I went and looked at yet another '82 trans am today, but it had a small rust blister on the roof near the t-tops. I am assuming this is bad and unrepairable? Perhaps this means the t-tops are leaking water and its getting into the metal that way? I almost bought the car except for that. I dont know what i would be getting into.

 

The T-top bar is just one piece of the car. Yes it's a bit expensive to replace. I got one for $154 cost from GM about 10 years ago. Now they are much more cause GM doesn't sell em' anymore. Trim pieces have always been expensive. There is a guy that sells them in the for sale fourm all thel the time for $50.


If the rest of the car is in good shape then buy it. Should be worth it.

 

The black T-top bar is removable. If it is rusted then yes water is somehow getting in and the weatherstripping probably needs to be replaced as well. I would recommend removing the t-tops, dropping the headliner, and removing the black T-top bar. Then you can see if the body of the car is rusted or not. You can do all this with hand tools in about 5-10 minutes. If the guy selling it wont let you do this dont buy it. My old RS had a similar problem, and while I thought only the black T-top bar was rusted, the actual roof of the car under the headliner was rusted as well. It was bad. I got a replacement T-top bar from the local dealer for $125 like a year ago, sold it to another member for $75 after the car got sent to the scrap yard (partly because of the rust which has spread all over, partly because of other reasons).

 

I just repaired a problem like this. I used bondo and sealer.

Maybe it's not the same problem your talking about ... here is a pic of the rust

 

Yea, that car is garbage then, destined for a quick trip to the scrap heap, irreparable, and junk.

 

Here is a photo of the rust on the roof. What do you guys think after seeing this? Still the same conclusion?

 

Mine has a little of the same. It's not that water is getting in, it's that it is not draining out of the weather stripping areas.

Jim.

 

Take it to a body shop you trust. Have them look it over. If they say they can fix it, then go for it. Even if it requires being cut up a bit to get all the rust out, I'd go for it. BUT ONLY IF I LIKED THE CAR OTHERWISE!

1982 was the first year of the 3rd gens, so almost anything else is going to be newer. Newer means less problems all around, and believe me, YOU WILL HAVE PROBLEMS.

 

You needed new metal. Betya it will be back worse than ever within 3 years.

 

Minor problem if you bring everything else into the picture. What do the lower wheel wells and the drivers side rocker panel right at the pedal area look like?

Good?

Sounds like a real fixer upper!

Bad?

Don't buy it unless you like rust.

 

I'm going to look at an '85 today, maybe it will be better.