T-top Chrome
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 0
From: upstate N.Y.
T-top Chrome
Hello! Going to Carlilse this Sun. to get my seats done by al knoch.While there i am taking me chrome down to see if I can find a chromer. I would like to take t-top chrome off. Looks like taking the weather strip off gives access to the screws. Is that right? Any tips. Thanx .....Dale
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 103
From: Centerville Louisiana
Are you talking about the chrome trim on the tops if so only the sides are screwed the front parts hook on by small clips don't mess them up because I don't think anyone makes replacements they kinda look like stainless anyway also the weatherstrip has small plastic clips that break off easy then you have little rattles in your tops
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,429
Likes: 20
From: Kingston Ontario
It could be
The chrome piece, not stainless at the back of the t-top opening. I've looked for them for sale , I guess I'll have to have them rechromed. Is that what your talking about?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 971
Likes: 7
From: roanoke va
If your t tops rattle when you shake them they more than likely have rust inside them. The stainless trim is held on by screws under the weatherstrip and the ft. piece is pressed on. I removed mine and ran into trouble with severial screws. The screws were rusted and the retainers that hold the nuts into place were rusted very badly. I ended up removeing the skins and replaceing/making the rusted up unprimed sheet metal pieces that were in the tops. The first pic. at the top sloted holes is where the nuts go that holds the trim on. They are held in place by sheet metal strips.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 0
From: upstate N.Y.
Wow,great Input And Pics Guys. Little More Than I Want To Get Into Though. Maybe Just The Center Trim And The Header To Windshield Trim. Are These Chrome Or Stainless? The Corner Trims Are Chrome Plated .
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 0
From: upstate N.Y.
Just Did The Magnet Trick. If It Sticks ,it's Chrome .if It Doesn't It's Stainless.the Center Is Chrome. The U Piece On Windshield Top Is Stainless.side W/s Trim Is Chrome.t-top Suround Is Chrome.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,751
Likes: 2,499
From: Buckeye, AZ
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
A great way to really polish up the trim is to use Eastwood's s/s buffing compound. I had scratches on mine from an apparant theft attempt. I wet sanded out the scratches and then buffed with the compound. The spot were the scratches were was so much better I ended up buffing the whole trim piece. It shines almost like chrome now.
As for the magnet trick, it is a good one on any metal. In the case of s/s there is nickel in it.
As for the magnet trick, it is a good one on any metal. In the case of s/s there is nickel in it.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 0
From: upstate N.Y.
A great way to really polish up the trim is to use Eastwood's s/s buffing compound. I had scratches on mine from an apparant theft attempt. I wet sanded out the scratches and then buffed with the compound. The spot were the scratches were was so much better I ended up buffing the whole trim piece. It shines almost like chrome now.
As for the magnet trick, it is a good one on any metal. In the case of s/s there is nickel in it.
As for the magnet trick, it is a good one on any metal. In the case of s/s there is nickel in it.
NCM Grand Opening Veteran
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,979
Likes: 384
From: South of giving a damn
St. Jude Donor '11, '17
If you are talking about the large T piece that fits the top of the t-bar, then that is stainless & polishes nicely. The front is held in with screws & the rear is pop riveted in (at least on 79's) The WS molding that the T-top fits into is a cast pot metal (cheap).
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 0
From: upstate N.Y.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,165
Likes: 950
From: Keizer Oregon
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,873
Likes: 1
From: Savannah Ga
I have a pair of NOS corner pieces still in the boxes that I might be willing to sell.The part on the windshield that the t-tops go into.I've also got the stainless top piece that is in great shape.The part that goes on the center bar from the windshield to the halo.I've got it hung up as a display piece and yes a magnet sticks to it so maybe it aint stainless but I used a REAL STRONG magnet.It think it's strong enough to use on alum.
Last edited by copter; Apr 18, 2007 at 06:27 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 0
From: upstate N.Y.
I have a pair of NOS corner pieces still in the boxes that I might be willing to sell.The part on the windshield that the t-tops go into.I've also got the stainless top piece that is in great shape.The part that goes on the center bar from the windshield to the halo.I've got it hung up as a display piece and yes a magnet sticks to it so maybe it aint stainless but I used a REAL STRONG magnet.It think it's strong enough to use on alum.
NCM Grand Opening Veteran
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,979
Likes: 384
From: South of giving a damn
St. Jude Donor '11, '17
I used 000 steel wool on mine. Helped a lot, but gives it a softer look than the highly polished originals.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 582
Likes: 3
From: Glen Allen (Richmond) Virginia
I found a guy to polish mine took him seven hours cost me about 90 bucks it looks like new. Takes a lot of time and several compounds.
