First, this one has Lexan tops...is it just me, or are they notably darker than the glass tops? My car originally had Lexan, and they were swapped for glass tops under factory warranty. In a way, I wish my parents had asked for the Lexan again!! They seem to cut down on glare a lot.

Second, this is only the third '91-'92 'Bird that doesn't have the gfx I was asking about a couple months back...and the first one I have seen that had a 305 TBI without it!

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Jason E

'97 Z28
-30th Anniversary package (white with orange stripes)
-LT1, M6, 46k, t-tops, every option and a killer stereo

'95 Grand Am SE 2 door
-Red, 3100 V6, AT, 112k, kept up with a '95 Stang GT auto once

FOR SALE: '89 RS 2.8 w/ t-tops
Third-gen-less for now...but not forever
Long Live #3...

 

Lexan top are great, just make sure you take car of them right so they don't buldge up and get that cracked look to them, I hate that. Make sure you polish them with a polisher and use Eagle 1 tire gloss or something on them all of the time.

I actually saw a red 92 Firebird w/no gfx and a 305 just about 2 days ago, it did look odd....

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On second look, I don't know if Lexan tops are that great after all...these are ALL spiderwebed....sure are nice from a "less glare" standpoint!!

And you know, I don't know why everyone knocks 305 TBIs so much...they feel plenty strong around town. This is the first third gen V8 I have driven that was in good mechanical shape, and it feels fine to me! Its no LT1, but it ain't bad by any stretch.

 

Try using a high speed polisher and some 3M compund (be sure not to polish off the word "Lexan") and see how they come out. You might be able to save them. Just make sure to keep them nice and oiled with something.

L03's are decent engines, nice power for everyday driving and fair gas milage but they just don't have the raw acceleration and top speed most people want...

 

305 TBI feels allright but don't try racing
any newer V6 4 door- or anything. I mean they were okay in their day but compared to a modern engine they blow

 

The lexan tops are quite a bit darker then the glass, also they're lighter. The only real drawback is that they aren't crystal clear, they tend to get cracks inside the plastic and the surface scratches easily. Zaino plastic polish will make the scratches invisible but the cracks are impossible to remedy. If anyones really concerned glass ttops are easy to find. GM thought enough of the Lexan ttops that they tried them at least three times from 89-92.

GFX-less TBI cars aren't that unusual. Personally I think they look better than the cars with the GFX.

The TBI 305 "feels" fine driving around, but when you run it side by side with virtually any other car it'll fall behind. Taking a stock L03 to the dragstrip is a waste of $20. Compared to any fuel injected V6, V8, or even modern 4 cyl's the L03 is a dog. Whats worse is that its nearly impossible to mod. The noose on performance is the TBI itself, there aren't any TBI units that can really be adapted. Also the TBI cars seem to be the only Speed Density cars that really freak out when mods are done. Just not worth messing with when there are plenty of LG4, LB9, L69, and L98 cars out there. FWIW I'd sooner enter a grudge race with my 3.1 auto Firebird than a L03 car.

BTW its normal for the lexan tops to have a domed shape, thats how they were designed.

[This message has been edited by Drew (edited December 02, 2001).]