Ok i had a key made for my t-tops when i first got the car. Then one flew off and i got another from a junk 2.8 camaro (90 or earlier). Guess what the key for my old top (the one that went 60ft up at 70+mph) fits perfectly and locked it. So were they all the same key pattern or what?

 

I'm pretty sure it's just coincidence. When I bought my '86 Camaro, the previous owner replaced the passenger side T-top because it flew off. My key worked on the drivers side only. The key should be the same for the doors and trunk as well.

 

Thats luck!the t-top keys match all the other locks.

 

Went and got the other t-top (for free minus some sweat, just gave him mine for his) and yup, the key fits, so i now have two locking t-tops. Not to mention they have a darker tint on them than mine did so its a bit more comfortible.

 

How does a t-top just fly off? Unless you forget to latch it.

 

Its real simple. What happens if its not locked is that every time the body flexs it will cause the latch to work its way out just a bit. now on my drive way there is a bitof a drop off and you can hear the t-top creak every time i come home or pull out. After awhile if you don't know about this and don't check the latch you may hit a bump going down the road at just the wrong time and there goes your t-top. This is what i have pieced together from my t-tops so far. Basically the lock does more than keep someone from stealing it, it also keeps the damned things in the car.

 

Jeez....i sure hope that never happens to me. Not only would it suck, it would be rather embarassing.

 

eeeeeeeeeek!

when i bought my thirdgen i had to replace all of the body locks, (vendor lost the only key just before i picked it up) but i tried about 20 GM keys and none of them would open the t tops, so i popped the locks out.

as for t tops flying off, are you sure the latches wern't worn? my latches have a positive stop don't loosen off at all. they also don't creak or leak!

maybee there is a conection between leaky creaky t's and loose latches, also wouldn't you notice the handle moving? my handles would need to be 75% of the way open before my tops could come off

 

Well neither t-top leaks now to speak of (got some silicon calk to finnish em off) and just creak when the body flexs. It may be that they have some worn bits, but the locking part seems to be doing well and i check em every time i get in the car.

Oh and its not to terribly embarrasing if you are going like 100+mph when it happens (probably should have know that was comeing).

 

we only had one t top come off and that was because some one pulled the handel on the freeway lol.

 

was talking to the owner of a '99 Z28 today that said he had had a t fly off, turns out the latch had siezed and stripped the splines in the handle so when he tried to lock the top the handle was moving but the latch wasn't

guess the moral here is to put a drop of oil on the latch pin every once in a while!