY for as low as $80. Of course you cant be positive in what kind of condition they will be in. I think if you took your time in doing the conversion and not just jumping into it, it will turn out fine. Make sure you have the proper tools and equipment and measure everything 5x.

~Josh~

redbird_400

Get those SFC first, the last thing you need is t-tops that appeart to fit just right then the next time it rains you have to sit in a puddle driving to work. I would not even touch my engine with out some good SFC. Thought my car came stock with T-tops.

good luck hack at it