Dave's T-Top install page!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have wanted t-tops in my Formula since before I bought it.  My original requirements for the car was t-tops, leather and the manual tranny.  Since in 1994 GM was playing games with their customers and limiting the production of this combo I settled for the minimum requirement of mine which was the manual trans.  Later I bought the leather seats out of a totaled '95 TA as mentioned elsewhere in this site and NOW I HAVE T-TOPS!!!

I bought all of the parts from www.speedautomotive.com. They are a GREAT salvage yard for fourth gen parts.  They cost me $500 total.  That didn't include the headliner since they cannot ship that.  I ordered the headliner from a local dealer for $90 delivered.  I didn't have a donor car to work with so I relied on some of the pix that are on this site: Curt's T-Top site Curt's site.  He is one of 3 guys I heard of recently doing this.  If it wasn't for them I may never have had t-tops in the car.  

Now some say "why didn't you just sell the car and buy one that had them".  First, my car is paid off and I don't need another car payment.  On top of that I could never sell my car and recoup what I have put into it.  Finally, I am in grad school now (no I am not too old :-) !!!) and couldn't pay for it and a new sports car even if I wanted to try.

I have been tossing around the idea of doing this install for local people who don't want to attempt it.  Contact me if you are interested.  I would have to figure out a price that is fair though.

Stock and prep pictures:
driver's front inside stock; - note the partially covered t-top mount bracket hole (the other is covered by the metal)
driver's outside removing weather-strip; - weather stripping just runs in these channels they slip into.
driver's rear inside stock; 
pass inside stock; 
pass rear stock; 
pass weather-stripping removed

Cutting and channel prep:
Driver's Front #1; - first cut of the roof - I used a dremel with the reinforced cutoff wheels for most of the tight space cutting and the roof.  To cut the main side supports out I used a sawzall.
Driver's Front #2; - Roof removed!  What a sight.........
Driver's Front #3; - another angle of the roof removed see the highlighted pre-existing weather stripping channels?
Driver's Front #4; - first cut of the side support.  Note the t-top bracket mounting holes 
Driver's Front #5; - Here is a close up of #4
Driver's Front #6; - driver's front fabrication #1
Driver's Front #7; - driver's front fabrication #2
Driver's Front #8;- driver's front fabrication #3
Driver's Front #9;- driver's front fabrication #3, no scribble on it
Driver's Front #10;- driver's front fabrication #4

Driver's Rear #1; - before the first cut
Driver's Rear #2; - First cut and close up.  Note bracket mount holes
Driver's Rear #3; - cutting and fabrication #1
Driver's Rear #4; - cutting and fabrication #2. Always use weather strip as a guide for areas that need work and channel length.
Driver's Rear #5; - cutting and fabrication #3.
Driver's Rear #6; - cutting and fabrication #4.
Driver's Rear #7; - cutting and fabrication #5.
Driver's Rear #8; - cutting and fabrication #6.

Passenger Side #1; - test of the t-top resting somewhat in place.  To make me feel better.
Passenger Side #2; - Before cutting away on pass side
Passenger Side Front #3; - close up of front.  Make sure to leave enough material to build the channel....notice the crowbar.  that fiberglass roof needed a little persuasion!
Passenger Side Rear #1; - 
Passenger Side Rear #2; -Different angle of pass side rear #1
Passenger Side Rear #3; -close up of pass side rear #1 
Passenger Side Rear #4; - channel lip building
Passenger Side Rear #5; -
Passenger Side Rear #6; - busy with recommendations

Passenger Side t-top test fit #1; - 
Passenger Side t-top test fit #2; - 
Passenger Side t-top test fit #3; - 
Passenger Side t-top test fit #4; - 

Finishing it up:

Drivers Side Front #1; - sanded down all the metal. 
Drivers Side Front #2; - Another sanded pix - followed by covering with fiberglass and then a thin layer of body filler for a smooth surface.
Drivers Side Front #3; - painted #1
Drivers Side Front #4; - painted #2 - installed t-top window trim as well.
Drivers Side Front #5; - painted #3

Driver's Side rear#1; - Fiberglass example - Slightly blurry.  Sorry
Driver's Side rear#2; - Fiberglass example

Misc: - painted roof

Passenger Side Front#1; - Thought I took pictures of the fiberglass but cannot find them.  Here are some starting with the filler layer.
Passenger Side Front#2; - 
Passenger Side Front#3; - 
Passenger Side Front#4; - 

Passenger Side Rear#1; - Again missing some pictures.  only primed and on.
Passenger Side Rear#2; - 
Passenger Side Rear#3; - 
Passenger Side Rear#4; - 

All Done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:

Done#1: - Driver's side outside
Done#2: - 
Done#3: - 
Done#4: - Passenger Side
Done#5: -
Done#6: -
Done#7: - Inside look around!!!
Done#8: -
Done#9: -