T top ?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: SAN ANTONIO TX
T top ?
Sorry if this has been covered before but didnt see anything in the search. I'm going to buy a 81 vette that has the wrong year model T Tops attached. I will trailer this car approx. 300 miles. What is the risk of these coming off? Is there a way to secure them? It's supposed to rain so I dont want to run w/o tops on.
Thx
Thx
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
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From: Peoria Arizona
Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 292
Likes: 58
From: Freeport, Illinois
If they're the older style tops, I think they will latch at the front, and the center prongs will engage the slots in the t-bar. Someone here will know if that's correct or not.
If it is, all you have to worry about is keeping the back of the tops secured. I understand not wanting to put duct tape on the painted surface, but you can put some plastic or cloth over the tops and run the duct tape over that. One long run of duct tape from one window to the other should do it. Just make sure the tape is stuck well to the glass on both sides.
Or, you could cover the painted the surfaces (doors, too) and then use a very long strap with an adjustable tensioner run all the way under the car and over the tops. This might cause some abrasion against the paint from wind buffeting, though.
Another solution might be to attach a wire to the rear corner of each top on the inside (the latch tab, or the lever itself, anywhere you can secure it well), and run the wire down to the attachment point for the top storage strap on the bulkhead between the seats. Again, this is assuming that the tops are latching at the front and on the t-bar.
If the tops do latch at the front and engage the t-bar, I don't think it will take much to keep them in place.
If it is, all you have to worry about is keeping the back of the tops secured. I understand not wanting to put duct tape on the painted surface, but you can put some plastic or cloth over the tops and run the duct tape over that. One long run of duct tape from one window to the other should do it. Just make sure the tape is stuck well to the glass on both sides.
Or, you could cover the painted the surfaces (doors, too) and then use a very long strap with an adjustable tensioner run all the way under the car and over the tops. This might cause some abrasion against the paint from wind buffeting, though.
Another solution might be to attach a wire to the rear corner of each top on the inside (the latch tab, or the lever itself, anywhere you can secure it well), and run the wire down to the attachment point for the top storage strap on the bulkhead between the seats. Again, this is assuming that the tops are latching at the front and on the t-bar.
If the tops do latch at the front and engage the t-bar, I don't think it will take much to keep them in place.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: SAN ANTONIO TX
OK,
Got the car home and it travelled well. My next ? is, since these are 2 handled tops and I assume the 81 is setup for a 1 handle top, Is there a conversion kit or way to make these work?
Got the car home and it travelled well. My next ? is, since these are 2 handled tops and I assume the 81 is setup for a 1 handle top, Is there a conversion kit or way to make these work?
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Melting Slicks
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From: McGrady NC
St. Jude Donor '15-'16
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
First question is do you want to keep the older tops or replace them with stock 78-82 tops? Your choice.
Second: if you want to keep the older tops, you will lose the factory theft alarm protection for the stock tops and will need to change the halo panel hardware to the older 68-77 style.
Melting Slicks
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From: Peoria Arizona
Team Owner
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From: Southbound
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