Camaro conversion...t-top off and hard top on
 

Recently I watched a U-tube 4 part video called " Time lapse camaro t-top conversion ". This video shows what appears to be a very possible solution for t-top removal and hard top installation for people like myself who are not particularly fond of t-top cars but own one. ( late model camaro 1998 to be exact). I was unable to run down who or where the work was being done from the video. Are any of you guys familiar with anyone who can do this, has done it or would be interested in doing this within a few states of North Carolina ???

Re: Camaro conversion...t-top off and hard top on
 

Any decent body shop could cut the t-top roof off and replace it with a hardtop.. The hard part will be finding a donor top. While the top is off it would be a good time to get cage welded up also.

Re: Camaro conversion...t-top off and hard top on
 

It should be noted here, that there is a good reason the factory used lead on the roof seams.
The technique of using a mig welder and then plastic filler over it, might work fine for a street car, but not on a drag racing vehicle.

First hard launch and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about....

Re: Camaro conversion...t-top off and hard top on
 

be sure and watch the video if you can find it......it may change your mind about whether it can be done or not especially on a late model f-body.

Re: Camaro conversion...t-top off and hard top on
 

Not that difficult to do. We have done this a few times when building Stock or Super Stock cars.

First, you don't need to cut off the whole roof. Just replace the side pieces that are cut out for the T roofs.
You should be able to easily find the sections from a wreck. Trim them, drill out the spot welds and fit and weld them in place.

The inside trim and door/window rubbers are different too, so you'll need them. You'll also need the one piece fiberglass roof panel. A glass guy can remove the old one as well as one from a wreck if you find one.

.....and there are no leaded seams!!

Hope this helps.

FJ Smith

Re: Camaro conversion...t-top off and hard top on
 

.....and there are no leaded seams!!

Hope this helps.

FJ Smith[/QUOTE]

I figured that ,FJ. I was speaking in generalities . I'd seen a bad example recently.

Re: Camaro conversion...t-top off and hard top on
 

Didn't body-in-whites come with the roof panels, so they could go either way?

Re: Camaro conversion...t-top off and hard top on
 

FJ is right, not hard to do. On a previous car, we cut the other top off with piano wire and the fillers (drilled out spot welds) welded in with a little grinding and you are ready to urethane the new top on.

Re: Camaro conversion...t-top off and hard top on
 

Anyone east of the Mississippi with experience at this conversion want the job ???? Do you guys want to recommend anyone ????

Re: Camaro conversion...t-top off and hard top on
 

Rusty,

Give Steve McCreary a call and see if this is something he would tackle.