Okay, this is where I'm at...

I'm going to start a new project, the only issue I'm having is hardtop or t-top?
I've had both. When I had the t's, I thought that was best.
When I had the hardtop I thought that was best.
I loved the sun and the wind with the t's.
I loved the way the car looked as a hard top.

I would like some opinions that are not mine please. Tell me what you like and don't like and why, if you don't mind.

No, I don't want a convertible. I can not be convinced of that.

So, thanks guys.

Chris

 

It might be worth considering the main use of the car: Daily Driver or seasonal-only.

For a daily driver (i.e. all seasons) I would stick with a hardtop- extra spaces for water and salt to collect are never good. For summer-only T's are nice.

 

This is probably strange coming from me since I had to have T-tops in my Iroc when I bought it, but I voted for the hard top. I agree that the hard tops have a much sleeker look. Moreover, there is more structural integrity in a hard top car, which is a bonus if you plan to run a high torque engine. In my experience, hard top cars tend to squeak less and don't have the water leakage problem T-top cars do (and replacing rusty floor pans from pooled t-top water over the years is NOT fun!).

T-tops, while I personally like them, do give the car a more dated appearance (how long has it been since one could buy a car equipped with T-tops?) and they also lead to some terrible interior sun-fading (if you have a t-top car, use the sun shades!). Replacing the weather stripping for the T-tops, which should be done far more regularly that most people do, is also a very costly endeavour.

With all that said, T-tops aren't necessarily horrible. It depends on your application for the car I suppose. Most people's interpretation of a classic thirdgen includes T-tops.

 

I prefer the look of t-tops tho I barely ever take them off. Leakage has always been an issue on t-top 3rd gen cars I have owned. My 98 SS has t-tops and don't leak or squeak ect. GM seems to have figured it out by the time the 4th gens came around.

I will not buy another t-roof 3rd gen. I would with a 4th gen.

 

will the car spend its life in a garage(when you are not driving it). t-tops in a third gen do have a tendancy to leak, but as long as you are willing to lift the carpet up and let the underlay dry every year, damage is kept to a minimum. AS for squeeks put some good frame connectors in and you are good to go.

I loved the hardtop i use to have, but i have more fun in my t-top car

 

Hardtop.

I hated the t-roof in my GTA.

 

Hardtop. I've had both, and I prefer the hardtop cars I've had. It might just be the cars i've had, but the 3 hardtop 3rdgens i've had, plus 1 hardtop 4th gen, all leaked more water than any of the t-roof cars I've had. I suspect condition of the seals has more to do with it than which roof style you have. I'd buy a 4th gen t-roof car though. There is not much of a difference between the 4th gen cars.

 

Best of both worlds (after market sun roof in the car when I bought it) The only leak I had was when one of the mount screw gaskets deteriorated. ten cents and a trip to crappy tire later, no leaks.

 

Hard top all the way, it just looks better!

 

I have convinced myself. The more I look at them, the only way they look right is when it is solid.
In making this decision, I waited too long...there was a hardtop 91 in Toronto area for just under $3k, it sold in the last day or so...
I have found two t-top cars, but I really do want the hard top...

 

I too have owned both - T-tops is a nice touch on a summer evening cruise, but the hard top IMO is a better looking car, and like all the others have said - if you plan to build up the powertrain, well then the hardtop is a better shell to use...
-Andrew

 

Good choice, I hate the leaks in the Camaro, gonna seal those puppies up for the winter anyway. T's are fun but no compensation for the looks or strength of a hardtop. Got one of each myself tho so I guess that would be the best option

 

Your the one driving the car. You have to decide which you are willing to live with for the duration. Which do you perfer more is the question. I have T's, and from the inside, I have T-top sunshades, you don't even notice, it gives the atmosphere of a hardtop. As for rigidy, put on SF connectors, a STB, and maybe a couple others, and your car will be stiff enough. Heck, if your that worried, put a Kenny Brown cage in it. You barely notice those. (They're strictly for stiffening, not a rollover device)
Don't worry about the stiffness factor, it's a very fixable issue.

 

I prefer the looks of the T-top models I think they acutually look the best. Especially with the tops out.

The downfall for me is head clearance in the T top models is drastically reduced due to the thicker roof sections where the T tops mount.

I have heard that the bodys flex more on T- tops but the hard top we are working on had to be welded at the corner of the window opening due to stress cracks from the body flexing.

Ric

 

All my hardtops thirdgens developed a crack on the roof just behind the door.My t-top is still solid.I have the old Spohn SFC's that was we modded though(added more supports).