Hi Guys,

I am in a dilemma, I have found a perfect 83 TA that is a hard top BUT I really want T-Tops. Being in Australia, it is really hard to find a tidy TA with T-tops...
Pros and cons or should I not be so picky??

http://www.carpoint.com.au/all-cars/...D-1106941&Cr=4

 

It depends on what you plan to do with the car. If you want to race (which would be a shame seeing the condition of this car), a Hard Top has more rigidity and is more suitable for this.
For a driver/cruiser, both are fine, but driving with a T-Tops off is a great experience. The problem is that T-Tops gasket end up leaking so be ready to change the weatherstripping, rust starts at the edges of the body as well, and the body loses some rigidity.

 

or if u want light weight for racing with both benefits lexan tops

 

I have three birds, all t-top models. All have leaked. I don't really like to drive the car with the t-tops off, and would be a lot happier if my cars were all hardtops.

I understand that some people enjoy the t-tops, but to me, they are more hassle than they are worth.

 

i love the t-tops, but i dont daily drive mine and it has sat inside the garage most of its life. thats about the only way it wont be a problem

 

Damn double post.

 

If you don't like t-tops...I'll trade a good running 92 Camaro for any year good running t-top third gen.

 

Personally I'll only ever buy third gens with T-tops, I enjoy them that much. On the downside they are large and take up a lot of room. They do tend to leak during heavy rain, but I don't drive it on rainy days anyways. Also if you intend on dropping in a high horsepower motor you might be better off going with a hard top for the added rigidity.

 

T tops do leak a bit, and the interior will rattle more. But who cares? they don't leak or rattle at all when you have them out on a sunny day.

If this is going to be a weekend car and you park it indoors, hold out for a T top if that's what you really want. If you don't, you will be mad every time you take it out. Be pateint, the right one will come along. Either wait for it, or it will come up for sale right right you buy that hardtop.

 

At this point in the game and where you live I would take any
nice rustfree stock camaro/bird even if its not the exact car you
want.

Just a word of advise on a t-top car.........(yes i have one)

Try to buy a car with the GM-Fisher tops only. They fit better,
the tops and availibility of rubbers/weatherstripping and parts
in general are easier to find than a car with the aftermarket
C&C tops.

good luck..................

 

Only has minor surface rust.
I'm in central falls , Rhode island.
Just always wanted t top.

 

T-tops make the car. They look better with them, and they definitely make the driving experience more fun. IMHO, they're worth the hassle even with the leaks. With proper adjustment and good weatherstripping, you shouldn't get more than an occasional drip in hard rain anyways.

 

Mine don't leak one bit. Unless you powerwash above the window at a carwash - any car will though. Of course mine stays out of hot summer temps and I keep them wiped clean of dirt and siliconed on a regular basis. If you let them dry rot and neglect it, of course you'll have trouble.

But as far as I'm concerned, all that fear hype ("don't buy it, it'll leak") is just a lot of fear hype, probably mostly from people who have never owned one.

 

I beg to differ. I have three, and all have leaked. It's usually not the weatherstripping that leaks. Most leaks result from the flawed design of the body with respect to the t-tops. It provides numerous places for water to collect and sit, and seep in, eventually resulting in rust, usually on the center bar, but in other places, too. The metal decays, and now the water has the opportunity to enter the cabin.

The weatherstrip is not sealed to the sheet metal, and there are gaps in some places where water is allowed to enter. I have found that by filling these gaps with RTV and also using RTV to seal the weatherstripping to the sheet metal, the water now has no choice but to run off and down the side of the car instead of seeping in. There is a tech article that discusses this.

I have successfully applied this cure to one of my cars.

Now, is it possible to have a t-top car that doesn't leak? Of course, especially if it is garaged and not driven in foul weather. Given enough time and water, they will all leak unless steps are taken to prevent it.

 

What a bunch of HOOEY!

I had TWO BRAND NEW T/As! A 85 and 87 that I bought
BRAND NEW and they BOTH LEAKED !

BOTH spent MANY trip to the dealer having the seals replaced and the tops adjusted and they STILL leaked!
I traded the 85 for the 87 figuring the 85 had a major
issue. The 87 leaked too!
I traded the 87 in the next year for a new Cadillac Deville
to stay dry in the rain!

My 84 leaks too so when it rains it stays in the garage!

 

'M like you i had a new 83 and it leaked like it was free spent more time at the dealer than at home with me. So i got feed up with it and traded it in on a new Honda Civic and this time i got a hard top and love it.

 

idr what I commented earlier but if u wanna go thru the hassle of taking the yer deal down lol dr what it's called oh the liner there will be 3 holes just get some great stuff up in thur

 

HUH?
Is that post in ebonics?