I just bought a 1986 IROC with glass T-Tops. I hear that the plastic/Lexan are available, too. What is everyone's opinion on this? The glass panels seem to be more "hardy," but they are also a bit cumbersome. The plastic panels would be lighter, but I'm not sure about how well they keep moisture out.

I'm pretty new to this... any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Andy

 

my friend has a 91 Z with glass t-tops and likes them better than my "plastic" ones. however I just think he's jealous my car is faster, and loaded. I like my t-tops better because they are darker, the only problem is that they scratch easy on the ouside. I don't know how much this helps but my advice is to find a friend with different t-tops and check them out.

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late model 91 rs
fully loaded t-tops, red leather
paint- gm red and yellow blend (light red)
custom painted 16" Camaro rims
305 tbi 14"x3" O.E, computer chip, accel super stock plug wires
Edelbrock 3" cat-back
MTX sub and amp, Bose all around
vic_v8@yahoo.com
street kills: a lot of "family" cars, pickups, New v-6 stang, totally killed '86 SC Camaro.

 

the other advantage is that the glass ones dont "spider web" like my lexan ones have.

 

I like my Lexan T-Tops, because they wont break (easilly). And they're lighter and look cool But the spiderwebbing sucks.

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1992 Pontiac Firebird
- 305ci V8 TBI / Automatic Trans / Loaded
- MODS: Edelbrock 14x3 Open Element Air Cleaner, Dual outlet exhaust
1985 Chevy Z28
- 350ci V8 TPI / Automatic Trans / Paid $200 for it
- In the process of restoration!

 

I personally like the Lexan. They are so light you can take them out and put them in 1 handed. Also I already have a few scratches so I don't have to worry about scratching them. By the way if your windows are tinted and your ttops are too your car will stay a lot cooler.

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91 z-28 305 700R4
3.73 gears out back
T-Tops and Black all over.

 

I have the Lexan T-Tops too, I like them and never had any leaks, but they do have the tiny spider web cracks on the outside of them, I guess caused by the sun? Anybody know of anyway to polish these out?

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92 Camaro RS 5.0 5-Speed (Quasar Blue)
T-Tops
14" Open Air Cleaner
3.08 Posi-trac
Edelbrock TBI Intake
Crane cam
Ported & polished stock heads 3 angle valve job
HyperTech Chip
SLP Headers (Ceramic Coated)
UltraFlo cat-back exhaust

74 Dodge Dart Sport 360 (11.2 1/4 mile)

2000 Dodge 1500 Ram Sport

 

yeah, lexan t-tops are all fine and well until one morning before school you, like a dumdass, mistakingly set your backpack down on the t-top instead of the top of the car and you get about a foot long crack in it. that kinda sucks! luckily Ive got a set of the glass ones that I can put on but I need to swap all of the rubber between them becuase the rubber on the glass ones is all chewed up and nasty

 

91z, i heard 3M microfinish not too long ago. Or just try a buffer and some fine polish.

My t-tops are tinted. Are they tinted inside or outside? I think they're out but i cant tell

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1992 Pontiac Firebird
- 305ci V8 TBI / Automatic Trans / Loaded
- MODS: Edelbrock 14x3 Open Element Air Cleaner, Dual outlet exhaust
1985 Chevy Z28
- 350ci V8 TPI / Automatic Trans / Paid $200 for it
- In the process of restoration!

 

I have glass in one car and plastic in the other. I've had to replace the plastic twice because someone set stuff on them. I like the glass better, because it doesn't scratch and they're more flat than the plastic, don't have that bubble look.

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'89 Red Formula 350- 350 .060 over forged pistons 232* @ .020 cam Performer RPM Holley 750 DP Vortec 1.94 1.50 Accel Coil and dist. Hedman shorty headers Dual Exhaust w/ cutouts 1LE WS6 suspension, wheels, and brakes, 9 Bolt 3.27 Posi Edelbrock LCA's & Track bar subframe connectors 700R4 Harwood snorkel scoop Eclipse Head Unit Delco Bose Speakers 2 12" Pioneer subs w/ 400 watt/chanel amp

 

Had Lexan on the RS and it looked like someone kept hitting it witha mallet until it was nice a crackley......not the case they just do that from the flex in the car. I have glass now and they are heavy compard but hold up way better look nicer too.

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1989 GTA 350 TPI
Stock:
- T-tops
- Dual cats
- 9-Bolt 7.75" Rearend
- 3.27 gears
Mods:
- Dynomax Super Turbo Muffler

1992 RS 305 TBI - Sold

 

I like my glass t-tops.I dumbly droped on a pointed rock and i thought it would shatter but it didn't not even a scratch

 

I like my glass ones. They're just a little more solid and I trust them more. Nobody mentioned anything about the glass with the mirrored underside. I don't know which cars had 'em, but my '90 Formula does. I would also the the lexan would be a bit noisier at high speeds.

 

I have the mirrored glass ones on my 82 sc

 

I went from plastic to glass, a bit heavier but no spider cracks. I changed the lock cyls. so I could lock them down, pain in the bxxt but it works just fine. mine r mirrored also. don't know how to remove the spider cracks, my cousin is a body man and he doesn't know how either.

 

My plastic T-Tops squeak a bit. I've heard glass tops don't squeak as much but I don't have first hand experience.

 

I put a wonderbar and stb on my car, tops r silent after stb. plastic was ugly with all the cracks. glass is quieter at hwy speeds , compared to plastic.

 

The only place I see plastic tops being an advantage is at the track. If plastic were that good, you'd see a lot more than on t tops IMO. I'll stick with the glass...much more durable.

 

I have the plastic tops on my 92 RS and i do appreciate the lightweight of them but they are quite scratched and the "spiderwebing" i can only see from the inside and doesn't look as bad as it sounds. the scratches can be buffed out like restoring headlights. there are several threads on it.

The worst part is they are warped, and the raised lip catches the wind and can be rather noisy. This is where i believe glass tops would be better.

 

Not a chance. Glass is the best. Looks the best. Has the best appearance and feel of quality tops. Plastic = cheap. If you want to keep the sun out of the glass ones, get the sunshades for them. They velco right to the inside.

 

I had a set of the lexan ones on my '90 GTA that I painted the same color as the car since they were all scratched up. Also had a set of glass ones too just in case. IMO glass is the way to go but I will admit the painted ones really did look cool. Oh and neither set leaked, but I did get more road noise from the lexan ones.