so i found a cutlass in the salvage yard that has t tops, i pulled a bunch of the weather srtipping back and there was rust in the normal corners along the front side and then it has what looked to be some typr of guide for the weather stripping missing. i can fix the holes, they are minor but can i get by without that lip that guides the weather stripping? i would love to get t's in my cutlass and i have a guy that will install them for 150-200 bucks and i already have glass laying around for them. anyone have any thoughts on this? am i crazy or is this a good idea?
pondering the thought of t tops
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I'd never be against owning another g-body with T-Tops, but adding them is asking for trouble IMO. Too many chances to weaken the structure, cause leaks and more rust.
the guy i have that will do it is a professional freame guy, he takes cars that are major structural damage and puts them back together. he said that when they do it they brace the car in the door jambs and also across the inside then pop the factory welds and pulls the esisting off fromt eh pillars and drops the new one right in. i have heard of people putting hard tops on rusty t top cars and having the tops replaced from damage so its not uncommon. t tops to me are like the ultimate option to have and they are just flat out cool! i may just start looking for a t top shell but they are so hard to find not rusty!
no, i am really in debate on this one. i have owned almost a dozen g bodies over teh years and i have never had one with t tops. i installed a asc moonroof into my regal on my owna dn welded it all in so it looks factory, most people told me not to do that, told me i was nuts until they saw it done and they couldnt believe it. the moonroof is sweet but not the same as t-tops. i understand the leaking issue, the car is my driver right now but once the paint comes this spring (already ordered) the car is not going to see much for rain or snow but it would see allot of topless driving if i had t's. i dont know, as far as cost goes it is far from worth it but in the back of my mind i am always going to want them. maybe i should just sell the cutlass and get another one with t tops? i have a guy that wants to sell me his t top regalbody but wants 600 for the shell with nothing, not even a frame. i think he is steep on the price but thats just me
I think if you go with all new parts the price will definately not be worth it. If you can find a good donor car with very little rust in the t-top channels I would say go for it. I am pretty sure that GM did add some extra bracing for the body also, so make sure you can get that also.
I've never been a fan of extensive major surgery and probably wouldn't do it to my car but if you have someone who can really, do it RIGHT, I say go for it. The G.P. I had with T's last summer was great and I wish I would have kept it. I want T's in my LS, but I'm more thinking of looking for a Monte with them and swapping my LS front clip and trim to it since most likely it'll be a CL or SS. Good luck in what you choose.
After owning a monte with t-tops i'd never do it again, thank god my 78 has the moonroof, and has never leaked! i'd rather put in a factory moonroof over adding t-tops.
I fyou look through magazines they nearly all say t-tops scream mullets and cheap beer and moonroofs are nearly unheard of in muscle cars. Alot of people see the moonroof in my monte and never knew you could get one 30 years ago. besides a moonroof is not taking out nealry any structural support out of the roof unlike the t-top will and does.
I fyou look through magazines they nearly all say t-tops scream mullets and cheap beer and moonroofs are nearly unheard of in muscle cars. Alot of people see the moonroof in my monte and never knew you could get one 30 years ago. besides a moonroof is not taking out nealry any structural support out of the roof unlike the t-top will and does.
I have had t-tops on two second gen fbody's and if you live in a sunny climate they're great for that quick convertable feel without the weight or structural penalty. If you live in a wetter climate eventually your seals will leak, just make sure you check the seat before you get in or you'll look like you peed your pants. One last tip, make sure the tops are fully locked in before going around a corner :lol:
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