Whats up guys? im new to this message board.. glad to meet you all.. im own 3 pontiacs.. 1997 Ram Air Trans Am ( white on black leather, 6speed, 3" flows head to toe. bone stock ) 1988 GTA modified supercharger to run the 5.7L best time 12.882 @ 113mph. and my new project 1989 firebird.. i had a spare 89 TPI 350 so i dropped it in.. the sad thing is all of my babys have t-tops in them except for this 89 bird.. i invested about 5k into the motor and suspension.. Does anyone know if its possible to put my own t-tops in on a 3rd gen? i know of a few guys doing it on the 4th gens.. but was concerned with my 3rd gen.. thanks for all the input you guys can give me.. basically all i wanted to know was if i had a t-roof under the sheet metal.. and t-top lock holes.. well ill check back later.. pics of the other cars will be posted shortly

thanks man, your a 3rd GEN *** -=):hail:

not really, just one out of many many many helpful persons on here

we did it to our 3rd gen. You need to take lots of measurments before you chop away. If you don't have access to body shop/welding tools don't try it yourself in your garage at home...


You will need a donor car for the t-top structure.

4th gens are easy to my understanding, because the top just basically pops in and out, and then you change your weatherstrip and install the T's (probably more to it than that)

As for our cars, as you see above, its alot to do... not to mention that the stock T-top cars had a heavier structure on the under side to compensate... Do NOT forget the door jam wedges from the donor car...

John

yah, i have acsess to tools of that nature.. profesional welder. plasma cutter etc etc.. my grandfather ran a fabrication buisness for boats.. so when i rip the roof off ill need to weld a t-top bar from a donor car? thats cool.. i wasnt sure if the t-bar was part of the subframe as it is on the 4th gens.. thanks guys

you also need to stiffen up the floorpan with subframe connectors or your car will flex too much when you chop the top.

$1,500 for t-tops, plus the t's, transportation, etc, etc.......... .......

does the sub frame matter that much? i mean four cuts and strong welds.. should be enough right?

Before I would even think about it i'd install SFC's .. without them your car will flex wayy to much

Fatal88 has it. I've replaced a t-top roof that a tree fell on and the pic that Fatal posted is the only way to do it right.

You need SFC's before you cut the hard top. Or you would need to support the bottom while you do it, but you'll need SFC's anyway.

Fatal is crazy, Or he knows what he's doing. It's a HUGE job. If your really serious, i have a roof and tops, that would be cut in the right locations.

i see i see.. good thing i found this out today.. i recently bought 2 donor trans am at the local auction.. one for 700$ rear end damage trasn problems.. and the other 250$ no motor interior or hood... great for a couple of donor patients.. i am very serious.. i mean think about it.. unless you dispise t-tops.. then theres no better feeling cruising warm summer days tops off -=D