72 Mph...

[turbojimmy]

...is the MPH where a heavy glass T-top starts to lift if you've forgotten to latch it.

Once it lifts you have to be real quick in order to keep it from launching.

I'm not real quick.

Luckily traffic was light. First my nice grey T-top shade separated from the t-top. It flipped around in the air a bit and rather gently glided down to the road surface.

The t-top, however, went REALLY high. Miraculously it missed the 2 minivans I had just passed. The lady in the second minivan did a panic evasive maneuver but it it had already landed and was way left of her. It hit the road in a spectacular explosion of glass and dust.

I slowed down enough to make sure everyone missed it but didn't bother stopping. There was nothing to salvage.

Anyone got an extra LH t-top?

Jim

 

[Slow91z]

That happened to me in my Camaro...Only it hit the windshield of the car going the other way....THAT was a sight.

By the way it doesn't matter how fast you are, I grabbed mine and the wind RIPPED it out of my hands...There was no holding on.

Mine went about as high as a telephone pole.

 

[1badTTA]

I keep mine latched and locked.

Anyone seen the video of a Camaro losing one on the drag strip??

 

[turbojimmy]

Originally posted by 1badTTA
I keep mine latched and locked.

I blame Autometer, actually.

My FP gauge was messed up so I replaced it today. It required taking the trim that runs above the windsheild off (to get the a-pillar off). The front pin on the t-top goes through that trim. I put all the screws back in but forgot to latch the top.

Man this sucks. It was the wrong top anyway (the correct top was broken when it was stolen), but it did keep me dry.

Jim

 

[gn85]

One of the other GNs that was in the Ride for Pride Cruise around the beltway lost a passenger side top. I think he was doing around 60 or so. I was several cars behind and saw it launch.

 

[turbojimmy]

Originally posted by gn85
One of the other GNs that was in the Ride for Pride Cruise around the beltway lost a passenger side top. I think he was doing around 60 or so. I was several cars behind and saw it launch.

It was pretty cool to watch. If it wasn't mine it would have been cooler, but still an interesting sight.

Jim

 

[TR Custom Parts]

Brian Weaver can probably set you up with another one.

Oh the joys having a hardtop GN.

 

[nero]

Originally posted by BuickGn Boosted
Brian Weaver can probably set you up with another one.

Oh the joys having a hardtop GN.

See my info. All the best!

 

[turbojimmy]

Originally posted by BuickGn Boosted
Brian Weaver can probably set you up with another one.

Oh the joys having a hardtop GN.

When I got home I went directly to the computer. First was an e-mail to Brian, second was this whiney post.

Jim

 

[mygrain]

Ive got a T top for you if you want to drive to PA and grab it.

 

[turbojimmy]

I did it again. I can't f'ing believe it. The same goddam thing. My fuel pressure gauge was messed up again (just like 2 years ago when I started this thread). I finally broke down and bought an electronic gauge.

This time when I pulled the lever on the t-top I said to myself "I should take this off so I'll remember to latch it when I put it back on". My garage is such a mess I had nowhere to put it. I figured I couldn't possibly make the same mistake twice. Hah!

I installed said gauge. Works nice. Put the trim back up and latched the top. When I tried to put a couple of the trims screws back in they wouldn't start. I unlatched the top to get them to line up.

I then went out for a little test drive to watch the gauge (I'm having a fuel delivery problem). Right about 60 MPH the LH top lifted and launched into the atmosphere. I was lucky again - no one behind me and it landed in the concrete median with a shower of glass. This time the t-top shade hung in there until impact. Nice.

So, I'm in the market for a new t-top.....again.

Jim

 

[TR Custom Parts]

Remind me never to follow you anywhere. :biggrin: Good thing there weren't any motorcycles following you. Think you need to get some warning decals made up to put on the t-tops.

 

[turbojimmy]

Remind me never to follow you anywhere. :biggrin: Good thing there weren't any motorcycles following you. Think you need to get some warning decals made up to put on the t-tops.

It's a good thing the car puts so much distance between me the traffic behind me so fast. I had just left a light. I was WAY ahead of anyone else. It did land in the median anyway. It might have had a shot at surviving if it were grass, but it was concrete. My dad did the same thing in his SS Camaro a couple of months ago, but those tops survive the impact because they're plastic. So I blame genetics.

I have no one to blame but myself for the t-top thing, but lately the car has been giving me fits. New rattles, new squeaks, fuel delivery problem, broken exhaust hangers, busted FP gauges, so on and so forth. I can't seem to catch up. For every problem I fix, two more new ones appear.

Jim

 

[Quiky One]

Thats funny. I've seen them fly off and its fun to watch if your not close to it and it's not yours. Maybe you should buy a hardtop car??

Jason

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

I think i have a drivers side t-top from a 85 wh1 turbo regal..

How can i varify left for right?

I just had a large box come to work, i ordered new glass for a 10K reach forklift, i could use that box and foam to ship the t-top.

Its yours plus shipping

Let me know wanner@kc.rr.com

BW

 

[Quiky One]

I think i have a drivers side t-top from a 85 wh1 turbo regal..

How can i varify left for right?

I just had a large box come to work, i ordered new glass for a 10K reach forklift, i could use that box and foam to ship the t-top.

Its yours plus shipping

Let me know wanner@kc.rr.com

BW

Look at the handle. When the TTOP is facing forward the handle "hinge" is at the back. Sorry I cant explain it better...

Jason

 

[turbojimmy]

Look at the handle. When the TTOP is facing forward the handle "hinge" is at the back. Sorry I cant explain it better...

Jason

Left side also says "DRIVER" on the handle, at least in '87.

Thanks!

Jim

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

I went and pulled it out...99.9% sure its a drivers side from the angle of the front.
BW

 

[turbojimmy]

I went and pulled it out...99.9% sure its a drivers side from the angle of the front.
BW

Yeah that's a LH top....I'm assuming an '85 is the same as an '87. Shoot me an e-mail and we can talk about shipping. anything @ turbojimmy.com works.

Thanks a million!

Jim

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

wanner@kc.rr.com

Its free and you just paypal me for the shipping.

I can take it to work and get it boxed up, I will see if i can get it mailed from work.
What would be easiest from me is if you could prepay UPS for the item after i give the demisions and weight, and email me the paper i could put on the package, would be mailed out tuesday.

That would be the fastest.

I dont have a account at work, but if you want to just paypal me, i can mail out on saturdays usps or ups, i work m-f 6-6 plus drive time

Its yours so dont worry about that, we just have to figure out shipping.

BW