t top to hard top conversion
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 278
Likes: 3
From: VT
t top to hard top conversion I have a 99 Firehawk with t tops I have seen in GMHTP cars that have been converted to hardtops. I was wondering if anyone knows of any shops that have experience doing this sort of thing, preferably in the north east. I bought a hard top from the junk yard for 175 bucks! It was cut off from below the sail panel and at the middle of the pillar in the front, so its complete. any help would be appreciated.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,551
Likes: 2
From: Rutherford, North Carolina
im not downin the idea but whats your reason for wanting to do this cause i have a hard top car and i kill myself everyday for not gettin a t-top car cause even with the windows down in the summer time its hot as hell in the car and i only run the A/C about once a week to blow out the system and thats it
if i remember correctly a used hard top isnt gonna work cause all you need is the hard top shell that glues on. you will never get the shell off the used cut with out it breaking
Only difference in them is the two frame rails from where the window meets the top, hard top is a permanent rail. You can cut those rails from the hardtop and weld them in. Then you will have to glue the hardtop shell on.
Not going to be a smart ***, but if I were going to do this I'd start my research on the Hardtop to T-top conversion. You can see exactly what components come off during that process. You will definitely need the hardtop shell, as well as the driver/passenger "rails" that run from the A-pillar to B-pillar. After that, it'd just be welding and filling in the gaps. Sounds like you have it planned out, hopefully you can find someone to do the work.
Good luck, I've never heard of this being done until this post.
Good luck, I've never heard of this being done until this post.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 278
Likes: 3
From: VT
My reasons for wanting the conversion done is because I do not like the Ttops on the car and I perfer the security and solid feel of a hard composite roof over my head. I never use the ttops but its difficult to find a car without them, so I did the next best thing and bought a complete roof. At a cost of $175 for the complete roof, even if the labor cost ten times the amount I would be willing to pay it. Would this be something that any reputable body shop can do, as if it were roof damage repair?
Trending Topics
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,452
Likes: 3
From: somewhere that doesn't get snow
My reasons for wanting the conversion done is because I do not like the Ttops on the car and I perfer the security and solid feel of a hard composite roof over my head. I never use the ttops but its difficult to find a car without them, so I did the next best thing and bought a complete roof. At a cost of $175 for the complete roof, even if the labor cost ten times the amount I would be willing to pay it. Would this be something that any reputable body shop can do, as if it were roof damage repair?
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Hang on.. Your roof wont be much stronger with a hard top rather than t-tops.
As for the security, if someone sees something they want in your car, chances are they'll get in eitherway. Whether its from the t-top OR window... It dont matter to them. If you dont have t-tops, they'll just break your window.
I honestly cant imagine the amount of work it would take to do this.. Let alone the cost of having someone else do it for you.
If you have a firehawk, it will kill the value of it. Its a collector car and a hard top is not supposed to be on your car from the factory either. Its not a simple and quick fix to convert BACK also.. And thats how other people will see it. You're better off selling the hawk and getting a hard top car IMHO... Or buying a hard top firebird and converting it into a firehawk clone.
You should have t-top shades too (or you can buy them).
T-tops are great... IDK why people dont like them...
As for the security, if someone sees something they want in your car, chances are they'll get in eitherway. Whether its from the t-top OR window... It dont matter to them. If you dont have t-tops, they'll just break your window.
I honestly cant imagine the amount of work it would take to do this.. Let alone the cost of having someone else do it for you.
If you have a firehawk, it will kill the value of it. Its a collector car and a hard top is not supposed to be on your car from the factory either. Its not a simple and quick fix to convert BACK also.. And thats how other people will see it. You're better off selling the hawk and getting a hard top car IMHO... Or buying a hard top firebird and converting it into a firehawk clone.
You should have t-top shades too (or you can buy them).
T-tops are great... IDK why people dont like them...
i dont understand why people make hondas fast but they do. to each their own. i personally like the sleek look of a hardtop camaro without the t-bar and the rubber molding sticking up everywhere.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,799
Likes: 1
From: USS Enterprise 1701
Hang on.. Your roof wont be much stronger with a hard top rather than t-tops.
As for the security, if someone sees something they want in your car, chances are they'll get in eitherway. Whether its from the t-top OR window... It dont matter to them. If you dont have t-tops, they'll just break your window.
I honestly cant imagine the amount of work it would take to do this.. Let alone the cost of having someone else do it for you.
If you have a firehawk, it will kill the value of it. Its a collector car and a hard top is not supposed to be on your car from the factory either. Its not a simple and quick fix to convert BACK also.. And thats how other people will see it. You're better off selling the hawk and getting a hard top car IMHO... Or buying a hard top firebird and converting it into a firehawk clone.
You should have t-top shades too (or you can buy them).
T-tops are great... IDK why people dont like them...
As for the security, if someone sees something they want in your car, chances are they'll get in eitherway. Whether its from the t-top OR window... It dont matter to them. If you dont have t-tops, they'll just break your window.
I honestly cant imagine the amount of work it would take to do this.. Let alone the cost of having someone else do it for you.
If you have a firehawk, it will kill the value of it. Its a collector car and a hard top is not supposed to be on your car from the factory either. Its not a simple and quick fix to convert BACK also.. And thats how other people will see it. You're better off selling the hawk and getting a hard top car IMHO... Or buying a hard top firebird and converting it into a firehawk clone.
You should have t-top shades too (or you can buy them).
T-tops are great... IDK why people dont like them...
Live with your t-tops or make a trade for hard top car.
if you can tac weld and know how to use body panel glue its easy. no one is gonna see under neath it so you can make the welds as ugly as you want
https://ls1tech.com/forums/texas-mem...version-2.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/texas-mem...version-2.html
we have done Roof Replacements Before where i work its Really not that Difficult. if you have the whole roof just cut it at the a-pillars and the b pillars and weld the new ones on. And Make as many measurements as possible and check them a million times and then check them again. But you Need to Overlap the top with the bottom and not how you think Its hard to explain. but you would need to Drill out a few Spot welds and on the Car side and cut the outer structure off straight. then drill out the same amount on the roof side and cut the bottom structure out straight then overlap them weld the Spot welds up and the butt welds. then do the Same on the B Pillar. Its really not that diffficult but only if you know what your doing. then you really wotn have much body work to do on these cars. thats how i would do it.
My reasons for wanting the conversion done is because I do not like the Ttops on the car and I perfer the security and solid feel of a hard composite roof over my head. I never use the ttops but its difficult to find a car without them, so I did the next best thing and bought a complete roof. At a cost of $175 for the complete roof, even if the labor cost ten times the amount I would be willing to pay it. Would this be something that any reputable body shop can do, as if it were roof damage repair?
bottom line is your t-tops pose absolutely no security risk whatsoever. these cars are simple as **** to get into.
but yeah, i'll second the fact that when i had a hardtop i kicked myself for not having t-tops. when i got t-tops, well, i love them. i've had the car 6 years and i rarely use them as much as i used to, but they are no hassle, and i surely love taking them off when i do feel like it.
but yeah, i'll second the fact that when i had a hardtop i kicked myself for not having t-tops. when i got t-tops, well, i love them. i've had the car 6 years and i rarely use them as much as i used to, but they are no hassle, and i surely love taking them off when i do feel like it.
All this talk of cutting and welding the entire roof is nonsense.
- Pry off your old roof skin.
- Remove all the hardware from the t-tops on the roof and bring it back to the metal frame.
- Travel to junk yard and remove the two side supports from a hardtop car.
- Weld the side supports into place.
- Purchase new hardtop roof skin through gmpartsdirect.com and glue it into place.
- Put in new headliner / hardtop weatherstripping.
- Pop a beer and enjoy your masterpiece....or bastard....depending on your outlook on the process.....
- Pry off your old roof skin.
- Remove all the hardware from the t-tops on the roof and bring it back to the metal frame.
- Travel to junk yard and remove the two side supports from a hardtop car.
- Weld the side supports into place.
- Purchase new hardtop roof skin through gmpartsdirect.com and glue it into place.
- Put in new headliner / hardtop weatherstripping.
- Pop a beer and enjoy your masterpiece....or bastard....depending on your outlook on the process.....
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 299
Likes: 1
From: The Woodlands,Texas/New Orleans
u do better selling the car becuz making it a hardtop doesnt make much sense the ttop carz look better anyway i cant stand convertible or hardtop camaros or firebirds if it doesnt have ttops i dont want it. i had a chance to buy a clean 2001 camaro SS for a cheap price but once i saw it was a hardtop that sale was cancled quickly
Last edited by teamfbody; May 1, 2010 at 08:22 PM.
u do better selling the car becuz making it a hardtop doesnt make much sense the ttop carz look better anyway i cant stand convertible or hardtop camaos or firebirds if it doesnt have ttops i dont want it. i had a chance to buy a clean 2001 camaro SS for a cheap price but once i saw it was a hardtop that sale was cancled quickly