Lexan T-Tops
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Car: '92 Firebird
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Lexan T-Tops
Does anyone know how rare of an option the lexan tops were? I have been looking to pick up new ones to replace mine and have only found one place other than GM. $800 each is the best price I've found so far. Just wondering how many other had them (I think only a 91-92 option?) and if anyone knew where I could pick some up.
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I have no idea how rare they are, but what i do know is that they are junk!! they scratch very easy and will basically turn to a haze in no time. I would get glass man...
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Originally Posted by tpi-hearse
stock on all 91-92 f-bodies with t tops...aka common
ive seen many many 91/92s with glass tops... and they were available before 91, i have seen them on other cars also
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Quite a few 1989 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Ams got them too.
So, they started in 1989.
They were replaced from the dealerships when they got bad, with glass ones.
George
So, they started in 1989.
They were replaced from the dealerships when they got bad, with glass ones.
George
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I would never switch to glass tops. Like previously said the lexan tops can be polished up to look good again. They are also a whole lot lighter than glass tops. And my main reason glass tops scare me...I'm on rear hatch #2, rear view mirror #2 and have broke 3 side view mirrors with my stereo. I'll take lexan over my head for that reason!
If anyone knows where I can get a passenger side top I would appreciate the info.
If anyone knows where I can get a passenger side top I would appreciate the info.
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Originally Posted by Birdman92
I would never switch to glass tops. Like previously said the lexan tops can be polished up to look good again. They are also a whole lot lighter than glass tops. And my main reason glass tops scare me...I'm on rear hatch #2, rear view mirror #2 and have broke 3 side view mirrors with my stereo. I'll take lexan over my head for that reason!
If anyone knows where I can get a passenger side top I would appreciate the info.
If anyone knows where I can get a passenger side top I would appreciate the info.
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I had lexan tops on my old 92 Formula. I loved them because they were light. HOWEVER, this was my experience that when i was going over 80-90 MPG i would get ALOT of wind noise from them. I stuck in a set of glass tops and never had a problem. I have a 85TA now and if i could i would get a set of it. However ill probably just stick with my glass ones.
#10
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The problem with polishing the lexan T-tops is that you generally have to remove the factory "hardcoat" when you sand them down. The lexan tops have a hardcoat applied to the surface at the factory. This layer resists scratching and protects the plastic. When you remove the hardcoat, it makes the lexan material very easy to scratch. Just moving your finger across the plastic will produce scratches if the hardcoat has been removed.
The Lexan T-tops were introduced in 3/89. In '90, GM went back to glass because I guess they were having lots of problems with the durability of the Lexan material under warranty. It stayed this way until mid '91 when they went back to the plastic tops again. I'm not sure when the exact changed over occured. Most '92's have the Lexan tops, but early '91's have glass. As far as I can tell, there doesn't seem to be any major differences in the quality of Lexan material between the early '89 T-tops and the ones made later in '92. Most of them exhibit some form of "crazing" (tiny little speckled cracks) inside the plastic when you look through them from inside the car.
I guess GM solved this problem in '93 because most 4th gens I see have good plastic tops without any of the crazing and cracking you see on the 3rd gens. Lexamar corp. made the plastic T-top panels for the 3rd gens, but I'm not sure if GM perhaps went to different vendor for the 4th gen tops or something.
The Lexan T-tops were introduced in 3/89. In '90, GM went back to glass because I guess they were having lots of problems with the durability of the Lexan material under warranty. It stayed this way until mid '91 when they went back to the plastic tops again. I'm not sure when the exact changed over occured. Most '92's have the Lexan tops, but early '91's have glass. As far as I can tell, there doesn't seem to be any major differences in the quality of Lexan material between the early '89 T-tops and the ones made later in '92. Most of them exhibit some form of "crazing" (tiny little speckled cracks) inside the plastic when you look through them from inside the car.
I guess GM solved this problem in '93 because most 4th gens I see have good plastic tops without any of the crazing and cracking you see on the 3rd gens. Lexamar corp. made the plastic T-top panels for the 3rd gens, but I'm not sure if GM perhaps went to different vendor for the 4th gen tops or something.
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Car: '92 Firebird
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Originally Posted by Mikos_89
As far as I can tell, there doesn't seem to be any major differences in the quality of Lexan material between the early '89 T-tops and the ones made later in '92. Most of them exhibit some form of "crazing" (tiny little speckled cracks) inside the plastic when you look through them from inside the car.
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