Is it possible to convert a non t-top f-body to t-tops, if so does anyone have any resources/experaicne to share on the subject, thanks in advance!

 

It's possible, it's hard, and if you're going to do it make sure it's done right, or ti will be EXPENSIVE to correct.

Here's someone that's doing it. plenty of pictures.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...ack-widow.html

 

Depending where you're from, I have a T Top roof and T tops.. I'm in NE PA.. Close to NJ and NY. I will not ship it. Just incase you're looking for one.

 

There is a lot of flex that is prevented by the solid roof. Be prepared to spend good money on frame strengthening.

 

I wouldnt even bother i have a t-top car but i would rather have a hard top ya t-top's are nice in the summer but mine leak like crazy

 

personally, I would rather have a hardtop car after having a t-top.

Its not all its cracked up to be.

 

Yea, my sister has a t-top fourth gen.
When we first got it it was like , t-tops. Cool!

Then you realize it the weather has to be perfect to take them out. And then the sun gets in your eyes. Then you have to put them back in. And it takes up the trunk.

Is it really worth it for the 5% of the time you drive it with them off?

 

I bought my t-roof camaro well I was living on the wet coast of bc canada. I bought it cheep and figgered kick ***. It leacked like a sive when I got it and thanks to rubbing a vasaline into the rubbers it got rid of most of it.

but when the last place it still leeks is right over your cell phone and smokes pocket it realy sucks. A new set o seals would solve that tough. I am just cheep.

 

Ya know, I had a t-top camaro and I loved it. then I pulled the engine to work on it and I started driving a hardtop bird...missed my t-tops...then I sold the bird and now I'm driving my TA wtih t-tops...kinda miss the hardtop...the t-top is fun to have around on those nice days and I'd prolly choose it over a hardtop. but it's definatly nice to have a hardtop around too.

also, one day I was driving the TA away from home and didn't have my hat in the car....sunburn on my face. it sucked.

 

Albinos are reccomended to get a hardtop... lol

j/k

 

Well as for the Wishing i had a hard top well I am driving my T-roof. I am thinking about geting a real dark tint or painting thes so the sun dosn't shine in as much or at all so it dosn't bake the car well the roofs are on in the summer.

 

Thanks for the info, my current camaro actually has t-tops, the 92 Z28 iam looking at buying is a hard top and thats why I was wondering about the difficulties of converting

 

keep it a hardtop so that you have both.

 

I love my t-top... it is my second and let the sun shine in.....but for those long trips on a hot summer day ...leave them in and put the sunshades in and turn on the a/c.....

 

I gotta agree with Ranone21, I like the t-top. The first f-body I had was an 85 SE hardtop which I converted to a t-top. I never got it to stop leaking but that was my fault. The second I had was an 85 T/A with t-top and it never leaked a drop. Currently I have an 84 T/A t-top which I'm sure would leak because the trim strip around the glass is gone but I have a big garage where it lives and the tops are never in. If you are just looking to go for a cruise in the sun with your car, t-tops can't be beat. If you are looking for something to do any kind of racing or aggressive driving, stick with the hardtop.

 

yes my first one was an 82 t/a and cant honestly remember the tops leaking ...hmmmmmmmmmmm I know it cruised well at 110mph though... hehehe my present one is an 89 and needs some work in the area of weatherstrips...but it is alot of fun working on it.whooooooooooohoooooooo 305 tpi see pics below

 

I wouldn't recommend the conversion... there's too many good T-Topped cars already available for it to be worth it. But I love me some T-tops, mine are completely leak free and have a pretty dark tint, so not much heat gets in, they're cool as hell IMO, this will be my first summer with em and I plan to have them off whenever it's not raining.

 

t-tops will be cool for about a week, then you will realize how stupid of an idea it was

 

Its possible, but takes ALOT of time, and the ammount it costs your varies, depepends where you get your parts from, Im nearing the ending of my build, check it out to see what you have to go through

 

OMG, they so ARE!

All my thirdgens have been t-top cars. I wouldn't have it any other way... 'cept for maybe a 'vert. For me, it's very strange-feeling when I'm in cars with hardtops.

My tops are out almost all the time. I love it so much that I'm always smiling when I'm driving topless, lol. For me, the feeling is JUST THAT GREAT!

Here at home, the car's kept in my garage. And right now, yes, the tops are out... always.

But on the rare occassion that I choose to keep the tops in when I'm driving, or have to have them in because of the weather, I love seeing the sky above, so I'd never put in the shades. Those are still brand new, still in their original box... 20 years now.

Ok, my truck's a hardtop. But my 'sports' cars? To me(and I always thought to most F-body owners), having a Camaro or Firebird MEANS having t-tops!

 

For the price of 3rd gens right now, you're almost better off buying one already done from factory..

 

But to address your issue, Irawker, I'd have to agree with the others. T-top cars are pretty available, so unless you want this specific car, it would be a lot easier to just look for a t-top car.

I understand, though. I've been looking for another t-top car, but I found a hardtop with EVERYTHING else I wanted! So I considered the chop. And since I was gonna go that far, I'd do something more custom(plans for the car were very custom anyway)... a glass Targa.

I ended up finding a convertible, though, so I won't be facing the chop decision afterall.

But to chop would've been a very expensive choice, MY CHOICE, and not one I'd suggest to someone else. So you'd have to ask yourself what your plans are for this car.

 

been there done that, was definitely worth it. new roof was about $100. personally i think my thread is better than that other one, more pictures
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/fabrication/368845-t-top-conversion.html

 

My 87 TA has T-Tops. The sun beats down on you when you drive it and without AC it gets hot inside. The first day I had the car I got sunburnt driving it around with the tops out. They only came out one more time after that and that was at night when I took my wife out for our first drive in the car. Don't get me wrong... they are great at night in town, but on the highway or daytime, I hate them.

I am having a shop in Clinton that does vinyl graffics cover both sides of the glass with matte black decals to keep the sun out. The only time I take the tops out now anyway is at dusk.

 

this topic has come up a million times. the answer is always the same

dont do it.

 

well, there are t-tops out there to be found but if you want to covert a coupe to a t-top... thats your choice...they can be fun and as regards to the sun in the daytime.... there are sunshades that were made from the factory to keep that sun out .... just need to find them.... I wouoldnever go coupe again... but thats me..........

 

I get that, too. I've had an 84 Berlinetta and my 85 Tranny, both with t-tops. Drove my friends 91 Formula with a hardtop, and I was like "eww, this feels weird to me," I couldn't stand the solid roof.

 

3rd gens are pretty cheap right now, just buy a factory T-Top car, and save yourself the time of the conversion.

 

I've got 4 Camaros right now......... ALL of them have T-tops ( They are all sticks too !) If it's over 45 degrees outside my T-Tops are off what ever Camaro I am driving that day unless I'm on the highway, Then it's about 55 degrees or warmer.

In the past I have owned a car that was a "custom" T-Top car and it didn't have many problems with leaking. The guy that owned it before me simply cut the hardtop off at the 'A' & 'B' pillars, cut the roof from a T-Top car in the same place and used a grinder to remove the excess metal until it lined up right. It was a pretty nice job to be honest.

I'm also in the middle of removing a "Cars & Concepts" T-Top conversion from a parts car I bought a few weeks back. After seeing the way they created a T-Top car I can't decide if their way is better, or if just cutting the roof from a T-Top car is better. There's more cutting using the Cars and Concepts set-up - but more welding by replacing the roof with a T-Top version.

Regardless if your going to buy a T-Top car or make one, They are an awesome feature and IMO; they really add to a Third Gens personality !

There are 3 questions most people ask when looking to buy a Camaro / Firebird,.........

1) Is it a V8
2) Is it a stick
3) Does it have T-Tops !