So I'm working on restoring my mom's 1988 Trans Am that has been sitting for over 15 years. I'm currently replacing the old weatherstripping and when dry/test fitting it I've run into a bit of a snag. The Ttop seal rails running down the A-pillar and on the rear quarter/door jam have slots on them that I removed rubber from within, but the new seals don't appear to fit into them. After scowering the forums and multiple YouTube videos I can't find anyone else who explains or even has these.

 

I have 3 t-top cars and none of my weatherstrip channel looks like that. I suspect it's aftermarket ttops by cars & concepts (C&C). If so, the factory weatherstripping won't work. Do you have a picture of the t-roof to confirm?

 

I'll have to get a picture tomorrow because I'm storing the car somewhere else at the moment. I read that C&C Ttops were etched with their logo so I purchased the stock ones, if they are C&C hopefully A1Auto will accept a refund for my own stupidity. Are you wanting a picture of the top itself or of the roof?

 

Overall roof would do. The front painted section at the windshield will be much wider than stock.

 

I found this picture, it's the only one of the roof I have while not being with the car.

 

Well, that looks like a factory roof actually, but something doesn't quite look right, especially the vertical channels... Not sure about this one. Can you get some more detailed pictures of the channels? Interesting. Hopefully, someone else might chime in on this.

Here is what the factory A & B channels look like:

 

Here are some more pictures, they look the same as the ones that you posted except that mine appear to have extra flanges riveted on. Apparently the car was repainted in 89' by the factory due to paint already beginning to chip. Maybe they replaced the stock rails with these, but there is no telling. I picked up a set of the normal channels as well as the T-top pin spacer with the screw hole for the weatherstripping at a local pull apart so I'm going to see if those will just swap on later in the week.

 

Alright so I think I figured it out, apparently the early 1988 models had an interlocking slider on the weatherstripping. Firebird Central says that the new seals are interchangeable, but I don't see how these seals are supposed to secure down on the corners considering mine don't have the screw down point for the plastics. The ones I got have these, so they should work.

 

Very interesting. I've never seen this before. Maybe GM was trying something new in early 88 and then scrapped the idea. Neither my 89 or 90 has that and I'm working on a 91 for a friend and it doesn't have that either. I wonder if anyone else's cars on here have this. I did a quick search yesterday and couldn't find one. Seems unique.

 

I've also never seen that style... crazy... my 92 definitely doesn't have that and my 88 is a hardtop. You can learn something new every day.

 

My rails definitely dont look like that. interesting piece you got there. I'm putting mine back in this weekend so ill take a picture when I get back to the car.

 

So after rigorously removing adhesive from the channels I pulled, I went to fit them on the car and viola! Beautifully fit. Then I went to put on the weatherstrip screw plates that go on the Ttop mounts, the back one fits and the weatherstripping lays in correctly, but it appears that they also changed the A-pillar design so the front one will not. It has a body weld with filler in it where the new piece is attached, and I'm confident that cutting it off would give me the clearance needed without affecting structural integrity at all. I'd rather not have to hack up my car but at this point I'm not entirely sure what other option there is because I cannot find the appropriate seals with the slides. Any ideas before the point of no return?

 

This just keeps getting more interesting. I cannot believe that no one else on this entire board has seen this design. I mean can it really be that uncommon? I think if it were me and I couldn't make the weatherstripping work with that set up, I'd be sourcing "regular" channels and t-top mount brackets from "regular cars" at this point. I'd swear this was aftermarket except the channels are factory with extra stuff riveted on. It's just weird!

 

As much as it pained me to cut into it, I took a Dremel to the pillars earlier today and honestly it could have turned out worse. I'm happy with how it turned out and the seals went in after a bit of caressing, T-tops fit in and I sprayed it down with water afterwords and as it stands she's waterproof for the first time in probably 20 years! I appreciate all the input and hope no one else runs into this oddball type of car, but if you do at least there is something out here now.





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