Wow, I love this site, I never knew there was so much on the 3rd gens online till I found this. Anyways, I was lookin in The NextGen magazine and saw an insert sort of thing for the 4th gens for the T-tops. Just wondering if maybe there's an aftermarket version of this for 3rd gens, or maybe a custom way of making such a thing. Oh and I heard somewhere about Lexan T-tops, any word on this?

 

lexan t-tops came on the later model third gens, not sure exactly of the years but i know that the 91-92's had the plastic t-tops. as far as i know the sun shades are a factory item for the 4th gens and i dont recall ever seeing anything about them for 3rd gens. but by the way the t-tops are tinted and dont allow a whole lot of light in anyways so i dont really see the point.
-pat

 

yes they were a factory option, i am not sure what years , but my 87 has them.

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87 IROC-z 305 TPI 5spd 10-bolt 3.73 posi ,8.8 Accel wires , bosch platinum +4 plugs,gutted air box ram air, K&N air filters,TB coolant bypass ,polyurethane tranny and torque arm mounts, K&N oil filter,Mobil 1 synthetic oil 10w30, futura GLS super sport tires 265/50/15 rear and 235/60/15 front mounted on 86 monte carlo SS rims ,

400 sbc and a 6 spd in the works

 

So the lexan tops, was that an option or you think that since I have a 91 that's what they are? If so are there any differences between buffing Lexan or glass. As for the inserts, yes the tinting is dark, but it still gets pretty toasty sometimes, and I would still be interested in something like that

 

I've seen the sunshades in 2 different firebirds, I think they were 87-89's, I'm not sure. They look like they would be simple to make. The ones I seen were just like a piece of thin stiff board covered in cloth with vinyl sewn around the edges. I think the inside part was held up by the t-bar and the outside held up with velcro.

 

The Sunshades were available for several years. You don't see them very often cause they tend to be a major PITA. They slip under the black plastic trim and velcro to the ttop at the inside corners. Problem is that there isn't a good way to store the tops with them in place. I've got a set in my 91 base model and they spend most of their time inside. Incidently the same car also has lexan ttops. GM introduced the plastic tops in 89 or so, by 91 they had complaints and problems with them getting minor stress cracks inside the plastic. They made some changes and released them again but eventually there was a TSB or recall that replaced many of them with glass tops. They're light weight, but darker tinted. They have a blue and white lable detailing that they're lexan, as well as the lexan manufacturers stamp in the corner, and they have a plastic frame. In addition they're more dome shaped then the glass pieces so you can really pick them out of the crowd.

the shades may still be available from GM in some colors, but they run $120 each, at least they did.

 

allright, appreciate all the info, one more question, anywhere to get a bag for the t-tops, previous owner lost'em

 

www.thirdgenparts.com or try <a href="http://www.ixpres.com/iroczdave/IROCZDAVE'S%20NEW%20WEBSITE%20FOR%202001-MAIN.htm">IROCZDAVE'S webpage</a> they usually have the bags.

 

My TTA has them and My friends 89 Formula had them, BTW he had lexan T-Tops also, but they got scratched too easily. They looked like two bubbles on the top of the car on each side. I didn't like them.
The shades are a somewhat rare peice because a lot of people didnt relixe how much cooler it kept the car and how much it protected the interior, but they are a great6 piece and I never remove mine from the tops.

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89 Trans Am Turbo 3.8L All stock 43,000 miles #1053 of 1555

Past Thirdgen:
86 Trans Am w/ built 355TPI with SLP goodies and too much other stuff to List. One sweet *** car, wish I would have had a good enough Job to pay insurance on three cars so I could keep it, but for a 89 Turbo Trans Am w/ Low miles, I think I made the right choice!

 

I got some of that bubbly chrome looking stuff you wrap hot water heaters in and cut them out in the shape of the tops.

Works well, looks good, cheap and easy to install and remove. You might use a cardboard template first so you won't waste the foil stuff trying to get the right size.

 

if you pay close attention to the classifieds on this site sometimes they pop up and pretty cheap too if you could get your hands on them and you live somewhere it gets hot in the summer grab them I have acouple of cd's and tapes that have melted in my car

 

I am going to make my own. I just ripped out my headliner and I am putting in an overhead consule ang going to put it a custom headliner (I hope I can). I was thinking about getting some cardboard, covering it up with the material that is the same color of the interior. I am thinking about using velcro to hold it up or putting turing clips into it. I also thought about using a window shade. I was thinking about putting it into the headliner it self, so it is hidden. Will post a picture when photo point site gets back up.

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88 White Formula 305 TBI With A New CD Stereo and Abolutly Nothing Else Done To It!

 

Here's my concept:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewP...p=51756479&f=0

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88 White Formula 305 TBI With A New CD Stereo and Abolutly Nothing Else Done To It!

 

Wierd, i have a 91 bird and the t-tops are glass, without a doubt. I made my covers as the tops are dark, i ended up putting tint over that and its still HOT, infact on a 80 degree day the tops get hot enough to burn ya and the heat thats put thru to the interior is pretty intense... What i did....


Made a cardboard cut out of what would fit, make 3 cardboard cut outs in total for each side. Laminate the card board with heavy duty tinfoil with the shiny side to the window side. glue, let dry. Go to the local faberic shop and get matching color faberic, glue in place using a glue gun and weights to press it flat. I do have to take the t-tops off to get em in and out with out really fighting it BUT it cuts the heat out totally. Side note. One of the best insulators in the world is layers of tinfoil and paper stacked, and laminated. Seems to work in this application just fine and looks decent too.