I've been looking for a z28 for a while and have been picky was wanting a g92 car 5 speed 88-92 wasnt giving an auto a chance. Well today I drove 8 hours to look at a car I believed to be what I wanted ended up being completly rotted.

So I have realized there are alot of auto irocs around me all in nice condition for around the same price. and theres a bonus in my opinion there all usually t top.

my question is are t tops worth it? Ive never drivin an auto yet would they be worth the auto and drum rear?

or would I be best going with this car its a l98 converted to 5 speed but with drum brakes. http://joplin.craigslist.org/cto/1266171852.html
4 hours away
or would it be worth just swapping and auto iroc that is cheaper and t tops.

I apologize for once again using probably the wrong board. I'm terrible at this.

 

If you can get over the squeeks/rattles, possibility of air/water leaks, possibility of rotting/smelling interior from water leaks, annoying sun shining through, burning your hands trying to take them off in the summer, and other annoyances then ttops might be for you. If you really love that cool look a t-top car has with its ttops off then you'll totally ignore all of the small annoyances they may have.

I just find my hardtop car to be a lot more enjoyable than my ttop car.

All I'm saying is to be cautious. Ttops can get old fast.

 

Get the body you want - the rest is replaceable! 5 speeds, 6 speeds, automatics, 305 motors, 454 motors, 572 motors - can all be had, all be swapped, and all replaceable. BUT - these's no real way to make a hard top a T-top, and visa versa.

I had a 1990 I had begun modding and restoring, but I soon realized no matter what I did, I would never have the T-tops I wanted - so I went out and got myself a T-top car and started over.

So get the body you want in the best shape you can find.

 

Both of my camaros are t top. they are great! If you take care of them, and silicone the rubber which you should do for the door seals, you really can't go wrong. Mine do not leak, and I can leave the darn things on if I so please. Yeah a little sun shines through, but so what?

 

my iroc has t-tops and 4 wheel disc.. i really enjoy it. yes, it is worth it to me.

 

Owned both and prefer T-tops. Guess I must be doing something right as I have never had one leak or rattle. Also they have never "got old fast". As far as sunburn goes, better sell your boat and/or motorcycle as you get way more sun with those. as was stated you can swap/replace/upgrade to what you want/need.

Dave

 

Something else to consider is structural integrity.

JamesC

 

I live in Florida North, so the T-tops are a must have if the A/C doesn't work... My hardtop car was also black, and ran hot... We used to die sitting in traffic...

 

Windsor, Ontario?

JamesC

 

Highest average temperature of all Canada.. 104.4 °F.. Also, all the retirees move here from Toronto...

 

Personally, I would NEVER buy a Thirdgen without T-tops. To me, its just not a Thirdgen without them. I have only owned mine for a couple years, but have been driving and riding in them for over 10 years with friends that have owned several Camaros and one Firebird. None of them ever leaked, squeaked, creaked, rattled, or gave us any problems. Maybe we just got lucky??

They are much easier to work with than a convertible top in my opinion, and I love being able to look out the roof at night. My daughters love riding in the back seat with the tops off too. Its one of their favorite things to do in the summer.

 

As you can see, the preference is personal. Chose what best suits your purposes or needs. Good luck.

JamesC

 

As far as the sun goes, get a set of shades for the t-tops are you are set.

 

I definitely agree with James that choose what you want/like. You can strengthen the chassis with sub frame connectors and a steering brace for the front and some sort of cage if you go with some crazy torque/HP. Again, either way you go it is still American AND 3rd gen!

Dave

 

My t's are the same way. They never gave me a lick of trouble. There is a threshold with hp where you will need to brace the car w/t tops. I have heard this, but I am not sure what that is. My engines are more or less stock. I just got em breathen better is all.

 

Most members agree that SFC's are a required mod for any thirdgen, regardless of hp.

JamesC

 

Are you saying that my camaros need more bracing that the factory provided?

 

Yes.

JamesC

 

You mentioned a "required mod" . Could you give me some examples of how this would improve my suspension's performance?

 

SFC's eliminate flex in the unibody, making the car respond in a more controlled manner. To this latter end, you can also install an STB and a Wonderbar.

An added benefit of the SFC's is that they also eliminate many creaks, groans, and rattles. A search will provide more info.

JamesC

 

nice display of TLA's JamesC

 

TLA's are so often and widely used/recognized on TGO () that I sometimes forget that I'm using them.

JamesC

 

Let me see now... SFC= sub frame connectors???? STB = stabilizer? Mmmm I've heard of a wonderbar, but I haven't a clue what it is....

 

SFC (subframe connectors), STB (strut tower brace), and Wonderbar (a steering box brace that only IROC's were equipped with). Many board sponsors carry and/or manufacture those parts.

One version of the STB can be seen in my Car Details below.

JamesC

 

Ohhhhh... I've seen many third gens w/o t tops and they are very nice. I almost bought an 85 iroc with the hard top, but I the rs got my attention. I agree t's are the **** though

 

I would love to add some upgrades JamesC, I am working on a sub teacher's wages right now. Maybe I'll add some of those goodies within a year or so.

 

at burnin ur hands. obviously u should know not to grab them barehanded when its that hot out. just need a couple napkins or a small rag..i keep one in my hatch compartment neway.

the look overcomes all. the questions and reactions u get when u pop two sheets of glass off the top of ur car and toss em in the trunk.

 

I've been placing the t's in the nice little bag, until I noticed the tear developing where the straps connect to the bag. Maybe I'll unhook the darn things and just lay them in the trunk. I just don't wanna break um.

 

I'd go with the body you want everything else isent hard to change. Personally i would never buy a thirdgen with t-tops to many problems and i just hate the looks of them. But thats just me.

 

Ohhhh you would like my third gens! They look spectacular! I have had no problems w/them. None what's so ever. Gonna take them off tomorrow if it warms up enough. I'd still gladly own one with out them though.

 

We have owned five Trans AM's since 1979, four were thirdgens, and all are/were t-tops. A t-top car is the best of both worlds. It's like a hardtop in the winter, and a vert in the summer. I don't mod the engines, so there has never been a problem with body stress, and all of our cars have been garaged, which makes it easier to deal with some of the t-top quirks. Only one car out of the five leaked, but I owned that car for 20 years. Careful replacement of the seals fixed the problem. If I were building a drag car, then I would probably build a hardtop, because there would be no need for a t-top. All of our cars have been partime show cars and weekend drivers. It's great to pull the tops off and cruise out in the mountains were we live. As for the rattles, that's what they make sound systems for... As others have said, decide what you want, and go for it.

 

Many coupes, and perhaps t-top cars, have stress cracks at the rear of the drip rail, which is probably due to the body flex in normal driving as much as anything.

JamesC

 

T-Top cars are great.

 

Are you speaking of stress cracks in the steel, or the paint?

 

Metal.

JamesC

 

Alright JamesC, you mean the roof behind the t tops?

 

Yep, right in the corner behind the T-top. EXCEPT - the hardtops get stress cracks there as well - I've had 2 hardtops with the stress cracks in the same spot - just behind the window in the bend from roof to B-pillar. So, in my world - neither is safe from the stress, unless SFC's are used. It's just an inherent flaw in the design with 3rd gens.

 

Can a car with stock l03, or lg4 get the stress cracks?

 

Absolutely (ask me how I know).

JamesC

 

Alright JamesC, How is this? I don't seem to have stress cracks on either one of my camaros. Do they happen where they are not apparent?

 

They'd be obvious if they were there. Weld some SFC's in and you'll never have to worry about stress cracks. Without them, sooner or later....
JamesC

 

Did the irocs get more bracing than the base model? I thought I once heard that t top third gens had more bracing..

 

Not that I'm aware of.

JamesC

 

How do these stress fractures happen James? Hot rodding, driving over uneven surfaces??

 

All the above--hey, it's a unibody.

JamesC

 

lol those one liners really slay me James. I'll look into SFC's.