I need a left top for my 91 Firebird, but the one from my 86 parts car won't fit. Pins are different. What year did they change? Not much luck in the search function....

(my tops are glass, not lexan)

 

I think 86 model year cars came with peg style lexen tops. I believe the latch style ones were 82-84. The only thing that comes to my mind is maybe one of the cars has c&c tops.

 

the pins in the 91 are fat, the 86 skinny

 

The pins and latch can be swapped over. I did it on my 92. I have lexan tops but wanted glass. The latch itself bolts up fine but i had to drill a 3/4 hole for the bigger pin on my glass tops.

 

Take the fiber/plastic latch plates off your 86 parts car and put them on the 91. Two 10mm bolts if I remember right. They fasten to metal brackets that fasten ahead and behind the T-top. Have to drop the pillar trim to get at them.

 

Sounds good, thanks. I haven't had the chance to look closely yet.

 

True, but they are still interchangeable. The later fat pins just had a plastic shroud surrounding the locking metal pin. The plastic portion is spring-loaded and stops the smaller metal locking pin continues thru the hole to lock the t-top in place. The older small metal pin is exactly the same, just lacking the larger spring-loaded plastic portion that surrounds the new style. The t-top should still lock in place just as the new ones do. Your receiver may need a bit of adjustment if the location of the hole doesn't match up. The adjustment is made by removing the trim piece covering it and loosenins the two screws holding the receiver in place. Rotate it until you get the alignment right, then reinstall the two screws. The screws are self-drill and tap and will cut new holes and thread themselves into the new location. Reinstall the trim piece covering it.

Lon

 

Yep. That's what I had to with my car -- replaced non-original glass driver's side in my 91 with another glass one from an 86. I have mismatched pins now, but at least they work and fit. Didn't have to adjust anything either.