I bought this car a few days ago and have been researching tops and windows. My big dilemma; should I have a new window sewn in, buy a whole new top or get a new top with a glass window? What have you seen/done that looked good? Thanks in advance

 

Dont waste time on getting a repair. Get a new top with glass window and you will love it.

 

one more thing, i need a black center cap with a gold bird so if anyone has one just laying around let me know. Also what is the best place to buy a top/get work done.

 

Tops on Line. dont know about install.

 

If the fabric is good, take it to a place that does 'vert tops & see about getting glass put in yours. Why replace the whole thing, unless the cost makes it worth it.

 

If the window is causing problems, the top must be pretty old. They usually want nearly what it is worth to install a new one. Anyway, a new one would last a lot longer.
They will have to remove the old one Im sure.

 

I called Mr Top near my house and they want 500$ labor and that's without any other 'problems' they may find so it looks like I'm doing it on my own. Is this car really worth the hassle?

 

No, its not worth the hassle

you should sell it to me just to rid yourself of the trouble!

-jason

 

It'd be a bit of a drive for you. and I meant the hassle of taking the car in and replacing the top or doing it myself

 

I did mine myself...I enjoyed doing it. I have avg skills and believe if you watch how you take it off ( I take lots of digital pics) then it is easy to do. It is a weekend task (you have to let glue dry) so make sure you have other transportation.

The effort it would take to take the top off and have it repaired and put back on would not be worth the effort...just go for a new top.

As for glass of plastic I for one like the bigger plastic rear window. IMO the smaller glass don't look right...but many who have the glass really like it.

Good luck.

BTW, I have a used top for sale...I show my car and the previous top had a minor wear mark or tear on the vinyl piping on the outside bottom trim... about 1/2 inch long...car judges don't like that If interested send me a PM...its black and rear glass is clear and not cloudy or yellow.

 

I don't think this would work, at least if it was a direct replacement plastic to glass. The OEM plastic window size is required to fold when the top is down. If it's replaced with glass of the same size it would have huge fold problems. The aftermarket glass tops have a smaller size glass so the roof's fold does not occur where the window is.
I guess if the "top-shop" could get a hold of the right size glass, it would require resizing the original window hole as well. After all this extra effort, all this conversion would likely cost more $$$ than an aftermarket glass top.
Would be nice if we could though.

 

It's looking like I'm just ordering a new top. Has anyone seen one with a zippered window? and what are things I should be aware of before/during the top replacement?

 

Good tech article

http://sethirdgen.org/convertibletop.htm

also, www.topsonline.com

I really suggest going with the canvas top with glass window. $400 or so, and you can tint the rear window so you aren't blinded driving at night.

-jason

 

All good advice thanks. Here's the update, the car is going out this week for a new top. I got a deal at a shop so it's gonna be $795 total for the new cloth top installed. And if anyone has trans am tail lights let me know because I'd love to buy them.

 

I just got some 92 GTA tail lights and one has a sun spot. Has anyone ever fixed something like that?

 

I know this is off topic...but I don't think it can be fixed. I have heard of some having them painted with translucent dark tint paint....Iv'e seen it and it looks good when done properly.

I have two sets of the lights...last year one set was fine...this year it's got the sun spot...after being garaged all the time ....seems it's not a matter of if but when the lights will get the spots. uggh!

 

Yea, for as 'rare' as these lights seem to be i'm picking them up left and right. Any ideas where I can get some cheap thirdgen leather seat covers?

 

Try posting the the question regarding seat covers in the https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/interior/ section.
It'll be on topic and give you the best results.