Realistic wt. Diff Hardtop vs T-Top? 
Realistic wt. Diff Hardtop vs T-Top?
People claim they weigh the same, but I've seen 100lb difference in the same optioned cars, one was a '98 Z28 the other was a '99 Z28. T-top car weighed 3450, hardtop weighed 3350.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 173
Likes: 1
From: Idabel, OK
As I was pondering this question, it become apparent to me how difficult it would be to actually compare two cars. EVERYTHING would have to be the same, radio, seats, tires, wheels, amount of fuel, etc...
Thanks for the input
Thanks for the input
Not really sure. The two cars I compared were both leather interior cars, both same options, both didnt have spare tires, both no backseat, both ZR1 wheels.
This car I'm building now is a '01 B4C. In stock form with the only things gone being spare, air pump, headers instead of manifolds, leather seats swapped for the cloth ones, leather door panels, weighed in at 3300. Scale is accurate within 20 lbs. If you're doing any racing in the car, I highly suggest the hardtop for less weight and more structural rigidity.
This car I'm building now is a '01 B4C. In stock form with the only things gone being spare, air pump, headers instead of manifolds, leather seats swapped for the cloth ones, leather door panels, weighed in at 3300. Scale is accurate within 20 lbs. If you're doing any racing in the car, I highly suggest the hardtop for less weight and more structural rigidity.
Promod1955 did this, took a Ttop car and switched to a hardtop parts car roof. weighted everything, and posted it. I dont remeber the weight, I think it was 14# lighter?
didnt find the thread but found were I quoted him saying it in the weight reduction sticky
Originally Posted by promod1955 View Post
I weighed the stuff. Its lighter then what i thought.
t-tops and t top roof....... 31.24 lbs
hardtop roof without the metal pieces needed for the outside roof area.... 14.90 lbs
Figure the metal pieces that need to be welded in are around 5 lbs for the factory ones, then the hardtop should be around 10-12lbs lighter. not to bad.
I weighed the stuff. Its lighter then what i thought.
t-tops and t top roof....... 31.24 lbs
hardtop roof without the metal pieces needed for the outside roof area.... 14.90 lbs
Figure the metal pieces that need to be welded in are around 5 lbs for the factory ones, then the hardtop should be around 10-12lbs lighter. not to bad.
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lool 
I made my car a t top from a hardtop and removed 18# of metal and top. Then installed the t top glass which was 13# of full install over a hardtop. Not much to go off of and I did NOT do it for weight savings. I did it because I HATE hardtop cars and LOVE tops off everyday I can.
The t-top cars have extra bracing in the b-pillar area to stiffen the chassis. I think a realistic difference is between 30-45lbs. Convertibles have extra material in this area as well as a different floor pan design.
I also did the t-top to hardtop swap on my car using a factory roof panel and it took off right at 20lbs. I did not cut anything out of the b pillar area yet, but once I get my 10 point cage in I plan on hacking some of that out.
I also did the t-top to hardtop swap on my car using a factory roof panel and it took off right at 20lbs. I did not cut anything out of the b pillar area yet, but once I get my 10 point cage in I plan on hacking some of that out.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 173
Likes: 1
From: Idabel, OK
Thanks for the input 5.3lJimmy. I think I will stick with a factory hardtop. Good to see you on here, been a few years since that long afternoon in Memphis, but I still remember it clearly.
