solid vs clear top
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,144
Likes: 7
From: california
St. Jude Donor '15
solid vs clear top
i have a painted top on my 2000 coupe. there is no headliner and the build sheet says the car came with the clear top, so i guess mine was painted at some point. the inside looks like plastic. my questions are, are the painted factory tops made the same way, out of plastic or are they fiberglass? how are the headliners in the factory painted tops attached? can i get a headliner and attach it to my painted clear top? i suppose i could buy the headliner material and make one. i have looked a little but haven't found a source for factory replacement headliners.
thanks
thanks
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 228
Likes: 2
i have a painted top on my 2000 coupe. there is no headliner and the build sheet says the car came with the clear top, so i guess mine was painted at some point. the inside looks like plastic. my questions are, are the painted factory tops made the same way, out of plastic or are they fiberglass? how are the headliners in the factory painted tops attached? can i get a headliner and attach it to my painted clear top? i suppose i could buy the headliner material and make one. i have looked a little but haven't found a source for factory replacement headliners.
thanks
thanks
the stock top is heavier if I remember right and fiberglass
(NOT SURE)
I have the dual roof on mine and the painted has a nice headliner and the other is just clear
Instructor
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From: Champaign Illinois
Pro
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Tsawwassen BC
The dual removable tops were an $1100 option....and the solid top has a nice felt like liner on it...I have both....I am not sure which top came as stock without the option though......I use the clear in cool weather to allow the sun in and during those sunny warm months I use the solid color top 
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Safety Car
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From: Ravensdale WA
I just got a solid top at the Puyallup swap meet. West Coast Corvettes has a nice head liner that snaps in the lexan top. I have one but at 6' 5" it hangs a little low. The solid top headliner is much better. I think since the OPs top has been painted the WCC top could be glued in and would fit nice. It looks nice like the stock headliner. 
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As mentioned above, the factory fiberglass top has a very nice headliner in it. Check out the pop-in headliner offered by Mid-America (part number 606-362 $67.99). I've not seen one and cannot vouch for the quality, but it could be a option for your glass top.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,144
Likes: 7
From: california
St. Jude Donor '15
I just got a solid top at the Puyallup swap meet. West Coast Corvettes has a nice head liner that snaps in the lexan top. I have one but at 6' 5" it hangs a little low. The solid top headliner is much better. I think since the OPs top has been painted the WCC top could be glued in and would fit nice. It looks nice like the stock headliner.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,144
Likes: 7
From: california
St. Jude Donor '15
If you have a solid top (i.e., painted fiberglass one), it is most definitely not lighter than the lexan one.
As mentioned above, the factory fiberglass top has a very nice headliner in it. Check out the pop-in headliner offered by Mid-America (part number 606-362 $67.99). I've not seen one and cannot vouch for the quality, but it could be a option for your glass top.
As mentioned above, the factory fiberglass top has a very nice headliner in it. Check out the pop-in headliner offered by Mid-America (part number 606-362 $67.99). I've not seen one and cannot vouch for the quality, but it could be a option for your glass top.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
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I have both and only use my solid top. Trying to get rid of the glass top because I dont like the look of it on the car. Either the solid top, or no top will be on it. I dont need both. The car seems a little quieter with the solid.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 934
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From: west bloomfield michigan
top
The painted tops are fiberglass, I have both, came that way if there is no headliner it is lexan, and someone painted it. they do make a head liner for the glass that you can put on for the summer.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
Never heard that the painted top made the car quieter....could this just be your imagination? I can't come up with any engineering explanation for this...both tops have to fit perfectly from the factory...maybe your glass top was out of whack and let in some noise/wind....
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Champaign Illinois
Never heard that the painted top made the car quieter....could this just be your imagination? I can't come up with any engineering explanation for this...both tops have to fit perfectly from the factory...maybe your glass top was out of whack and let in some noise/wind....
Racer
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 465
Likes: 4
From: GA
i have both as well but my clear top rattles...i guess the connection is loose...i switch out often where during the winter months...and like others, my clear one is scratched up badly...i may do the refinishing job on it but i prefer the solid top or no top more anyway!