Had a 91 Z28 T-Top for years that never leaked, even after the passenger side top warped slightly during the first summer in the desert at 29 Palms. I sold it with 155K miles.

I have a hard top 91 Z28 now, (16K miles) and there are times when I miss them, and times when I don't. Maybe when I get more miles on the car and it's time to switch engines and put in a T-56 I'll buy a T-Top rolling chassis, break out the torch and go nuts.

 

I own a 4th gen T/a and i will never remove the t tops. I think the car looks good with them but looks a little Joe Dirt when they are out. I think 3rd gens just dont look right with t tops.

 

I just bought a scratched up set of lexan tops and drilled and pinned them permanently. While doing that, i removed 8 pounds of weight from the handles and supports and pretty much just have a very lightweight solid, permanent roof.

 

I dont know how people could hate the hard top 3rd gen i had about 4 f body t top cars an hated everyone of them so much flex with out frame connectors all the creeking rattles it made just pulling out of the driveway was terrible i now have a 88 gta hardtop an love it there is still some flex but not as bad as a t top car once i finish patching the floors with new metal sfc will be in an no more flex for me

 

I put a full 8 point weld-in chromoly roll cage in mine and it quit flexing.

 

I think roll bars are tacky looking just a good set of sfc would be fine i can understand if ur running low et's then yea the 8 point roll cage would be best for that but for regular street driving a good set of sfc an ur good

 

my car is not, and never will be street legal. 100% race car through and through. And in that regard a roll cage is required.

 

I've owned T-Top and hardtop cars, and I've honestly never noticed much of a difference between them. I think a lot more of the body rigidity issues has to do with how well a car has been cared for and how it has been driven than whether or not it has T-Tops. My '87 T-Top car with UMI SFCs was just as solid as my '88 hardtop car with UMI SFCs. My mechanical engineering education tells me there had to be a difference, but the seat of my pants told me it was imperceptible.

I honestly preferred the T-Tops, because they were fun to take out. Yes, they leaked, but I didn't drive my car in the rain much. It was annoying when I didn't have a garage and the back floorboard go wet in the rain, but with a garage, it would be pretty much a moot point.

I think a lot of guys complaining about rattles and squeaks need to go through their interiors and bodies and tighten up all the loose and/or missing fasteners. Most of these cars have been taken apart and put back together again at least once, and stuff invariably gets left out. Door alignment is also crucial. Worn out hinges, latches (and latch pins), and old weatherstripping all add to the problem of rattles, squeaks, and (to some extent) body flex.

Even my hardtop GTA with SFCs is not as tight as I'd like it to be. Someday I'm going to go underneath and weld in a set of Alston-style inner SFCs. I think with the dual SFCs, it might be as tight as I'd like it to be. Until then, I can put up with a rattle or squeak here and there on a rough road.

Long story short, a nice hardtop and a nice T-Top car are virtually indistinguishable with a good set of SFCs. Finding a good example that's well cared for is a lot more important than what kind of roof it originally came with.

-cal30sniper

 

Ive finally took the time to read this thread.
IMO,this conversion is for the guy that has the body work skill necessary to do the job right,including all prep.and paint,welding,etc.Other wise learn to love your hard top.

 

Wow they made T tops?....never even Looked at other Camaros

 

I'd trade my '89 WS6 Formula 350 hard top for a T Top anyday...

this one is my 3rd 3rd gen car..first without t tops...sure miss them...

very serious about trading if anybody is interested...

thanks

 

i would never ever trade a hardtop for a t-top i loved my hard top i wish every time i hit a bump every time it rains that i had a hard top

 

All my three of my Camaros have had t-tops and I personally love them. But they do have drawbacks. When it rains, bird poop in the seats, and all that fun stuff. But I think its worth it to be able to cruise around with them out. And if you're not making a whole lot of power a set of subframe connectors makes a huge difference in tightening them up. As for the Targa conversion I've never seen it done but the one above looked pretty awesome. Maybe an idea for my next project.

 

Only hav hard tops, hate t tops. Even with SFCs the hardtop is more stable, a couple of my buddies have t top cars.. they all flex even with SFCs

 

Ive owned three third gens a 84 z28(ttop) a 92 Firbird(ttop) and my current 91 GTA (hardtop)
z28 didnt leak. 92 leaked pretty decent and my hardtop leaks on the passenger side! the reason I sold the 92 and got the 91 was for that reason...and it had a 5.7 but I miss my ttops something wicked! IMO theres nothing better than taking the tops off on a nice day. and heading to the beach. I especially miss it now that were coming up on Fall here in FL

I say go for it bro. but if your going to do it do it right. I dont think youll be dissapointed
and as far as hartops being more sturdy. its not uncommon for the hard tops to crack where the cross bars would go. Mines cracking a little.