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T-Tops... True or False???????

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Old Jun 26, 2005 | 02:08 PM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by 007-8
What happens if you have a convertible? Does the car brake in half? I've seen those in the junk yards before, but not all of them convertibles or t-tops. Homer Simpson's school of engineering," That's a load bearing glass t-top."
Convertable doors have a pin on the door and a lock on the post to keep them from breaking in half.
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Old Jun 26, 2005 | 02:15 PM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by 007-8
What happens if you have a convertible? Does the car brake in half? I've seen those in the junk yards before, but not all of them convertibles or t-tops. Homer Simpson's school of engineering," That's a load bearing glass t-top."
Like this one ????




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Old Jun 26, 2005 | 02:25 PM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by 007-8
Homer Simpson's school of engineering," That's a load bearing glass t-top."

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Old Jun 28, 2005 | 02:17 AM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by rihwoods
Like this one ????





Sorry, I don't have a picture of the M1131 (think that was the number) t-top that I "popped" on my passenger side when jacking it up. I broke the drivers side with a rock that bounced off the road, hit the headlight door and then bounced into the leading edge of the t-top. THAT one made a heck of a noise when it went.

I have since replaced them with acrylic replacement tops from Thompson.
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Old Jun 28, 2005 | 03:17 AM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by BSeery
Sorry, I don't have a picture of the M1131 (think that was the number) t-top that I "popped" on my passenger side when jacking it up. Thompson.
Did you ever get your frame repaired after that.
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Old Jun 28, 2005 | 08:22 AM
  #26  
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If your frame is good it doesn't matter one way or the other...
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Old Jun 28, 2005 | 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Bangkok Dean
Did you ever get your frame repaired after that.
My frame is fine. Rust free and straight. Some of the welds look like crap, but that's factory original.

However, when I jack it up the car warps so much that I can't get the doors to open or close at all.

I may have had the old glass top on there too tight or it just could be a fluke. But it sure as hell popped and sure as hell pissed me off.
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Old Jun 28, 2005 | 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted by BSeery
Sorry, I don't have a picture of the M1131 (think that was the number) t-top that I "popped" on my passenger side when jacking it up. I broke the drivers side with a rock that bounced off the road, hit the headlight door and then bounced into the leading edge of the t-top. THAT one made a heck of a noise when it went.

I have since replaced them with acrylic replacement tops from Thompson.
I broke mine parking in my garage...forgot it was leaning against the wall...Dot 15 M1131......ouch !!!
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Old Jun 29, 2005 | 11:33 AM
  #29  
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Driving T-tops can cause stress cracks? That's ridiculous, it's in the same catagory that an engine has to have piston return springs.
Everybody knows that it's the storage compartment lids that are all important, they're what ensures the structural integrity. That's why the later C3's are stronger, there's only 2 doors, meaning more strength. I religiously check my compartment doors before setting off.
Now, where did I leave that skirting board ladder? I'm sure that it was with the Left-handed Screwdriver & the Sky Hook. Obviously not, perhaps I should check that it's not next to the Long Weight, or on the shelf with the tins of tartan paint like last time it went missing?
Somebody has big windows (they saw you coming ).
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Old Jun 29, 2005 | 11:47 AM
  #30  
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http://masra.org/video/mike-vs.-mole.wmv
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Old Jun 29, 2005 | 12:43 PM
  #31  
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Also make sure when you lift the car to "adjust your muffler bearings" and "rotate the air in the tires".
I have to go "set my galloping rods" now.
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Old Jun 29, 2005 | 01:01 PM
  #32  
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...they are called T-Tops??? A girl at AppleBees on my way home from Bloomington said I have a nice '75 SPLIT-TOP Corvette...
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Old Jun 29, 2005 | 01:58 PM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by Paul Borowski
...they are called T-Tops??? A girl at AppleBees on my way home from Bloomington said I have a nice '75 SPLIT-TOP Corvette...
Yours must be an early prototype - S-tops .... later superceded by T-tops.
I'm waiting for the future release U-tops.


Also, I fully support the idea that a solid frame with good body mounts
should not flex enough to break a properly installed Ttop under normal
conditions - including jacking.
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Old Jun 29, 2005 | 02:05 PM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by rihwoods
Entertaining video.
That's a C4 bolt-on top. Apparently not bolted well enough for a 10.26 run.
An improperly installed C3 Ttop can pop off, too.
Ask Olivier about his hardtop popping off while drag racing .. perhaps
not secured well enough for those speeds.
A rotted exhaust system can fall off.

None of this proves that a lack of tops will crack the body (obviously)
or that jacking/driving the vette will flex the body enough to
break or pop off a top.

True story: friend lets friend take 78pace car for a ride with girlfriend.
They get going on a long straightaway. Girlfriend says "what's this do?",
grabs the top release bar and pulls. Top gone - never found.
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Old Jun 29, 2005 | 02:40 PM
  #35  
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I ALWAYS remove my t-tops, open both doors and hood before driving the car so that stresses from driving and road loads don't cause any damage
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Old Jun 29, 2005 | 02:55 PM
  #36  
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"None of this proves that a lack of tops will crack the body (obviously)
or that jacking/driving the vette will flex the body enough to
break or pop off a top."
Agree.Have owned mine 25 years...always jacked it up with tops on...and have driven the turkey all over the country with never an issue...tops off or on...raced autocross both ways...tops on and off...fun to post some jokes here,though..
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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 07:58 AM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by Chopper Larry
I have to go "set my galloping rods" now.
OMG NO! DON'T FFS TOUCH THE GALLOPING RODS!!! Not without a scanning electron microscope to phase align them Get that wrong & you've got a whole bundle of trouble looking you in the eyes. If you adjusted them then it's gonna cost you - get them wrong pal, which you will, & you're just gonna unseat the Trembler Quill in its seat.... and when that happens you're in for it. Once that seat is uncovered then there's no chance that the NorBal Grunge Pump will cope, the back pressure will build, the Twizzle Valve will fail & before you know it, & it's gonna cost ya, the Overhead Reciprocating Flange is gonna seize solid. Once the Reciprocating Flange has seized then, well, you're screwed, no question 'bout it. And there's nothing worse than a seized Reciprocating Flange on a dark night

OK, so if I drive my C3 on my own with the tops ON, will I crack them? Do I need to counterbalance my weight by installing a passenger to even out the body twist?
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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 08:01 AM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by UKPaul
OMG NO! DON'T FFS TOUCH THE GALLOPING RODS!!! Not without a scanning electron microscope to phase align them Get that wrong & you've got a whole bundle of trouble looking you in the eyes. If you adjusted them then it's gonna cost you - get them wrong pal, which you will, & you're just gonna unseat the Trembler Quill in its seat.... and when that happens you're in for it. Once that seat is uncovered then there's no chance that the NorBal Grunge Pump will cope, the back pressure will build, the Twizzle Valve will fail & before you know it, & it's gonna cost ya, the Overhead Reciprocating Flange is gonna seize solid. Once the Reciprocating Flange has seized then, well, you're screwed, no question 'bout it. And there's nothing worse than a seized Reciprocating Flange on a dark night :

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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 12:15 PM
  #39  
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I've used a floor jack on both my '82 and '84. I put the jack about half way between the tires and both tires will come off the ground at once. I've never had any problem with breaking anything.
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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 12:24 PM
  #40  
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Who wants a Vette with no cracks in the fiberglass? Isn't that illegal or something???
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