Hi guys, I'm looking to buy a z28 over here in the UK. I was wondering whether the roof area on a t-top car (the area left behind when the tops are removed - not the t-tops themselves) are made out of plastic/fiberglass, or are they regular metal?? If they're made out of plastic, then at least I dont need to worry about rust when the tops start to leak. If they're made out of metal, then I'm gonna go for the hardtop....

 

Metal

 

The structure under the t-tops is metal. Rust is not really a problem on cars I've seen because the water is allowed to drain and dosn't pool.

 

The outter skin of the roof is composite, plastic call it what you want to. The underlying material is metal. I have a hard top as I didnt want T-Tops and have had the roof replaced for bubbling in the composite material.

 

i love hard tops, all my t-top cars leaked....bad

 

I think the quarter panels and frame are likely to rust long before the structure under the t-tops. I don't think you need to be concerned with rust there. The metal part is mostly covered, at the top of the car where it's not exposed to road debris, lots of room for the water to run off/evaporate, and is designed so the water doesn't pool.

 

so is the hardtop (without t-top) model made out of the good old plastic stuff??? cheers guys

 

they're both the same, hard top or ttop, the top is a composite material, and underneath is metal. Don't base your purchase on a hypothetical that underneath the ttops MAY rust, base it on what you want more, as I have seen tons of beat up 3rd gens in the junk yard, and everything else rusts out WELL before the roof.

 

This will probably answer alot of your questions...


scroll down and go through the pics

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/514505/4

The navy blue part taken off the car is a the plastic composite stuff.

Rest is metal.


as for t-tops leaking 90% of t-top leaks are fixed with $3 of black rtv sealant. Mine leaked like a siff the day after I cut them in, I am talkinglike maybe 2 gallons total(rained for 8 hours the day after)

the RTV sealant fix(which is not seen when the tops are off) took 10 min, and they don't leak a drop every since.

 

PS my car has probalby seen more rain then 90% of this board living in florida and going through tropical storms, hurricanes, etc... and worst of them all.... Automatic car washes and they don't leak.