Ok..I got somewhat of a dumb question to ask......
Ive been told that you CAN'T go crazy building up a motor if you car has T-tops. Is this true?? I understand the fact that having T-Tops is a weaker construction than a hard top. I was told from another person that IF you do build the motor up you can add addittional support to the chassis to make it stronger. Can someone please tell whats truth and whats ???

Thanks in advance....

 

I think that is mostly b/c there are many guys on this board w/ big hp and torque numbers w/ T-tops. It is true that the T-tops take a lot of strength or "stability" out of the car, but this can be cured w/ a set of subframe connectors. These are a must for any t-top 3rd gen. I am getting ready to order my from Spohn.

 

two words; subframe connectors. check with SPOHN (look at top of your screen at the banner)

 

i know of a 8 second thirdgen that has T-TOPS

yes sir i do

you might have even seen it in procharger ads, guys name is mike paulson

 

how exactly do sub-frame connectors help?
do they just provide stability? thanks.

 

Well.... sub frame connectors, connect the front and rear sub frames making them essentially one. this makes for a much more rigged chassis, similar to a truck I guess.

 

Thats old school

 

I have heard a million people say some simular about t top camaros. they tole me that they do not run as fast as the hard tops. When question further they did not really know why they just seem to say it.

I think they are just jelous, I love my ttops

:lala: :lala: :lala:

 

My friend has a 86 IROC with t-tops and it <b>IS</b> electronically speed limited to 200 kph ( 125 mph ). At high speed there is a high vaccum above the t-tops and as I understand the targa locks are not designed to hold at a higher speed. (some saftey factor added ).

I don't think that the non targa cars have that speed limit.

 

that sounds mad, Would not want to go air borne.

 

how is that? in 86 the speedos were mechanical

i have taken my car up to 135mph when it was stock and my t-tops didn't go anywhere and didn't encounter any speed limit

 

I think they had digital Speedos and tach as an option.

 

Ok, maybe you will not go air borne, but does that mean you have less traction?

Do you know if that is with tops on or off or does it even make a diference?

thanks:hail: :hail: :hail:

 

The speedo might be mecanical but the ECM still knows the vehicle speed. I know this because when I hook up my ALDL scanner (WinALDL) to his car MPH is displayed on the laptop. There must be a pulse sender somewhere on the speedo wire that provides the ECM with that information.

I did't say that the targas would blow off if you went faster. Just that the ECM has a speed limit to make sure. They might have removed that on the 89, but my friends 86 IROC ( 305 TPI ) has the speed limit.

 

I did not think they would pop off. I was just wondering if the low pressure spot above the car would affect the rear whell traction or anything?
thanks :hail: :hail: :hail:

 

Almost all cars get a lift at the rear at high speeds. I does not matter if the car has t-tops or not.

 

I knew audi TTs had a lot of lift, something like 80 poeple were killed in germany just from driving at high speeds, that was when they first came out.

That is why they have the small fin thing on them now.

 

These are some numbers I found. It is front / rear lift ( lbs ) at 130 mph.

84 Corvette : 148 / 55
82 Camaro : 239 / 40
82 porsche 928 : 232 / 173
82 Toyota Supra : 290 / 57
82 Datsun 280ZX : 174 / 116

 

That is alot of lift in the front of the camaro, did not think there would be that much,

I am not sure waht to say about that.

It is bad if I lose too much weight up front?

 

AS anyone seen the movie Cannon Ball run???
It is the 70's movie. There is a lamborghini with 2 spoilers on it, one on the rear and one one the nose.

It looks butt ugly but it made me think alittle.

:lala: :lala: :lala:

 

I can believe the thing about high speed with t-tops on. I forget the exact equation, but when air is moving at high speeds, the pressure drops creating lift (that's how airplains fly, wings are designed so air on the top of the wing moves faster than air on the bottom), so relive to the t-tops, the air in the car is still, and if the air outside was moving at 125, the diference in pressure would be very high.
I'll stick with my hardtop, even though i don't plan on going over 130 any time soon.

 

I don't think that you'll have any problems with a lost t-top, I've had my car at about 135 and there weren't any problems. I have heard of, and actually saw it on one of the old 70's mustangs with the t-tops, where the torque going through the frame had caused so much twist that the tops have shattered. GM took care of that problem though by switching from glass over to safety glass in the mid80's. Nothing was neater though then seeing that top just shatter, but I don't think I'd want it to bust on me.

I could see a problem with the tops lifting off if you were to only have one removed and the other locked in. THats probably why GM says to either remove them both or don't remove them at all.

-=-Mike

 

wish I could see a movie of that mustang shattering a T-Top. That sonds nice

would not want it to happen to me though.

:lala: :lala: :lala:

 

I believe that for two reasons, 1) saw one flyoff at the dragstrip and break 2) at 151 mph in my B4C it was so loud from the wind noise (even without having t-tops) that if I yelled something to the passenger he would not have heard it.

 

What is a B4C?

Sorry, I don't mean to sound like an idiot. I have been them a few places on this board and I am wondering. I am guessing it is a type of car.

thanks:hail: :hail: :hail:

 

copcar edition, made in 1991 and 1992 (also later) 1992's like mine had the 1LE option (big brakes among other things)

 

cool, thanks :hail: :hail: :hail:

 

does anyone here have any pics of subframe connectors on their Camaro/ Firebird??? I looked at Spohn's website and they DID offer pictures but their pictures look like sh#t! Also are sub frame connectors a simple bolt on or is more involved than that???

Thanks in advance....

 

they usually just bolt right in depending on the kind that you get but you usually want to reinforce it by welding everything together. I don't have any pics though since I haven't done it to my car yet

 

here's a pic of my Kenny Brown weld-in sub-frame connectors.



there are more on my website listed in my sig.
later
larry

 

that is a nice setup, intercooled supercharger

me likey:lala: :lala: :lala:

 

Thanks for the subframe pics:hail: :hail: :hail:

What is the wash bottle for?

At first I thought it was water injection or something but I have not clue right now.

Thanks again:hail: :hail: :hail:

 

Can you give me teh website for the KB subframe connectors?

Thanks:hail: :hail: :hail: