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okay so tell me if i am completely insane for wanting to try this. i want to have a real targa top camaro when the project is finished. so i am planning on making a very thin frame to go around the edge of the glass on the t-tops, then latching them in place, brake the glass out of them, then weld the frame of the t-top to the center "t" bar in the body. then get inside the car, and cut that bar out of the car with the plasma cutter. then un latch the t-tops, then when we lift the tops of, they will come off in one piece with the center bar. aka a targa top??? and i'm not worried about the body flexing, because the car has weld in subframe connectors, and a roll bar with door bars, and rear bars, and i have a bar going from the firewall to the front subframe.
then i'll worry about the headliner once that comes into play at a later date. then i will lay some fiberglass over the t-top frame just to make it smooth and paint-able. and i think with a lil grinder action, and welder action, we can even get a seal in there to make the whole thing seal up when it rains.
i was just wondering if anyone has already done this, or tried it and failed. any input will be aprecciated.
Now i dont know if you would want to try this but what if you got the targa top from the supra or even some corvettes where you could just use their glass and set it up with their measurements.
kevin
A targa from a C3 Corvette maybe what will work for a thirdgen. If you want to do it right, just do a Google search online for someone that does this custom work for a living.
You are swimming upstream with this one. I have seen the targa conversion done to a few Z06s both C5 and C6 but the targa off of a C4,C5 and C6, will not fit the thirdgen because it is only flat on one side and covers the roof in the front. The C3 targa maybe the trick but good luck finding one. Looks like it's going to be lots of Google searching for you! Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
Back in '84 I saw a then new T/A at a dealership with a targa conversion done to it so back then it was available but not a factory option. The removeable piece wasn't glass and was covered in a black vinyl so I'm guessing it was either some form of plastic or fiberglass panel.
A targa from a C3 Corvette maybe what will work for a thirdgen.
I'm assuming your talking about a aftermarket one-piece astro top for a C3 corvette because all the C3's I've ever seen were T-tops from the factory.
I currently have a astro-top on my C3 and it will not work on a 3rd generation F-body.....two totally different designs. The 68-82 Corvette has a rounded shape at the front and the 3rd gen F-body is more squared off.
Here is a picture of the one-piece top when I first bought it. It's made of acrylic and somewhat flimsy, but works in my application because my t-bar is still there.
The dimensions are no where near that of a 82-92 Camaro/firebird
This is something I've always wanted to do with my 3rd gens.. HATE that damn middle bar.... but haven't been able to find a place to make the top..
__________________ -Mac
1985 Blue Camaro 173 a4 T-top 17.2@78.6 (sold)
1985 Brown Firebird 360 m5 hard top (sold)
1987 Black Trans Am LT1 m6 T-top (WS87)
1988 Blue Firebird Formula 305 a4 T-top (sold)
1995 Green Camaro Z28 LT1 m6 T-top (sold)
2002 Black Trans Am WS6 346 a4 T-top ASC# 5986, 12.15@109.28 (Silver Streak)
do a search for targa top on this site. you will find where I did it and talked about it.
I'll put it here also so people who only find this post see it also.
Its an easy job to do if.
#1 You have some basic welding,cutting,measuring skills.
#2 You can do good figerglass or lexan work.
#1 thing to do is put in some weld in subframe connectors. IF you dont have em. Dont even think about cutting the T bar out yet. I had em in mine already and you could still feel a little give when the t bar was finally removed.
Id sugest a 6point roll cage to really stiffen it up. You can put a nice cage in and out of the way it wont bother you in a daily driver if your worried about that. Put the door bars low. and make the hoop cross bar removable if you have people who ride in the back.
Once you drill out the spot welds you will have ot make a few cuts. DO NOT cut the little metal in the front or back flush. You have to roll a l ittle lip over . You will see what Im talking about.
As for the top. Thats what takes a little work. Find a extra set of t tops. use the ends for your main section just like a stock set. If your good with composits or lexan you will know what to do. No need for me to goingto all that.
It can be done. Just take your time and do it. I would have liked to finised mine off but I picked up a totaled vert and took it a step further and went from
^ Everybody who wants to do this needs to take note of what Chris is saying, he's been there and done that, and knows exactly how to make it look like a factory setup. Also, did nobody see the picture that I posted, in the background under the tree? They simply used the sides of the T-Tops fasteners and made one long piece using plexiglass (look in the background, by the tree). Here's another pic that I have saved of a similar concept using the T-Top method as reference points....;
see that is exactally what i am going to do. i already have subframe connectors in place, the main hoop, door bars, and rear struts, and a spare set of t-tops. looks like this weekend will be fun!
okay so tell me if i am completely insane for wanting to try this. i want to have a real targa top camaro when the project is finished. so i am planning on making a very thin frame to go around the edge of the glass on the t-tops, then latching them in place, brake the glass out of them, then weld the frame of the t-top to the center "t" bar in the body. then get inside the car, and cut that bar out of the car with the plasma cutter. then un latch the t-tops, then when we lift the tops of, they will come off in one piece with the center bar. aka a targa top??? and i'm not worried about the body flexing, because the car has weld in subframe connectors, and a roll bar with door bars, and rear bars, and i have a bar going from the firewall to the front subframe.
then i'll worry about the headliner once that comes into play at a later date. then i will lay some fiberglass over the t-top frame just to make it smooth and paint-able. and i think with a lil grinder action, and welder action, we can even get a seal in there to make the whole thing seal up when it rains.
i was just wondering if anyone has already done this, or tried it and failed. any input will be aprecciated.
I was doing some searching in google and ran across this page. I haven't searched this site for any more info on this subject but wanted to ask if you converted this car yet?
My brother is working a deal to get an `83 Camaro with a dealer installed Targa top and I was just curious if they worked ok or if they were a PITA. It's a 2 owner car and is supposed to be in pretty good shape.
