I have a 1992 RS T-top, and I am looking to get some T-tops off of E-bay, as mine are in bad shape. What is the difference between the "latch" and "pin" style T-tops I hear people refer to, and how can I tell which ones I have?
Thanks

 

I have Latch, i Nver heard of Pin Style.

 

Ok, can you expand on that. What does the latch style look like? How can I tell which I have?
Has anyone ever heard of the pin style? On E-bay, it seems as though half of them are described as latch, and the other half as pin style. And the parties selling them, make sure to clarify which type they are selling. Once again this is for a 1992 Camaro RS.
Thanks

 

pin style has straight pins that go into the holes in the body.
The latch style has a hook the grabs onto the body.

 

Sounds simple enough. So, if my T-tops have a large oval pin that portrudes out, and goes into a hole on the pillar, when I pull the T-top latch, then that would simply be a pin style?
Were these just for the 90-92, cuz I called a GM dealership and was told that 90-92 had a different part number for T-tops, in comparison to previous years.

 

90-92 have larger size pins than the 8x-89.

 

Finally, this is clearing up for me
So, there is a difference in latch and pin, and there is a difference between 90-92 pins.
Well, now I know what I need to look for.
If anyone has any more useful info, let me know.
Thanks
Steve

 

that's pretty much it.. but there's also glass T-Tops and .. what plexiglass or something? so that is another option you have to look into.. but you probably already thought of that

 

my friends '87 Trans Am T-Tops are pin style, as are my '86 base. However, just between that year and the trim level, our T-Tops don't interchange. So be careful.

 

Latch style were used in '82 and '83. In '84 they went to pin style. The '86 and '87 should swap, are you sure one of them doesn't have aftermarket tops??? My '90 IROC-Z had aftermarket T-tops put on it. They are pin style but it is a smaller pin than the GM tops. They are also a few inches shorther from front to rear. Also they are of real shotty quality.

Martin

 

82 & 83 are as someone said the hook style from 84on they are inter changeable.

But you can change out the part on your car & then use the other stlye of ttops. The 82 & 83 fit tighter.

 

Yes they do, they may just be adjusted differently enough that you weren't able to interchange them. The t-tops on my 88 are the same as what's on my 85.

The latch style was around until 84 or so, and after that they were all pin style. I wasn't aware of the Lexan t-tops using a bigger pin, but I don't have a set so I can't comment on it anyway. There are people who have interchanged the lexan and glass t-tops without problems though.

On an 85 that I parted out, it actually had the latch style t-tops, although the body was still set up for the factory pin-style. Amazingly they fit reasonably well and didn't leak. It was marking the hell out of the pin-holes though, and wouldn't have taken long to start losening up if they were removed frequently.

 

Are they in bad shape because they are dull and cracked looking? If so the plexiglass type tops can be polished out to look very good, check out this thread over at thirdgen.com T-tops after polishing