My T-Top conversion is DONE!! She's Topless!
04-23-2009, 11:33 PM
#121
COFFEE!!! 
The front floor pan stain is from when the interior flooded one year during the snow. Still to this day I have no idea how it flooded, but the Right Rear foot-well had about 2-3" of water in it. I sopped up as much as I could but the padding underneath still has moisture in it. Every time I lift either the nose or tail and let it set for a while you can see what moisture shifting around. God I can't wait for new carpet!
The front floor pan stain is from when the interior flooded one year during the snow. Still to this day I have no idea how it flooded, but the Right Rear foot-well had about 2-3" of water in it. I sopped up as much as I could but the padding underneath still has moisture in it. Every time I lift either the nose or tail and let it set for a while you can see what moisture shifting around. God I can't wait for new carpet!
04-24-2009, 07:35 AM
#122
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You shouldn't have seen any difference.
Structurally.... All 4th gens hard tops and t-tops are the same. All 4th gens start life off as a t-top car. The six spot welds don't add anything structurally to the car.... and T-top models don't have any additional bracing over the hard top models. Only verts get additional bracing.
I'm sure the SFC's helped.... but they would have also made a difference even if you had not done the t-top conversion.
BTW..... Nice work!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Structurally.... All 4th gens hard tops and t-tops are the same. All 4th gens start life off as a t-top car. The six spot welds don't add anything structurally to the car.... and T-top models don't have any additional bracing over the hard top models. Only verts get additional bracing.
I'm sure the SFC's helped.... but they would have also made a difference even if you had not done the t-top conversion.
BTW..... Nice work!!!!!!!!!!!!!
04-28-2009, 12:09 PM
#124
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You wouldn't think so. I know that all the 4th gens are born the same (except for 'verts). My guess is that the car wanted to naturally twist over it's 88k mile life up to that point. Well when I lopped off the 2 over-door bars that twist kinda became 'unsprung'. I do know for a fact that the car was twisted when I installed the SFC's because the 4 bolts in the center were not lined up.
04-28-2009, 04:30 PM
#126
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Yup. It drove fine before, but if it went down a really bumpy road (and there are a lot around here) before the SFC's I could feel the back end dancing around and the car twisting. Now w/ the SFC's I no longer have that issue and it corners A LOT better; feels a lot more solid. Thanx UMI.
04-28-2009, 05:26 PM
#128
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Thanx. It was $465 for all the parts. Then I sold a few parts out of it for around $100 and I'm still trying to off-load the headliner and A-Pillar covers. So right now I'm around $365 out of pocket, until I can get rid of the rest.
06-16-2010, 03:26 AM
#138
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I think im going to do this soon, I always wanted a T-top car but got my 97 Camaro for only 1500 from a friend, pretty cheap for a Z28 6 Speed. I have plenty of junkyards nearby and friends who could help, would be easier to do this then sell it and spend a lot more on another car with t tops. My headliner is sagging like crazy, and the paint on the roof has oxidized, looks pretty bad. Anyone know how rare a 97 hardtop Z28 6 speed is?
11-09-2010, 07:08 PM
#139
I am trying to finish up my t top conversion and am having problems getting the latches to align properly with the holes they go in to. We added some extra washers to the part the t top latches in to, but its not a great fit. We also grinded down the weatherstrip channel, although it just might simply need to be trimmed some more.
Any other tips/suggestions? How much of the latch should actually be inside the hole, I was figuring a good inch or so, but I am really not sure. Thanks for any help!
Any other tips/suggestions? How much of the latch should actually be inside the hole, I was figuring a good inch or so, but I am really not sure. Thanks for any help!
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