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T-top help needed

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Old Jul 25, 2006 | 05:21 AM
  #1  
Red92Bird's Avatar
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From: Washington State
Car: '92 firebird
Engine: 305 tbi
Transmission: 700 r4
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt 3.42 gears with eaton posi
T-top help needed

My firebird seems to have a film built up on the t tops. it looks like it could be built up layers of water spots? they are rough feeling and look like crap from the outside. i tried searching and the only solution i was able to find was polishing them. if this turned out to be my only option, what would i need to do the job?
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Old Jul 25, 2006 | 06:09 AM
  #2  
1320_Guy's Avatar
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From: Baton Rouge, LA
Car: 89 RS
Engine: 305
Transmission: th350
I used to part under a tree at school. After a few weeks my windshield would look like you are discribing. It might just be something on them, i used to just wash it with the brush at the carwash and it would get it off.
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Old Jul 26, 2006 | 04:00 PM
  #3  
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From: Washington State
Car: '92 firebird
Engine: 305 tbi
Transmission: 700 r4
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt 3.42 gears with eaton posi
i dont think the carwash brush would be enough. this stuff is baked on. would a stiff bristled brush scratch the lexan?
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Old Jul 26, 2006 | 05:31 PM
  #4  
TX_1987_GTA's Avatar
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From: Amarillo, Texas
Car: 1987 GTA Hardtop
Engine: 350 T. P. I.
I would try a mild polishing compound ...... try a small area & see what happens. Something else you can try on plastic parts like the t-tops is aluminum polish, it is usually very fine and doesnt have alot of cut to scratch.
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Old Jul 26, 2006 | 09:46 PM
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deadbird's Avatar
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From: So.west IN
Car: 87 Formula/ 00 Xtreme
Engine: TPI 305/ v6
Transmission: struggling t-5/ 4l60E
Axle/Gears: 3.08/ 3.23
Before you go attacking them with anything... a good question to ask is, are they glass or lexan (heavy or light) ?
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Old Jul 26, 2006 | 11:30 PM
  #6  
Red92Bird's Avatar
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From: Washington State
Car: '92 firebird
Engine: 305 tbi
Transmission: 700 r4
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt 3.42 gears with eaton posi
they are definately lexan. i might try the aluminum polish and see what happens.
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Old Jul 26, 2006 | 11:35 PM
  #7  
87IROCZ350TPI's Avatar
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Posts: 408
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From: NJ
Car: 87 IROC
Engine: 5.7 TPI
Transmission: 700-R4
Axle/Gears: BW 7.75" 3.27
post a pic, let us see what you see.
----------
maybe you can get away with bug&tar remover.

Last edited by 87IROCZ350TPI; Jul 26, 2006 at 11:36 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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Old Jul 26, 2006 | 11:40 PM
  #8  
Red92Bird's Avatar
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From: Washington State
Car: '92 firebird
Engine: 305 tbi
Transmission: 700 r4
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt 3.42 gears with eaton posi
i'll take a pic tomorrow and see if i cant get it posted. (its night time)
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Old Jul 26, 2006 | 11:53 PM
  #9  
87IROCZ350TPI's Avatar
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Posts: 408
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From: NJ
Car: 87 IROC
Engine: 5.7 TPI
Transmission: 700-R4
Axle/Gears: BW 7.75" 3.27
I'm on the east coast as well, I'll check it out tomarrow.
----------
DUH, WHAT? Sorry, that says Washington state. I looked too quick, thought it was DC.

Last edited by 87IROCZ350TPI; Jul 26, 2006 at 11:55 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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Old Jul 27, 2006 | 03:26 PM
  #10  
Red92Bird's Avatar
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Washington State
Car: '92 firebird
Engine: 305 tbi
Transmission: 700 r4
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt 3.42 gears with eaton posi
alright here is the pic. you can kinda see whats goin on. my digital camera wouldnt focus any closer to the t top.
Attached Thumbnails T-top help needed-small-t-top.jpg  
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Old Jul 27, 2006 | 04:09 PM
  #11  
deadbird's Avatar
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From: So.west IN
Car: 87 Formula/ 00 Xtreme
Engine: TPI 305/ v6
Transmission: struggling t-5/ 4l60E
Axle/Gears: 3.08/ 3.23
Since they are lexan, you want to stay away from a real agressive cleaner (like thinners). Plastic doesn't take to that as well as glass does.

Since it is lexan though, you can clean/polish it just like you would the paint on your car.

Eastwood also sells a polishing kit for plastic Eastwood Company: Auto Tools, Body Repair, Classic Car Restoration, House of Kolor Paint, Powder Coating
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Old Jul 27, 2006 | 04:37 PM
  #12  
dahn's Avatar
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 58
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From: Rogersville Mo.
Car: 86 camaro
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700 auto
Axle/Gears: 308
I work at Polyfab Plastic they sell plastic cleaner and polisher they are on the web. or 417 8626512.good luck!
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Old Jul 27, 2006 | 07:35 PM
  #13  
1bad86's Avatar
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 120
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From: North Alabama
Car: 1986 IROC-Z
Engine: 305 T.P.I.
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Too me it looks like tree sap. Is it sticky?? because mine look like that too sometimes, but armor all glass cleaner and a brush always works for me...
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Old Jul 27, 2006 | 07:43 PM
  #14  
87IROCZ350TPI's Avatar
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Posts: 408
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From: NJ
Car: 87 IROC
Engine: 5.7 TPI
Transmission: 700-R4
Axle/Gears: BW 7.75" 3.27
Originally Posted by 1bad86
Too me it looks like tree sap. Is it sticky?? because mine look like that too sometimes, but armor all glass cleaner and a brush always works for me...
Do you have lexan tops or glass tops? I'm asking because Red92Bird's are lexan.
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Old Jul 27, 2006 | 07:47 PM
  #15  
1bad86's Avatar
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Posts: 120
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From: North Alabama
Car: 1986 IROC-Z
Engine: 305 T.P.I.
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Glass........
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Old Jul 27, 2006 | 07:48 PM
  #16  
87IROCZ350TPI's Avatar
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 408
Likes: 1
From: NJ
Car: 87 IROC
Engine: 5.7 TPI
Transmission: 700-R4
Axle/Gears: BW 7.75" 3.27
A brush may not be great for red's lexan.
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Old Jul 27, 2006 | 07:52 PM
  #17  
1bad86's Avatar
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 120
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From: North Alabama
Car: 1986 IROC-Z
Engine: 305 T.P.I.
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
I meant like the spongey winshield brush with the squeegie on the back,
but I can get all that tree sap stuff of with a paper towel and glass cleaner I just went outside and tried it, but from the picture that he posted mine look just like that when the sap is all on them.
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Old Jul 27, 2006 | 07:57 PM
  #18  
87IROCZ350TPI's Avatar
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 408
Likes: 1
From: NJ
Car: 87 IROC
Engine: 5.7 TPI
Transmission: 700-R4
Axle/Gears: BW 7.75" 3.27
Yeah, that may not be a bad way to go.
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