t-tops

[shawn_s]

I am currently looking for a new daily driver / long term PT project car, and i have it narrowed down to 2 choices that fit into my price range. a 3rd gen camaro or a mid to late 80's g-body. there are plenty of both avalialbe with and without t-tops. so i figured i would try to come up with a list of pros and cons, and solutions. so if anyone has any input id like to hear it.

Pros:
higher re-sale value with t-tops.
cooler looking (personal preferance)

Cons:
hard top cars are usually cheaper.
1 less point for rust/leaks.


i know in the end it all comes down to personal preference but im just trying to get any info i can

[cheapthrillz]

There are no pro's to having T-tops lol..... seriously.....

[joemac]

I vote for the g body

[cheapthrillz]

Nevermind, I thought of one pro for T-tops......

If it ever came up, Shaq could potentially drive you car if need be.


Pros For Hardtop:
More body rigidity
No leaks
No rust
No sun damage to interior
No 250 degree glass panels above your head to melt your hand on
No pain in the ass locks that don't work properly
No 20 year old rotted bag in the trunk to hold the tops
Better sound proofing from the headliner

Want me to keep going?

I had an '86 Z with t-tops and I will never own another t-top car because of it. I would pay better money for a hard top car because they are actually harder to find. It's not everyday that you come across a 350 TPI, 5 speed, hardtop..... I would love to have a third gen again one day though! They are great driving/handling cars. They were just way underpowered....

[Kenova]

I personally wouldn't buy any car with a hole in the roof, factory installed or otherwise. Any car with T-tops, sunroof, or convertible top, probably has rotted out floors.
If your heart is set on having a car with a T-top then the first thing you should do before buying is pull up the carpet. If the seller isn't willing to do that, then walk away.

Ken

[graluc]

I owned a Grand National with T tops and another without. The T top car leaked, creaked, whistled, leaked again, and was hotter than hell in the summer. the quarter panels and door gaps showed signs of the body twisting and I wasn't very hard on it. I even added all of the extra bracing that Kirben sold which helped but still didn't fix it. Plus the tops were such a pain in the ass to take off and store that I rarely ever took them out. The hard top car was so much better!

[scogin918]

I'm a little torn here. I had an '86 Monte Carlo SS with t-tops. They eventually leaked which became a royal paint in the ...! That led to rust around the framework for the t-tops that was pretty much inoperable.

But, on those days in the spring or fall when the temperature was just right, it was a blast going down the road without the t-tops. If you really want a t-top car, look closely underneath the t-top gaskets and the plates that cover up the the frame of the roof. As said before, the carpet/floorpan is the next area to check followed by the seats. It seems that people that want a t-top or convertible, really want one for the open air aspect. All of the other details are secondary.

[LeighP]

The radiated heat coming throug hT-tops in teh summer on a long drive has to be experienced to really be appreciated.....
No T-tops for me....and I'm a lover of 2nd gen Trans Ams...

[Josh69]

Hmm...I've had 3 cars with T's, and one Targa, many more with sunroofs. And a Bronco and Jeep with removable hard tops. BUT, I only owned these cars when they were fairly new. I was always thankful I had the option, and used it frequently. My T tops were off quite a bit.

Nothing beats the open air on those perfect days, as mentioned above. That's why the resale is there. It's about what you want to experience and how you want to enjoy the car. People like the open air experience, and for that, they put up with the small issues. Most people aren't using the car for road racing, or mondo-horsepower.

It's a personal call at that point. Choice is yours. My current car is a hardtop. There are days I wish had bought the 'vert I was also considering.

[twosaturns]

But, on those days in the spring or fall when the temperature was just right...

exactly; how many 'perfect' days are there for that? I think the cons far outweigh the very few pros.
my brother had special ordered a '86 daytona turbo Z w/ the shelby handling pkg, t-tops, and NO A/C (he was still old school when they used to rip out the A/C for 'performance'). it took like 9 weeks IIRC for that car to come in. wicked quick car for the time (as quick as a 305 Z/28), but what an uncomfortable car in the summer! nothing quite like the smell of 'fine Corinthian leather' in the summer heat!

[Restomod Z28]

I have t-tops on my Z28 (2nd gen).

They leaked (so, I bought new weather stripping).
They are loose (but, they can be adjusted).
The body does flex more and I have stress cracks (SFC's have helped).
The plastic trim has mostly been destroyed by the sun (but I have found replacement pieces).
My t-top bags are in great shape (1 positive!).

Nonetheless, I like 'em. Everybody loves riding around when I take the glass out. Nothing beats driving down old country roads on a cool fall day with the tops out...

[406 Q-ship]

You couldn't give me a T-top or Convertible F-body unless it had a full frame cage installed. T-top cars are the biggest POS that twist sitting still with just a stiff breeze.

I worked at a Pontiac dealer in 1985, we had a very nice used 1981 TA with those worthless T-tops. I had to rack the TA to replace something under the car, when I lifted the car just barely off the ground I needed to open the door........big mistake. The TA sagged so bad the door would not even half latch, the door flat would not close until the car was back on the ground. Mine you this was a very nice not abused F-body. If you want to make it handle then leave the T-tops for the mullet crowd.

[Restomod Z28]

You couldn't give me a T-top or Convertible F-body unless it had a full frame cage installed. T-top cars are the biggest POS that twist sitting still with just a stiff breeze.

I worked at a Pontiac dealer in 1985, we had a very nice used 1981 TA with those worthless T-tops. I had to rack the TA to replace something under the car, when I lifted the car just barely off the ground I needed to open the door........big mistake. The TA sagged so bad the door would not even half latch, the door flat would not close until the car was back on the ground. Mine you this was a very nice not abused F-body. If you want to make it handle then leave the T-tops for the mullet crowd.

Why don't you tell us what you really think of guys who own t-top f-bodies?

[jy211]

G body with NO t tops. They are noisy and leak...

[71RS/SS396]

If the T-tops don't leak the will guaranteed! Every t-top car I've owned has eventually leaked. Never again.

[david068513]

That's cause they never made one. A 350 tpi 5 speed car was Never built. Only 350 autos. 305s are the only 5 speeds. I own a 1992 z28 350 tpi auto hardtop and a 1992 rs 305 5 speed t top car. Both have there fun factor. T tops are nice when out but they make it hot and they are hot if you try to take them out after they sat outside. It burns. With mods it will handle and feel just as tight as any other car. I personally would get a t top car. They are fun in good shape.

Nevermind, I thought of one pro for T-tops......

If it ever came up, Shaq could potentially drive you car if need be.


Pros For Hardtop:
More body rigidity
No leaks
No rust
No sun damage to interior
No 250 degree glass panels above your head to melt your hand on
No pain in the ass locks that don't work properly
No 20 year old rotted bag in the trunk to hold the tops
Better sound proofing from the headliner

Want me to keep going?

I had an '86 Z with t-tops and I will never own another t-top car because of it. I would pay better money for a hard top car because they are actually harder to find. It's not everyday that you come across a 350 TPI, 5 speed, hardtop..... I would love to have a third gen again one day though! They are great driving/handling cars. They were just way underpowered....

[JayR]

I'm with the majority for all the reasons listed above and as a designer, I think T-tops are just plain disco looking. There's good retro and bad retro and t-tops fall under bad.

[cheapthrillz]

That's cause they never made one. A 350 tpi 5 speed car was Never built. Only 350 autos. 305s are the only 5 speeds. I own a 1992 z28 350 tpi auto hardtop and a 1992 rs 305 5 speed t top car. Both have there fun factor. T tops are nice when out but they make it hot and they are hot if you try to take them out after they sat outside. It burns. With mods it will handle and feel just as tight as any other car. I personally would get a t top car. They are fun in good shape.

Sorry, that was a typo. I meant 305 not 350.

It is hard to find a nice manual hardtop.

[PT Sportwagon]

I had a 75 Buick Century Indy Pace car w/t-tops. While I did have some leaking. I didn't have any loss of structural rigidity as it was a full frame car. I enjoyed it in the warm weather. I would get another one. I enjoyed that car. I was stupid and sold it.

Tim

[mikedc]

I've never understood why they made the T-top lids on so many cars out of glass.

They should have been steel. Steel lids are probably gonna be lighter in weight. They can flex with the rest of the roof to cut down the leaking factor. Steel lids won't let the interior get greenhouse'd with sun rays during the times when you just want the damn car closed up.

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