What causes this? it is a 1989 trans am (asc) with 8k original miles. car is perfect and rare, and I spent a fortune buying it. i want a new top but I figure the new top will get ruined just like this one did. Something is rubbing the canvas when the top is down. does anyone know anything about this? can it be fixed? my 92's never had this problem. also, the front header latches open by themselves as you drive. i fixed that by removing shims, but now it is very hard to latch them. My 92's never had this problem either. perhaps a 1992 top frame is in order? any help greatly appreciated

AFAIK I want to think that the 1989 and 1992 frames are identical, the 1990 - 1992 had the headliner. My 1989 Formula 350 Convertible has the same issue, it appears to be the second top, and there are some wear holes from the frame. I am not sure if it s from being folded down or what. Someone suggested to me to get a new top and when I removed the old top to figure out where the wear holes were on the new top and iron on some patches on the inside so that it would not wear through so quickly...


On a completely different note, if you are interested in some information I will be willing to send it to you. I got a copy of the ASC Firebird 1989 Dealer order logs. From that I have made a spreadsheet. If you PM or email me the last 6 digits of your VIN I will verify that it is on the list, an I will tell you who (the dealer) the car was originally ordered by, the date of conversion, the date of the order by the dealer, and I will get you a copy of the spreadsheet that currently has 141 GTA or Trans Am convertibles. I will also send you an article and some other information from ASC with production numbers etc...

Let me know.

John

That would probably work out pretty good. Like John said you might be able to glue some extra fabric up on the inside of the top.I'm guessing it's the hinge part of the top that it's wearing on.

I should have mentioned that my 1989 has only 37,000 miles...

John

There are a few spots that rub both top down and top up. It also depends on how the top folds when you put it in the well, sometimes the cloth will get between the bars and just being smashed between bars will wear holes in it. Locate the spots its wearing, and you can either try to do something about the piece that is causing the wear or add some cloth to the inside. I used some slightly thicker canvas on the inside and used some contact cement to hold it in place. No discoloring and they have not come off in 6 months.

Can you post some pics of the T/A...would love to see it!

I seem to remember a service bulletin for 89 Camaro's that dealt with adjusting the frame. Wear spots are a result of the top being folded down and rubbing on the frame. Is you car a TA or GTA? If it's a TA, does it have the 5.0L or 5.7L?

thx

Very much so, I suspect he has the 5.7 Liter. There were only about 4 LO3 Trans Am's, 9 LB9 Trans Am's or GTA's and a whopping 141 L98 GTA's or Trans Am's.

Of those 141 only one is currently known to be a Trans Am, of course I only know the specifics of 25 of them...

There was a really nice Black GTA vert around Albuquerque NM IIRC...

John

i'm certainly no expert but aren't the convertible top frames different between the 89 and 92? I know that my 89 mechanism looks slightly different to the ASC diagrams of the 1991.5 updates.

I remember reading that there were changes to the design so less effort was required to put up/ put down the top.

with my 89, you do have to be careful when colapsing the top into the storage well as it is quite easy to get parts of the top frame resting (and therefore rubbing) on the material.

I try to ensure that the top is well packed to avoid this. try putting it away slowly and watching where the top rubs on the material and adjust accordingly.

My 89 has ripped where the top folds over the rear seat belt anchors (possibly because of the Australian compliance rules & conversion to Right Hand Drive). It also does not have flip rods or head liner. When I order the new one it will certainly have both and I will also better protect the seat belt anchors.

Yes - depending on who converted the car, the rear seat belt anchors may have been moved. My are in the centre, likely similar to yours.

You can get the fliprods separately. Also, 89 cars did not come with a head liner, but I'm sure you could get one. Just make sure you get the correct measurements off your old top as the actual top design and size changed throughout the years.

Also, I always store the car with the top up to help prevent wear on the top.