Convert your hard top to T-tops...
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From: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
Convert your hard top to T-tops...
I found this today & thought I would share... I know alot of you have been to this site for the Kitt Car, but I did not realize they did T-top conversions... They also have alot of other cool stuff too.
I also hear alot about converting your hard top to T-tops, so here ya go, prices & everything: This would be great to do to some 350 cars that did not originally come with T-s from the factory, just to throw the gurus off course....
http://www.markscustomkits.com/
John
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G O D BLESS AMERICA
http://www.3rdgenformula.com
87 Formula 5.1 TPI Auto Modified (Yellow/Black)
87 Formula TPI (5 Speed) Yellow/Gray STOCK
14.8sec 1967 Buick Riviera
1990 Buick Riviera (driver)
83 Camaro
83 T/A
I also hear alot about converting your hard top to T-tops, so here ya go, prices & everything: This would be great to do to some 350 cars that did not originally come with T-s from the factory, just to throw the gurus off course....
http://www.markscustomkits.com/
John
------------------
G O D BLESS AMERICA
http://www.3rdgenformula.com
87 Formula 5.1 TPI Auto Modified (Yellow/Black)
87 Formula TPI (5 Speed) Yellow/Gray STOCK
14.8sec 1967 Buick Riviera
1990 Buick Riviera (driver)
83 Camaro
83 T/A
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Joined: Jul 1999
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From: Readsboro, VT
Car: 85 IROC-Z / 88 GTA
Engine: 403 LSx (Pending) / 355 Tuned Port
Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
$7,000 to turn your car into a tunafish can. What a bargain. 
------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
Custom Thirdgen Subwoofer Enclosures
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
Custom Thirdgen Subwoofer Enclosures
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah
Thread Starter
Moderator




Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,293
Likes: 195
From: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
hey, I did not say anything about it being cheep, I just wanted folks to know there is a place to do it...

John
[This message has been edited by okfoz (edited December 06, 2001).]

John
[This message has been edited by okfoz (edited December 06, 2001).]
Supreme Member

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 2
From: Costal Alabama
Car: 1989 Iroc-Z
Engine: 350, ZZ4 equivalent
Transmission: Pro-Built Road Race 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 Dana 44
For $7000 why not buy a 3rd gen with T-tops and use the rest for parts
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1989 Iroc-Z 5.7 350, Blue, T-Tops
Lightly Moded:
Edelbrock Headers, Rebuilt B&M 700R-4 Tranny, Higher Stall Torque Converter, Airfoil, 3.4 w\posi, K&N's, Ported & Polished Plenum
-- Blue LED Bakelite Dash & Climate Control
- I am just some 17 Year old spending every dollar I make on my car.
------------------
1989 Iroc-Z 5.7 350, Blue, T-Tops
Lightly Moded:
Edelbrock Headers, Rebuilt B&M 700R-4 Tranny, Higher Stall Torque Converter, Airfoil, 3.4 w\posi, K&N's, Ported & Polished Plenum
-- Blue LED Bakelite Dash & Climate Control
- I am just some 17 Year old spending every dollar I make on my car.
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,775
Likes: 27
From: So.west IN
Car: 87 Formula/ 00 Xtreme
Engine: TPI 305/ v6
Transmission: struggling t-5/ 4l60E
Axle/Gears: 3.08/ 3.23
If anybody bothered to look, it's only $1500 (that's not super cheap either) for the actual conversion. The rest of the price comes depending on how lazy you want to be & how deep your wallet is. Having others do all the work for you comes at a price...
------------------[*]my Formula Homepage [*]Collision P/Ns & Diagrams
"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone."
------------------[*]my Formula Homepage [*]Collision P/Ns & Diagrams
"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone."
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TGO Supporter
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,201
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Car: '86 T/A
Engine: 350/LT1 Intake
Transmission: 700R4 - Built
Axle/Gears: 4th gen 3.42
You can deffinitely tell its quality work being done, and you can't deny that.
I wonder if they will do Convertable conversions
If I had the deep pockets, i'd pay them $7K to have it done. Its worth it if you have 20K invested in your car, and you deperately want the T-tops, but you don't want to buy a doner car, and replace the entire interior/engine.
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Third Gen Project - Website now defunct because crosswinds sucks
1989 305 tbi Camaro RS Red/Red
Ram Air II Hood
Centerline Champ 500 Rims
Edelbrock Open Element
MacEwen White Faced Guages
I wonder if they will do Convertable conversions

If I had the deep pockets, i'd pay them $7K to have it done. Its worth it if you have 20K invested in your car, and you deperately want the T-tops, but you don't want to buy a doner car, and replace the entire interior/engine.
------------------
Third Gen Project - Website now defunct because crosswinds sucks
1989 305 tbi Camaro RS Red/Red
Ram Air II Hood
Centerline Champ 500 Rims
Edelbrock Open Element
MacEwen White Faced Guages
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iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 13,579
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From: Readsboro, VT
Car: 85 IROC-Z / 88 GTA
Engine: 403 LSx (Pending) / 355 Tuned Port
Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
GM's t-top cars have significant reinforcements in the unibody. Turn a non t-top car into one and the car will likely cave in after some miles.
Even their $1500 package isn't really worth it. It doesn't come with anything. You're paying $1500 for them to cut the old roof off and weld a new one on. While not exactly simple, that's not $1500 worth of work.
------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
Custom Thirdgen Subwoofer Enclosures
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah
Even their $1500 package isn't really worth it. It doesn't come with anything. You're paying $1500 for them to cut the old roof off and weld a new one on. While not exactly simple, that's not $1500 worth of work.
------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
Custom Thirdgen Subwoofer Enclosures
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah
TGO Supporter
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,775
Likes: 27
From: So.west IN
Car: 87 Formula/ 00 Xtreme
Engine: TPI 305/ v6
Transmission: struggling t-5/ 4l60E
Axle/Gears: 3.08/ 3.23
3rdgen cars must be pretty §hittily built than Jim. If my hunk of crap CRX could handle it, one would hope a well built piece of American craftsmanship could take it w/o caving in on itself.
[This message has been edited by deadbird (edited December 07, 2001).]
[This message has been edited by deadbird (edited December 07, 2001).]
TGO Supporter
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 13,579
Likes: 9
From: Readsboro, VT
Car: 85 IROC-Z / 88 GTA
Engine: 403 LSx (Pending) / 355 Tuned Port
Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by deadbird:
3rdgen cars must be pretty §hittily built than Jim. If my hunk of crap CRX could handle it, one would hope a well built piece of American craftsmanship could take it w/o caving in on itself.
[This message has been edited by deadbird (edited December 07, 2001).]</font>
3rdgen cars must be pretty §hittily built than Jim. If my hunk of crap CRX could handle it, one would hope a well built piece of American craftsmanship could take it w/o caving in on itself.
[This message has been edited by deadbird (edited December 07, 2001).]</font>
You also need to remember how old thirdgens are. Most have been subjected to salt and rough roads for many years, and that takes a heavy toll on a unibody structure. If you did decide to **** away $7k to put t-tops into a $3k car, it probably wouldn't actually cave in on itself, but the chassis would be weakened enough that it would be a rattle trap on bumpy roads, and the additional stress on the unibody would cause the entire structure to loosen up faster than it would have without the added stress.
------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
Custom Thirdgen Subwoofer Enclosures
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah
[This message has been edited by Jim85IROC (edited December 08, 2001).]
I have seen no proof whatsoever on this subject, just theories. The changes GM made to TTop cars is very minor, you make it out likes its an entirely different structure. Also, it has been heavily debated on how much strength a top actually gives the structure of a car for some time now and it is not nearly as much as one would think. Some simple reinforcements around the t can make it stronger than it is now as a hard top. With a little work and some studying up, it can be done without giving away any strength of structure whatsoever.
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