Yes ...i was thinking this
when you convert a hardtop into Ttop you lose stability ..
what i s the difference between a Ttop car chassis and a hardtop one ....a convertible chassis is the same as the Ttop chassis ??
what will happen if a hardtop car use a Ttop chassis ??
what makes the Ttop car chassis stronger ? and the hardtop weaker ? conv=ttop ??

 

Unibody cars don't really have a chassis. There's no difference between the construction of a T top car and a hardtop. The convertibles are built the same too, but they have a little extra stiffening welded in.

 

Not true......T-Tops have a more....well...ummm....what it the word I am looking for.....stronger "chassis". The convertables are T-Tops cars(they were shipped with out T-Tops and with Hatches(just wood covers IIRC) and had some extra bulk to them....

 

Are you talking about the supposed stronger metal in the chassis of a t-top? If so, could you let me know exactly where this is, because I've compared both my t-top and hardtop cars extensively, and can't find any difference at all except the little clip on the doors.

 

To my knowledge, T-tops cars didn't receive any additional type of stiffening work like the convertibles did. Keep in mind a T-top car still has the center section of the roof for support. A Hard-top and T-top should be the same underneath.

 

the converts were the only ones that got extra metal welded into them, as they had no full chassis for triangulated strength, i.e. front rear top.... the t top cars had a real problem with chassis twist in the 350 cars, which is why most 350's were hardtops. while the t top is more fun, if i had it to do over again idve looked for a hardtop, they handle better and have less parasitic torque loss, not to mention the get less squeaks and rattles over bumpy roads. torque twist sucks

 

The convertibles did get additional reinforcement in at least two areas. The t-top cars have no such extra reinforcement other than the wedge block in the door jamb already mentioned. I recommend adding a weld-in SFC for either t-top or a vert model.

 

WOW .. now that's funny ... have you removed all the interior panels on a t-top car ???? then you would SEE all the extra sheet metal peices that t-tops have .. and hardtops don't .. and the converts got SUBFRAME connectors from the "factory" ... hence the reason you can't find a decent set from anyone except for maybe spohn .... and you'll notice most of the catbacks mention this as well ... and even some aftermarket wheels !!! the unibody tub is DIFFERENT in all 3 forms .. hardtop ,t-top, convert .... and if you really look closely you'll notice ALOT of changes in 1983 , 1985 , 1988 , and 1991 ... not just some GFX either ... threads on the brakes , materials got thicker and some got thinner ... new holes for options ... better spot welds ... rubber bushing materials ... brackets in LCA's ... SAE to metric convertions ... ETC ETC ETC .... lots of really small things you don't notice unless you've taken a few apart granted , most of it interchanges though

TVP

 

TVP,
What specifically are the "extra sheet metal pieces" in a T-top car?

 

Hartop vs t-top in a front end collision the door gaps close up faster. Seen t-top cars totalled that would have been fixed if hardtop. No visual difference in the floor pans. Never fixed a conv.

 

I agree with ray