WOW! That all i have to say.............you can do mine now. Ill drive my Formula over and let you have all the fun cutting and welding.
------------------ Fierokid's baby: R.I.P.V-6 Swap 1987 Blue Fiero sport coupe White 1988 Fiero Formula AIM: Fierokid87 Rate Me Please 2.9L V-6: 2030 Compucam, Darrel Morse Fuel Presure Regulator, 9.5:1 comp, zeroed out ballanced crank, contecting rods matched, MSD 6A ignition box and Blaster GM style coil, Darrel Morse Bored out TB and intake, 19# Mustang Injectors, Removed TB coolant lines, Darrel Morse Dogbone strut, and more to come
Looks great! There are some things I've done to my car that took a little guts, but I don't think I could do that! Hopefully you'll stay dry when it rains
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12:21 PM
RacinRob Member
Posts: 1288 From: Eau Claire, WI Registered: Mar 2001
Great balls of hair-what a nice job!! That stuff would have to sit in the corner for a loooooong time before I got up the courage to pick up the sawzall. Excellent documentation.
Outstanding job! Sure makes me appreciate my t-top more. Now as for that t-top that's is being offered for sale, makes me wonder what it would look like on my choptop...
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07:47 AM
skitime Member
Posts: 5765 From: Akron, PA, USA Registered: Aug 2000
Outstanding job! Sure makes me appreciate my t-top more. Now as for that t-top that's is being offered for sale, makes me wonder what it would look like on my choptop...
Great and a one of a kind. They are still for sale.
------------------ Red 88 GT T-Top 3800 Supercharged White 88 GT Stock Please give me a rating if you appreciate my contribution. History of Skitimes Car
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07:50 AM
PFF
System Bot
mrfixit58 Member
Posts: 3330 From: Seffner, Fl, USA Registered: Jul 99
WOW Jonathan -- I'm impressed. I know we talked about it at Daytona but I didn't think you'd start the project so soon. It looks like a real professional install. It also makes me wonder about what I'm going to do with the t-top roof I have stored in my attic . How about supplying a couple of detail shots of the temporary frame reinforcements that you used.
Way to go!
P.S. I looks like the dash filler is about done, too.
Great Job !!!! I did my T-tops In a weekend..... I dont have any pics...Somone stole my digi cam out of my truck before i could download them.... I got my tops complete from a 86 se doner in a local wrecking yard for $100.00 . The Biggest problem I had was tring to find the 1/4" steel pop rivits....
Make sure you download the "Leak Manual" from the Fiero T-Top Regestry http://www.fierottop.com/ It Helps ALOT in trying to get the leaks fixed... and LOTS of Black RTV for all the little corners....
Oh Yea... ENJOY!!!
------------------ Build The Coolest of the cool and DRIVE it!!
87 GT T-top Auto
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12:18 PM
Fieroking Member
Posts: 2148 From: Coeur D Alene Idaho USA Registered: Jun 2002
That is one conversion i WILL have to do after i finsh my swap and some outher stuff i allways wanted t tops so bad by the way It looks really good i like i like
J Sokol
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12:23 PM
PBJ Member
Posts: 4167 From: London, On., Canada Registered: Jan 2001
Great job Jonathan. At the AAFO Roundup VII you said you were still thinking about doing the conversion. I'm glad to see you went ahead and did it. The install looks like it came that way from the factory. Can't wait to see it next year at Roundup VIII.
What a thread. And man what a picture with that tiger saw going thru the roof...I can just see myself having a stroke doing that. The results are absolutely fine, thats going into my book of things to consider for my SE. Again great thread, great work gorgeous car.
Originally posted by jscott1: Once you make the first cut, the roof skin comes off and it doesn't matter whether you had a sunroof car or not, all Fieros have the same spaceframe.
Do you still have that piece you removed? Might you be interested in selling it? I had an idea for an "opaque" roof panel to go in the place of my sunroof (keep the hot summer sun off my poor tender head! ...and incidentally keep interior temps down). I'm pretty sure that a roof panel would work perfectly, but I didn't want to butcher a good one, and I wasn't sure I'd be able to find one for a reasonable price around here (ie cheap...)
& this thread actually had me considering Skitime's T-top kit for a minute...
Ed
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07:24 PM
PFF
System Bot
Fiero5 Member
Posts: 8882 From: Arecibo, PR Registered: Jun 2000
Wow! That is just sooo cool! Turning a non t-top Fiero into one is such a coolt hing if you can do it. I wonder if a Firebird t-top conversion is possible? Things that make you go hmmm
Great job. What an inspiration for some of us.
Steve
------------------ Almost 400 pics of our 18 Fieros: http://www.cardomain.com/id/fiero5
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08:16 PM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
Thanks again for all the good words and encouragement. I purposefully waited until Sunday night to post my weekend results after I knew the outcome. I had to leave town for a few days so let me get caught up and answer some questions...
MrFixit58 - I wasn't sure back in March what I was going to do, but my brother talked me into doing it myself. While he was making the measurements, I created the temporary frame reinforcements or spreaders:
They consist of 3/8" threaded rods into a turn buckle in which I have cut the eye off of the lefthanded side and mounted it in a 1/8" aluminum bracket.
I got conflicting information as to whether or not they were needed, but I think they definitely helped. The windshield seemed pretty flimsy after I made the first cut, and I think the blade would have binded up without the support.
The dash filler is still in work, more sanding and filling is necessary, (typical for a fiberglass piece )
Revin, (and others) - The frame does not need to be reinforced for a T-top car. The "H" frame is riveted in with about 50 1/4" rivets and the car is just as strong afterwards, just ask Chester. I was thinking about him as I was driving those rivets..."if I have to go under a semi I want this car to survive"
As for looking better than Ski, Proud-2 is not quite in that league yet, but I'm working on it. His car is the benchmark for red 88 GTs.
Cruz - Those 1/4" rivets are hard to find. I didn't find them in any stores, I had to order them off the internet. They are mostly used by bodyshops and airplane manufacturers. I have a tube of Black RTV that I have to go fill in all the corners before I attempt a leak test. That's the next step.
MinnGreenGT - I know you will be able to find this thread in the future to help others I couldn't find any decent pictures anywhere of a T-top install to help me so I decided to take a bunch of pics myself. By the way, I actually took over 150 pictures so if someone wants to see some particular detail I probably have it.
edhering - I still have the roof panel. It came off intact as you saw it. It would make a great donor for a solid sunroof or a targa panel. Let me think about selling it, and I'll get back to you.
Here is a closer view of the seals and dash. I will be painting the trim this weekend and triming the headliner next.
Jonathan (Jscott1) Time for a new sig
------------------ If you find my advice useful, then please give me a positive rating, thanks...
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08:56 PM
Jun 1st, 2003
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
I finally got some garage time to make my new headliner. I often hear people ask where you get a T-top headliner...the answer is that you make it yourself.
Here is what it looks like without the headliner...kind of like something from Terminator-3 with all those rivets
For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to add some rubberized undercoating to the roof...
I know this is a little late now but, whenever it comes time to replace your headliner material there is no way you will be able to reuse your backer board. It is just going to fall apart when you take it out. When I made the headliner for my T-top conversion I took a nonsunroof backer board and coated it with several coats of fiberglass resin on both sides. This makes it very strong and rigid. I then cut out the openings for the T-tops. I also added some fiberglass cloth reinforcement to the cut out area by the dome lights. I can easily take my headliner out and recover it when the time comes.
Pat
------------------ 84SE w/ T-Tops
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11:38 AM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
Thanks for the tip, you have been helpful throughout. But before I converted my headliner into a T-top it was professionally recovered with an extra layer of foam, new material and new glue everywhere.
Prior to that it was falling apart and I almost threw it away. It should last 10 years or more before I have to drop it for anyreason.
Hopefully yours will last 10 years, but we both know that the hot summer weather here in Texas drastically shortens the lifetime of a headliner. I am already seeing signs of the foam backing breaking down on my headliner material and my headliner is approx. 3 years old. BTW great job on documenting your conversion.
Pat
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02:37 PM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
One of the reasons I decided to put rubberized undercoating on the roof is that I drove the car without the headliner for a while and I couldn't believe how hot that metal roof can get. With the coating on there it should drastically reduce the heat that's transmitted to the headliner, prolonging it's life.
Im Gonna Bump This So More Folks Can See It ...And For Maybe A Few More Pics
------------------ Zero C's 86 Gt Fastback "This car is so good looking its almost indecent. - AutoWeek on the new 1986 GT" Many Small Mods Zeros Home Page MSN Messanger tylercaddick@hotmail.com
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05:30 PM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
Here are some new to the forum pics...Sneak preview of my new color scheme. Updated pics to come soon.
------------------ If you find my advice useful, then please give me a positive rating, thanks... 1988 GT (Firebird Interior) 1988 Coupe (Daily Driver), 1985 SE (Project Car) Recent Addition 1985 Coupe (parts car) Firebird Interior Installation Website
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07:55 PM
Nov 13th, 2003
Nazareth Member
Posts: 730 From: morristown, TN Registered: Aug 2003
I still can't believe what a good job he did with this car and especially the t top install. I would absolutely love to install T-tops but I don't have the nads or the cash to try it. Simply amazing.
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07:26 PM
Nashco Member
Posts: 4144 From: Portland, OR Registered: Dec 2000
How in the hell did I miss this thread?!?! I sure wish I could give more than one positive rating to ya jscott! Awesome job, and seeing that, it makes my decision to avoid t-tops a little less permanent. I love the looks of them, but I really hate that the parts are so hard to find and fairly expensive as a result.
I really like the solid roof, can't wait to get my crappy aftermarket sunroof out. Now I'm thinking I'll keep my eyes open for a t-top setup, just in case.
Bryce 88 GT
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08:00 PM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
Nasco, if you really want T-tops I know of at least one complete setup, maybe two. They are not cheap, but worth it in my opinion.
It seems my car has spent more time in the garage than on the road lately; I feel like CoolBlue87 has racked up more miles than me
Not really, but I did get out to the Red River Ruckus Redux last month...I'll take advantage of the bump to post some never before posted pics.
I have a list of about 50 items that I am fixing that aren't quite right about the car, so I have a lot of work yet to get it where I want it. The dash filler panel still isn't finished, that is driving me crazy. I have vowed that it will be done before the car leaves the garage again.
Jonathan
------------------ If you find my advice useful, then please give me a positive rating, thanks... 1988 GT (Firebird Interior) 1988 Coupe (Daily Driver), 1985 SE (Project Car) Recent Addition 1985 Coupe (parts car) Firebird Interior Installation Website
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08:39 PM
Dec 10th, 2003
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
I got my tops complete from a 86 se doner in a local wrecking yard for $100.00 . The Biggest problem I had was tring to find the 1/4" steel pop rivits....
