Hello,

I was parked in front of my parents house the other day, and while I was upstairs, I had a quick look at my car. And something immediately caught my eye...I have two different T-Tops ! I had never noticed that in nearly seven years of ownership, but the T-Tops were off the car for five years during the restoration and stored in a dark room...

The driver side is completely black, the passenger side has the clear part that is very visible.

It's obvious on this picture I took last year after I did the headliner :


So at what point did they change the tint if the T-Tops ? I need to know so I can start looking for the right part. I removed the inner cover of the passenger side and the plastic piece is dated 1990.

Thanks

 

The only change in color would have been with the acrylic tops vs. the Glass tops and acrylic wasn't available in 84.IIRC 84s have the channels on the topside of the glass.so I'm assuming your tops aren't for your year.

 

The driver side should be the original one, as it has the lock and it works with the keys. Both tops are glass, and the only visible difference on the outside is in the glass coloration.

 

Lock tumblers can be changed / re-keyed.

Weren't locks semi-optional in 1984?

 

From 82-85 the tops had a channel around the top, that's the 1st design, then in 85 they came out with the 2nd design, that didn't have the channel. I don't know when the 85s got the 2nd design, maybe late builds got them.But for argument sake I think you have the wrong tops.

 

Not sure if they optional but the locks were available for 82-84

 

Here's some info for your tops.You do have factory T Tops right?

 

Yes they are factory pin-type T-Tops that don't leak even with the original weatherstripping.
There's is no channel around the glass, there was a plastic piece covering the middle edge on one top but I removed it as it made it really difficult to install. I changed the center bar recently.

 

I had a good look at them, the driver side is made by PPG, the passenger side by Softlite. The locking mechanism on the driver side seems to be the later pin style with the plastic piece around it. The passenger side is just the pin. That explains the rattling I got the other day. So I guess neither are originals.

But I prefer the darker version made by PPG, I can barely see through it when looking from the outside. So what year should I look for to get the passenger side in the darker tint ?

 

Does it have the Mirror finish on the inside? If so I know 86 had the finish, not sure about the other years.
they look like these http://www.ebay.com/itm/82-92-Camaro...RWx8Ls&vxp=mtr
You might have a problem trying to buy just one side,who knows you might get lucky.Try our "Exterior Parts Wanted" thread.

 

I posted this about a month or 2 ago,.....


I've had about 20 84's and none of them ever had locking tops; Pretty sure locking T-Tops started in 85.

That set of "non-tinted" T-Tops I've got is the only set like that I've ever had. They were pulled from an 88 - but I don't know if they were original to that car.

"BIG" pin T-Tops were installed on later 80's cars. Don't know what year they started - but the mounting brackets for BIG and SMALL pin tops is exactly the same so any of those tops can be used on any car that accepts pin type tops.

Not sure if this info helps - but it seemed relevant !

 

My 84 has locking tops.
Same key also pops the hatch and unlocks the doors.

 

Original owner ??

 

My 83 is even weirder. It says "lock" and "unlock"....but there is not a key hole. Its like some sorta Delete? lol It doesn't turn either....

 

NO
I have had the car for 10 years.
It is all stock and original right down to the L-69 air ducts in place.

 

N/A

 

Forgive me if I don't believe that your Camaro got factory locking tops from the factory in 84. I asked if you were the original owner because I've sent several pre-85 Thirdgens back into the world with a set of locking T-Tops and matching door/hatch locks. Installing new locks on a car is easy. I recall you thinking that you had a 9-bolt "stock" once too;

"I don't have a IROC but I do have a 84 Z-28 with a L-69 auto. 100% stock down to the dual snorkle air cleaner and tubes............... It has the Aussie 9 bolt and 3:73s. I have the window sticker."

Your locks could have been changed and T-Tops swapped when the 9-bolt was rear end was installed in your car.




What I find interesting about those 2 84 Trans Am RPO sheets is that neither one of them has a factory 'CC1' Option code for T-Tops ???

 

N/A

 

10-4; Thanx for pointing that out !


I would not be too surprised to learn that some of the late year 84 Birds got locking tops. The Pontiacs were pretty well known for getting some stuff before it was used in the Camaro. I can think of a couple things first installed in Firebirds that made their way into the Camaro in later years; 16" wheels, Split rear folding seats, VATS, 9-Bolt rears are just a few.

 

Was there an RPO for the T-Tops locks ? My car is quite loaded, but it is missing a handful of options like the locking gas door, map light, leather seats, electric seats, power mirrors, cargo door, power hatch, and that's it I think :

 

N/A

 

That's pretty Awesome !

 

If GM did third gens like they did 1978-82 Corvettes, then the PPGs are dealer replacements. We get lots of C3s here at work with dealer-ordered PPG glass t-tops that likely came with either painted t-tops or LOF glass from the factory. I check the date codes on every LOF t-top that comes in here, and VERY few of them match up with the build date of the car. T-tops were frequently stolen back in the day as they come off in two seconds after smashing a window, few people bothered to lock them, and they were quite valuable at the time.

 

Don't know what to tell ya. I guess you can see the 9 bolt from your crystal ball and know the
person that swapped out the t-tops and must of changed the locks in the
doors and hatch too eh................
Did you search and find my post with my window sticker too?

I guess you think your the expert?

 

Well; I've been wrenching on ThirdGens for almost 25 years now, so to answer your question...... No; I'm no expert. I still continue to learn new things about these cars and I give the members of this forum a lot of credit for that.



I simply don't believe everything I read and believe & that past - actual - experiences are my best resource for facts until I see REAL proof other-wise. No; I will not blindly accept any info from a guy willing to argue that a 9-bolt was installed stock in his 84Z.

Loosing a set of keys is not uncommon. If someone lost their keys to their 84 Z28 in 86 and ordered a new set form the dealer isn't it reasonable to believe that they got a full replacement set - including those for the tops ?? ( FYI: Locks can be installed in any factory t-top ) Your not the original owner and have NO IDEA what happened to that car before you bought it.

Since you seem to take issue with my "Forgive me if I don't believe......" statement & you say that you have your window sticker; Prove me wrong if it will make you feel better.

 

N/A

 

After posting this the other day I got more curious and decided to call the guy I bought the car from. We see each other from time to time so I didnt think it would be too weird...lol He let me know that I didn't have any special t-tops. He said that one t-top panel was cracked when he removed it for weatherstripping so he found a set from a car that had locking tops and put them on this car. The plugs he inserted into the cylinder lock holes were just that...plugs. Not sure where he got them, but they work. So no, this 1983 did not come with locking tops

 

Something I remember from my youth is that these cars were the single most stolen cars in automotive history at the time. I myself had one stolen. It was 84 Sport Coupe stolen from me in the late eighties. Locks were changed ALL the time on these cars during their life span. It remains to this day one of the easiest locks to jimmy, and once inside the theives would simply smack the steering column with a hammer to gain access to the linkage rod....push forward to start the car and drive off....all in about thirty seconds. Funny thing is, 35 years later not much has changed. A quick google reveals that the Camaro is STILL the most stolen car...lol
Only now it is the 5th gens!

 

Thanx, for posting that Simo; Once I read your post I checked my 82-87 parts book,...... made to cover up to 87 yet it still had no specific info on the Locks. ( Not even shown in the exploded diagram in the Parts and Ill manual ! ) The Latch - part of the glass - was shown with a note for locks, or no locks, but that about as specific as it got.



Also found one of the old build sheets I got from somewhere; Can't see the year of the car on the paperwork (old pic) but it's obviously a Digital Berlinetta and had to be from an 84' due to the Blue Custom Cloth Interior.




Since I'm on the topic I searched the web and found 2-3 sources showing a mid-year change to introduce T-Top locks; One site reported is as 84 and 2 sites said the locks started in 85.......... While one of them mentioned that C&C tops were PPG, they made no mention of the factory shape PPG glass that was the original topic of this thread.


http://www.corvettettops.com/identif...ebird_t_to.htm


http://www.sunroofdoctor.com/8292f.htm

http://sunroofexpress.com/t-tops.html


Maybe someone with a newer parts # book can check into the PPG Glass to see if it's mentioned / referenced in the later manuals !?!?


Good update Don - must be cool to have a link back to the cars original owner !


I learned sumthin' new today !!

 

If you check my post above part no.35, 82-84 (note 14)(without lock system)
then check part no.35 84-90 (note 7)(latch assembly has lock with key).
So I would assume that the locking tops started in 84.

 

Yup; your post shows the lock,... #45 as 84-88.

Funny that even in your book the years conflict for Part 35, the interior "cover' panel. ( 82-84 for one side, but 82-85 for the other side ! )

 

There you go being MR. D-bag knowitall AGAIN!

I got your "knowitall mr d-bag" treatment when I first joined this forum
and posted my 84s info. and you carried ON and ON about not having a
9 bolt, its been swapped, yada yada and t-top locks............

Even after i posted/sent my window sticker and you finally SHUT UP
and went back under your ROCK !

I have see you hurrang other owners also.................

I guess SIMO schooled you AGAIN on the locking t-tops on a 84!
And of course you IGNORED my links to factory 9-bolts being installed pre-85
into certain late year build t/a and Z-28s.

Try being HELPFUL instead of a knowitall !
It will benefit ALL of us here!

 

Yup,... I've already thanked SIMO for proving proof that T-Top locks were installed on some 84's.

For the record: This is as wrong as I was about the T-Top locks:

Helpful; This thread is titled, "T-Tops tint change ?",.... Not sure where your ever even addressed that. You seem to be REALLY hostile because I didn't blindly believe you when you posted (off-topic) about the locks,.... someone that's already passed out questionable info ?? Yes; I want real proof before changing what I believe. I don't mind a good debate, but you just seem to be mad. Be my guest; If it makes you feel better - be mad. ( like that helps here or anywhere. )

So; Now I'm curious again, You say that you've got a window sticker from your 84Z showing a 9-bolt ?? ( What exactly is your center console RPO sheet "Gxx" code? ) You never sent your window sticker too me,....... & I'm sure I've never seen it posted here. Now THAT is something I would remember !!

Here's YOUR opportunity to "school" me,..... Let's see your 1984Z with factory installed 9-bolt window sticker.

 

Bueller,..... Bueller,......?

Still waiting on that picture of your window sticker ?? I HONESTLY hope that you can prove that you've got the 1 and only 84Z with a " 3:73 Borg Warner 9 bolt 100% stock".

 

*laughs at the monkey in the cage*