Getting rid of T-tops, roof graft

[Ironlung]

T-tops suck! I've added all the braces, which help, but the body still twists around too much, rattle, leak, whistle, etc. I'd like to get rid of them all together. I've talked to a couple of body shops about cutting the whole roof off and spicing on one off of a hard top regal, since the car needs to be painted anyway. Pulling the whole roof off makes me nervous though, seems like the body would be hard to keep in line. Would it be possible to just section in the front part of the roof? Clip the front window post and weld across the roof back where the T-tops end. This would just require the removal of the winshield instead of all the glass, and the structure would not be entirely removed form the roof area. Any thoughs?

 

[John Larkin]

I wouldn't section the outer skin in any place except the factory seam above the quarter glass. It will be a shorter seam to make straight; sectioning it across the roof is asking for wavy results. The body shop will know what is entailed. The roof and pillars can be braced so not to sag during the swap. They will check the doors and door glass for fitment along the way. It's not a job for the timid or inexperienced for sure.

 

[Ironlung]

Thanks John, I though of the warpage possibilities but thought that the extra bracing in the roof where it stops for the t-tops would help greatly with this. I had the headliner out years ago, but don't remember what the brace structure looked like underneath.

 

[Red Regal T]

Originally posted by Ironlung
T-tops suck!

I'll second that! Go for it! I agree with John on the procedure. Good luck!

 

[TEST MY 6]

My cousin wasnt too thrilled about the ttops also so off went the roof, cut midway down the a-pillars and midway down the sail panels all done in one day and measuring HAD to be precise and was constantly checked using the glass off the car. No one would know by looking at the car

 

[JadeMonkeyStang]

I've seen a couple of threads on this and from what I've read the general consensus seems to be to sell your car and buy a non T-Top car. The expense in the end will be much less and you'll most likely end up with a better result. A couple of days ago someone else posed this question (not sure which section of the board) and got some good replies, you might want to try and find that.

-Jade

 

[zam70]

There's no reason NOT to do this. Any good body shop can do it no problem. Basically a cake walk for a good body man.
Expense: if he's already painting the car, the expense in minimal.

A nicely done job will be undetectable after paint and assembly.

 

[hanly2]

If you do decide to do this then you can make some of that money offset by selling the t-top pieces that you are getting rid of.

 

[Red Regal T]

Originally posted by zam70
There's no reason NOT to do this. Any good body shop can do it no problem. Basically a cake walk for a good body man.
Expense: if he's already painting the car, the expense in minimal.

A nicely done job will be undetectable after paint and assembly.

I agree 100%. Not that big a deal. You could have a perfect car with a rust problem in the roof because of the TTops. When my roof gets to a certain point, I'll do the roof transplant.

 

[zam70]

WHOA - we agree?