Skip to main content
Topic: T-Tops...? (Read 1288 times) previous topic - next topic

T-Tops...?

Found a guy that will sell me the roof off his T-Top Capri with the glass for $150.

Now the question am I going to be able to put it on my car?

I think it was baxo that was talking about makeing a removable hard top for his vert with one of these roofs.

There has been some talk about roof panels around here andmaking them look good after modding them such as filling the sunroof so that is my main concern. Can I get it to look stock.

If baxo could do me a favor also and measure the openings and shape of the roof that would really be a big help.
1986 Cougar LS

T-Tops...?

Reply #1
These cars have doors that would make T-tops difficult, if not impossible, to install. Mustangs & Capris do not have frames around the glass. These cars have full "aircraft-style" frames. Installing T-tops while still allowing the doors to open & close would be quite an engineering feat...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

T-Tops...?

Reply #2
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;230531
These cars have doors that would make T-tops difficult, if not impossible, to install. Mustangs & Capris do not have frames around the glass. These cars have full "aircraft-style" frames. Installing T-tops while still allowing the doors to open & close would be quite an engineering feat...


The non-convertibles and non-T-Top cars do.

That being said, they don't blend into the roof like the doors on the aero Tbirds/Cougars do.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon

T-Tops...?

Reply #3
Quote from: Chuck W;230533
The non-convertibles and non-T-Top cars do.

That being said, they don't blend into the roof like the doors on the aero Tbirds/Cougars do.


For the sake of what's being said, Carmen's post still stands. He's asking about using T-tops from a car with no framed glass in the doors on a car that is framed. Sometimes the brain works a bit of overtime, eh? ;) We wouldn't want to confuse the OP and have him think it'll work all the same.

T-Tops...?

Reply #4
I understand that It wont be the easiest thing to do and it will not be done for years to come (due to funds) but if you can remove the whole top to make a car a convertable there is a way to remove half if that of the roof.
1986 Cougar LS

T-Tops...?

Reply #5
I'm sure something of the sort is possible, but if you're looking to have true t-tops, as in nothing between the bottom of the door glass and the middle of the roof, you've got a hell of a lot of work ahead of you, not to mention you'll be hacking up a crucial part of the cars structure. That area of the roof where your door meets it is holding up your windshield and keeping the body rigid against twisting (twizzler) forces. You may end up with a unique looking car that drives like a wet noodle.

T-Tops...?

Reply #6
Quote from: oldraven;230552
I'm sure something of the sort is possible, but if you're looking to have true t-tops, as in nothing between the bottom of the door glass and the middle of the roof, you've got a hell of a lot of work ahead of you, not to mention you'll be hacking up a crucial part of the cars structure. That area of the roof where your door meets it is holding up your windshield and keeping the body rigid against twisting (twizzler) forces. You may end up with a unique looking car that drives like a wet noodle.

I can see it now, It don't sway much till I hit the corners,
 it fell off.
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

T-Tops...?

Reply #7
Quote from: oldraven;230552
I'm sure something of the sort is possible, but if you're looking to have true t-tops, as in nothing between the bottom of the door glass and the middle of the roof, you've got a hell of a lot of work ahead of you, not to mention you'll be hacking up a crucial part of the cars structure. That area of the roof where your door meets it is holding up your windshield and keeping the body rigid against twisting (twizzler) forces. You may end up with a unique looking car that drives like a wet noodle.


If all goes right It will end up on another car. One of those things that you only find a few times so i figured I would throw the idea around
1986 Cougar LS

T-Tops...?

Reply #8
honestly, relative to the amount of structural work in the job as a whole(replacing an entire roof basicly), i dont think the door issue would be all that complicated to sort out.

cut the tops off the doors, weld them to the roof.
adjust the window openings to accept framless glass weatherstripping.
then you can start fitting the T-top section to the car.
gumby - beauty may fade, but stupid is forever!

T-Tops...?

Reply #9
T-TOPS suck:yuck: :barf: :crazy: :nono: .

 had 3  of those leaking/ rattling/noisy cars.1 brand new and 2 low mileager.
all T-TOPS are good for !is to fill  the floor bourds with water!
 word to the wise .not worth the work. so stay away, say far, far ,far away from  installing T-TOPS on any good car you want  to drive on any day it not sunny out side.
remember it easier to fix them, than to find them after they been crushed.

V6 = juvenile delinquency!

T-Tops...?

Reply #10
Quote from: gumby;230565
honestly, relative to the amount of structural work in the job as a whole(replacing an entire roof basicly), i dont think the door issue would be all that complicated to sort out.

cut the tops off the doors, weld them to the roof.
adjust the window openings to accept framless glass weatherstripping.
then you can start fitting the T-top section to the car.


I've been working up some Ideas myself. except opening up the entire center without a T in the center. pretty much a removable section of roof like a ferrari. I have to draw up some plans and do some more measuring.
It will require more bracing and a full frame. I've got that in the planning also.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
Join us on Facebook

T-Tops...?

Reply #11
Quote
all T-TOPS are good for !is to fill the floor bourds with water!
word to the wise .not worth the work. so stay away, say far, far ,far away from installing T-TOPS on any good car you want to drive on any day it not sunny out side

Get this man a cold beer. :cheers:

Since virtually none of you have a Fox Cougar convertible (and I'm sure Bearmax and Baxo will concur with this), you don't know the pain of constantly leaking water inside the car. No matter what is done (new weatherstripping, new top, adjustments, etc.) it seems that there's virtually nothing that can be done to eliminate the water from getting inside.

We've still got the standard Cougar door windows. Once you cut the door tops, you will lose a lot of the strength in the door. Remember that these cars were one of the first all-CAD designed cars; the aircraft doors guaranteed built-in strength. With them cut they want to "uncurl" outward, which leads to more gaps, which leads to--you guessed it--more places for water to infiltrate.

So if you want to do this on purpose, more power to you. There are just so many things that can go wrong, and so many compromises to be made, that it's not something I'd call a wise decision.

Once again...many people have talked about it, nobody has done it...

T-Tops...?

Reply #12
ha i made well i attempted a t top 88 cougar and it didnt work wortha  ill find the pix .also eric is right you wont know water in floor till you have a vert...if i ran an exahst hose into my rear floors id have a foot jacuzi
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

 

T-Tops...?

Reply #13
Quote from: EricCoolCats;230654
Get this man a cold beer. :cheers:

Since virtually none of you have a Fox Cougar convertible (and I'm sure Bearmax and Baxo will concur with this), you don't know the pain of constantly leaking water inside the car. No matter what is done (new weatherstripping, new top, adjustments, etc.) it seems that there's virtually nothing that can be done to eliminate the water from getting inside.

We've still got the standard Cougar door windows. Once you cut the door tops, you will lose a lot of the strength in the door. Remember that these cars were one of the first all-CAD designed cars; the aircraft doors guaranteed built-in strength. With them cut they want to "uncurl" outward, which leads to more gaps, which leads to--you guessed it--more places for water to infiltrate.

So if you want to do this on purpose, more power to you. There are just so many things that can go wrong, and so many compromises to be made, that it's not something I'd call a wise decision.

Once again...many people have talked about it, nobody has done it...


 I have a test car. and a crazy idea that just may work
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
Join us on Facebook