What have I done!?!?!?!?

[jaysz2893]

started the t-top conversion tonight!!

I used my dremel with a cut off saw blade instead of the regular cut off wheels. I also had my oldest son hold the shop vac near the cut to pull away the dust. I left the cut a little fat so I can trim back later. The roof skin glue was tough as hell even after 19 years! Got it pulled off and got the headliner out before i called it a night. I am going to get a spot weld cutter tomorrow. I have the roof frame off a friends car to use as a "template." I think i see a way to do the conversion with less cuts and bodywork as some of the other methods, but I will post that up as I go along. I hope to have it finished over the long weekend. Here are a few pics:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/TheKeenans/t-top%20conversion/DSCN1366Large.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/TheKeenans/t-top%20conversion/DSCN1390Large.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/TheKeenans/t-top%20conversion/DSCN1395Large.jpg

[firebird_1995]

mmm scary stuff there. i always thought it would be cool to make a hardtop into a full removable top like the vettes have. good luck with the conversion!

[Fastbird]

DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!!! My wife keeps trying to talk me into this, but I like my hardtop. Just want the info here for a backup. :D

[Chris]

Its funny that I bought my transam because it was a hardtop then I loved it when Jim converted mine for me.

[jaysz2893]

I liked the hard top, but the paint was starting to fail and the headliner was too. I got a hell of a deal on the t-tops, all the misc parts, and a new in box OEM headliner off a friend that is cutting his 2000 camaro up to hybrid it with a 1967 camaro body. I am re-painting the car this fall, so now I got less black paint to spray.. !! LOL

I will take pictures and write up all I can. If it is not too bad I will convert Seans for him, I can be bought for Guinness Draught

[Fastbird]

No Jay, I refuse to do it. I'd like to have a Targa Top though..........

[KissMyWhtSS]

DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!!! My wife keeps trying to talk me into this, but I like my hardtop. Just want the info here for a backup. :D
http://members.shaw.ca/DaddyC00l/

http://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance-detailing/934274-my-t-top-conversion-done-shes-topless.html

[crows93z]

I had tossed around the idea a lot a few years back. But I decided ultimately if I ended up doing something like this it'd have to end up being a targa top. Everyone's already got t-tops stock, after all. But good luck... always seemed like a daunting task.

[jaysz2893]

OK, well i got a spot weld cutter and that helped a lot, but I still need to do as much work as all the writeups. Here are some pics of the pass side so far. I will take more pics and do a final overview after the drivers side is done:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/TheKeenans/t-top%20conversion/IMAG0232.jpg
Link to folder - http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/TheKeenans/t-top%20conversion/

[Mr.Right]

I have t-tops..... but i wish i had a hard top. i have driven my car with the t-tops out maybe once in that last 4 years

[spikester7878]

im too much of a wimp to ever do that haha even though i would really like a t-top

[jaysz2893]

Eh, I was a little scared. I got over it after the roof was cut. I am almost done. I am trying to get it ready for the all camaro show on the 3rd. I may just vynil wrap the t bar for now and paint when I repaint the car. I dunno if I will take the tops out much, but the glass roof will be nice.



posted with my rooted and ICS'd T-bolt using tapatalk 2.

[jaysz2893]

well i am 99% done, i did just put some vynil on the t bar for now. We are going to paint this fall. Overall i am excited and happy with my ability to do the job. I will do a mini write up soon and put up all the pics. here is the one I snapped after putting the tops in for the first time.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/TheKeenans/IMAG0233.jpg

[joelster]

Looks factory! Nice job!

[93lt1formula]

looks good, was there any difference with the t-top and hardtop windshield molding where it meets the tops?

[harner]

Were you at the OCMD cruise? If not, your car has a twin.

Great job on the T-Top conversion! I loved mine unless it was hot out.

[jaysz2893]

Thanks guys. The windshield trim is different on t top cars so I used some door moulding to finish it off. Will be updating pics soon. I was not at OCMD, but my friend was and he thought he saw me too.. I need to find my twin now.

posted with my rooted and ICS'd T-bolt using tapatalk 2.

[Neil350]

wow.

[JPack]

Looks great. I have been doing these for years...lost count. Nice job!

[jaysz2893]

wow.


Looks great. I have been doing these for years...lost count. Nice job!

Thanks!

I followed Grips writeup and I think yours too. The only think i did differently was use a spot weld cutter and a small cold chisel instead of a lot of cut off wheels. I dont think i would do this again anytime soon, but it was not horrible to do either. Got a lot of compliments last weekend at a show, also a ot of ppl thought I was nuts for cutting the roof off the car. Here is a pic my buddy took at the show.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/TheKeenans/DSC_0235.jpg

[popo8]

Great job

[spikester7878]

that came out awesome

[sinistr]

that came out nice .

[The SRZ]

Wow, nice job! And I want to do the exact opposite. LOL I rarely ever use my t-tops...but maybe I will if I ever get it running again. LOL

[CALL911]

Excellent job!

[Featherburner]

T-tops are not my thing but it looks like you did a fine job!

[ZGOBYBY]

I haven't used my T-Tops in years, I'm partial to hard tops myself. But I give you credit for your daring project.

[jaysz2893]

Thanks All! I am enjoying the tops now, but I am sure I will get tired of them someday. I did it just to add it to my skill set. You should have seen all the people at Carlise that were dumbfounded that I took a sawzall to a perfecty good car! LOL