Don't Lose Your T-top (see Here)
04-28-2005, 10:18 AM
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Don't Lose Your T-top (see Here) Good Morning all!
I am posting here as information only. Please, no flames as I am just trying to help someone out that may potentially have an issue down the line.
On Sunday (past), I am lucky enough to be a new member of the "Oh Crap, my T-top Just blew off!" club. I haven't been a happy camper since. I was lucky enough to to find someone local (Thank you SFFBA) that had 2 for sale.
Now, let me lay the facts out before you start reading on. My T-top was latched, no question. It was locked also, so I know 100% that it was latched at the time. I had the windows down and was cruising at about 75 when I started hearing a bad wind noise (just like someone was passing me), then split second later, off went my Drivers side T-top. Talk about
. Yesterday I pickup a new (to me) t-top and installed it without an issue, but took it one step further.
I looked at the adjusting pin on the rear of the opening. You have to remove a small trim piece to be able to see it. It appeared that only a 1/8 of an inch was making contact and the slide bracket was ALL the way back. This was not good! Check the passanger side and it wasn't as bad, but still could use some adjusting. What seems to happen is when you go to install you t-top and TRY to latch it, if it isn't PERFECT, it will slightly push that bracket back it you put too much pressure on it. I was able to bring the drivers side bracket snug by adjusting it a 1/4 inch or more. Much better fit. The passagerside was adjust another 1/8 inch for more contact and I am feeling much better.
BTW, locking your T-tops will not garrantee they stay on, it WILL, though, garrantee that your locking pins will stay in place and after looking at how the mechanism works, I would recommend to ANYONE to keep the tops locked at all times. Ounce of protection.
WORD TO THE WISE: PLEASE CHECK YOU T-TOPS. It will take ten minutes of work, but will same you 100+ bucks in the future!
Good Luck,
Jonathan Hays
I am posting here as information only. Please, no flames as I am just trying to help someone out that may potentially have an issue down the line.
On Sunday (past), I am lucky enough to be a new member of the "Oh Crap, my T-top Just blew off!" club. I haven't been a happy camper since. I was lucky enough to to find someone local (Thank you SFFBA) that had 2 for sale.
Now, let me lay the facts out before you start reading on. My T-top was latched, no question. It was locked also, so I know 100% that it was latched at the time. I had the windows down and was cruising at about 75 when I started hearing a bad wind noise (just like someone was passing me), then split second later, off went my Drivers side T-top. Talk about
. Yesterday I pickup a new (to me) t-top and installed it without an issue, but took it one step further. I looked at the adjusting pin on the rear of the opening. You have to remove a small trim piece to be able to see it. It appeared that only a 1/8 of an inch was making contact and the slide bracket was ALL the way back. This was not good! Check the passanger side and it wasn't as bad, but still could use some adjusting. What seems to happen is when you go to install you t-top and TRY to latch it, if it isn't PERFECT, it will slightly push that bracket back it you put too much pressure on it. I was able to bring the drivers side bracket snug by adjusting it a 1/4 inch or more. Much better fit. The passagerside was adjust another 1/8 inch for more contact and I am feeling much better.
BTW, locking your T-tops will not garrantee they stay on, it WILL, though, garrantee that your locking pins will stay in place and after looking at how the mechanism works, I would recommend to ANYONE to keep the tops locked at all times. Ounce of protection.
WORD TO THE WISE: PLEASE CHECK YOU T-TOPS. It will take ten minutes of work, but will same you 100+ bucks in the future!
Good Luck,
Jonathan Hays
04-29-2005, 12:56 PM
#4
I had the passenger side top fly off of my 83 T/A, scared the hell out of my friend but it was his fault for not latching it. I now check when I get in the car to see if it's latched if someone else puts them in. I got lucky and the top landed in soft dirt and didn't break. Landed cornere first too and all I had to do was wipe the dirt off and throw it back on the car. Good advice, I think I'll chsck mine so I don't have to be a 2x member of the club.
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05-01-2005, 06:44 PM
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Mine flew off doing a hundo on the highway in my old Firebird. Now I know what it feels like to be a can of sardines being opened.
I'll take a look at what you mentioned. :thumbsup:
I'll take a look at what you mentioned. :thumbsup:
05-30-2005, 04:15 PM
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lol, it is one of the scariest things when it flies off, especially on the highway. mine flew off on the highway, looked in my rearview mirror, and it was gone, i was speeding a little about 85. i didn't even bother to go back and look for it i knew it was shattered, i just had insurance pay for it because i too, made completely sure it was locked.
06-04-2005, 11:13 AM
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I had a set fly off on a blown 97 WS6... they both flew off at once. 500rwhp with no subframe connectors, doing 80 and nailed the gas. It was just like opening the "paratrooper doors" on a C141... it got loud and windy. 
06-04-2005, 10:20 PM
#12
I've been in this club for a while now. 
Although mine didn't break, they just nosedived into a field about 2 feet from the road. It was a pretty crazy feeling though, and then realizing you have several hundred bucks worth of glass flying in the air is pretty scary itself.
Although mine didn't break, they just nosedived into a field about 2 feet from the road. It was a pretty crazy feeling though, and then realizing you have several hundred bucks worth of glass flying in the air is pretty scary itself. 