My T Top Conversion
04-05-2009, 05:03 PM
#1
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Champaign, IL
Posts: 650
My T Top Conversion
Finally getting around to posting pics, I am not going to get in to a lot of detail, just posting pics and vids. If you have any questions just let me know, I will be more than glad to answer them for you 
It took about 24 hours over 3 days to get everything functioning properly.
Special thanks to the following:
Stroked 383 for letting me do this conversion at his house and taking the pics
Gripenfelter for answering a lot of my questions and for his writeup
My friend Jason for letting me use his tools
Lotus289 over at Ls1 tech for all his help
Everyone who told me it couldnt be done
Here is a list of all the links I used for references:
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/appear...s-topless.html
http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...%20Conversion/
http://www.dw-zone.com/t-tops/t-top.asp
http://gripenfelter.fortunecity.com/conversion.html
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=...15&view=videos
Link to videos. I only ended up getting video of removing the roof and cutting through the frame. Hopefully this will motivate others that are hesitant about doing it to go through with it. The cutting was the easiest part!
Now for the pics!
Prepping the car
The first cut
Trying to pry up the roof
Better success using Lotus289's method
Roof GONE!
Cutting through the frame:
It took about 24 hours over 3 days to get everything functioning properly.
Special thanks to the following:
Stroked 383 for letting me do this conversion at his house and taking the pics
Gripenfelter for answering a lot of my questions and for his writeup
My friend Jason for letting me use his tools
Lotus289 over at Ls1 tech for all his help
Everyone who told me it couldnt be done
Here is a list of all the links I used for references:
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/appear...s-topless.html
http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...%20Conversion/
http://www.dw-zone.com/t-tops/t-top.asp
http://gripenfelter.fortunecity.com/conversion.html
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=...15&view=videos
Link to videos. I only ended up getting video of removing the roof and cutting through the frame. Hopefully this will motivate others that are hesitant about doing it to go through with it. The cutting was the easiest part!
Now for the pics!
Prepping the car
The first cut
Trying to pry up the roof
Better success using Lotus289's method
Roof GONE!
Cutting through the frame:
Last edited by The Captain; 04-05-2009 at 05:25 PM.
04-05-2009, 05:07 PM
#2
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Champaign, IL
Posts: 650
Pass side after cutting frame:
Making adjustments:
Test fitting weather stripping:
Getting closer!:
We used some kitchen sink caulk that Stroked 383 had laying around just as an extra precaution about leaks. We figured it couldnt hurt anything.
Making adjustments:
Test fitting weather stripping:
Getting closer!:
We used some kitchen sink caulk that Stroked 383 had laying around just as an extra precaution about leaks. We figured it couldnt hurt anything.
Last edited by The Captain; 04-05-2009 at 05:13 PM.
04-05-2009, 05:12 PM
#3
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Champaign, IL
Posts: 650
Prepping the car for fiberglass/bondo/paint
Notice the white face gauges (I still need to take and post pics of this install)
Fiberglass:
Well, those are all the pics I have so far. I still haven't completely finished the project, I need a new headliner and I still need to get everything cleaned up, the weather just hasnt been cooperating (I hate IL).
Notice the white face gauges (I still need to take and post pics of this install)
Fiberglass:
Well, those are all the pics I have so far. I still haven't completely finished the project, I need a new headliner and I still need to get everything cleaned up, the weather just hasnt been cooperating (I hate IL).
04-05-2009, 07:42 PM
#7
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Benbrook, TX
Posts: 24
You're a glass half full kind of guy, huh? There have been lots of people who have done this, and have no leaks. Selling it and buying another, would be kind of silly just to get t-tops.
04-05-2009, 08:21 PM
#8
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: La Porte City, Iowa
Posts: 888
04-05-2009, 09:23 PM
#10
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Champaign, IL
Posts: 650
They dont leak (anymore) 
My car only has 54K miles, thats why I didnt just sell it and buy another one. I tried to find someone to trade me straight up for a fbody with t tops in similar condition with no luck. I really wanted t tops, so I went ahead and did it. It cost me about $350 total.
My car only has 54K miles, thats why I didnt just sell it and buy another one. I tried to find someone to trade me straight up for a fbody with t tops in similar condition with no luck. I really wanted t tops, so I went ahead and did it. It cost me about $350 total.
04-06-2009, 10:40 AM
#12
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: IL
Posts: 308
Nice dude...there are like 24 hrs of a gap in photos w/ all of the metal work but it turned out well. Any new word on the headliner? Bring it over and we can re-do it pretty easily if you want.
You got that leak fixed now?
You got that leak fixed now?
04-06-2009, 11:13 AM
#13
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Jasper, TN
Posts: 1,108
hmm, I never knew that underneath the fiberglass roof panel the t-top holes were still present. Has anyone ever thought of just peeling off the top piece and making a new fiberglass piece with two pieces of plexi or glass? or perhaps two very small electric moon roofs O_O
04-06-2009, 12:36 PM
#14
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 430
04-06-2009, 04:20 PM
#15
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Champaign, IL
Posts: 650
New headliner is going to cost $250+ unless I find a bargain. I guess I will just save up the money and hope I find one before then.