Well, after lurking in T-top threads for over a year I've decided to install T-tops in Proud-2.
You recall earlier seeing the Firebird interior install that took place over 6 months, (and still isn't done ) But the T-tops will be completed in one long weekend.
I thought about having Lloyde at FastFieros or Ed Parks at the Fiero factory install them, but being an up and coming Fiero enthusiast I decided to do it myself. I've never done anything like this before, but there is a first time for everything.
The donor, an entire roof section from an 1987 Med red metallic SE, (non CJB of course). I don't know anything else about the donor because I bought it from JubJub2m6
I had it shipped from Idaho to Houston
Glass and the hard to find seals I got from Pondski, (a great guy to deal with)
Install Manual I got from T-Top Fiero and I am ready to go...
------------------ If you find my advice useful, then please give me a positive rating, thanks...
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10:31 PM
PFF
System Bot
GTFiero1 Member
Posts: 6508 From: Camden County NJ Registered: Sep 2001
But the T-tops will be completed in one long weekend.
sure they will.....
------------------ --Adam-- 1987 Blue GT 5-speed IM AOL: FieroGT5speed 16 years old and already selling my stuff to pay for repairs to my Fiero...which i sold my stuff to buy in the first place
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10:37 PM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
Step one, remove frame from donor car. There are about 50 1/4 " rivets that have to be drilled out. That sounds harder than it really is. You just need a good drill. None of that cordless stuff.
(added note: yeah the frame was bent...the donor car was hit on the driver's side, it's real flexible once removed and it was bent back into the proper shape)
My brother was in town for the weekend, he did all the measuring... A little reality check with the frame.
My job was the cutting:
[This message has been edited by jscott1 (edited 05-25-2003).]
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10:48 PM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
86.5 GT, 18" wheels, GA CD brakes, ST brace, Leather, getting 3800 SC 88 Formula 5 speed T-Top stock, 88 GT,Leather, T-Top,S1-3800,
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11:04 PM
White88cpe No longer registered
Report this Post05-25-2003 11:07 PM
White88cpe
posts Member since
Looks good.
------------------ Ray - 1988 Aero Coupe 'Mio Dolore' - FieroNews.com "If life had been meant to be dull, it would have come with a manual" - Anonymous Author
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11:07 PM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
i saw the thread and i sat there thinking damn i thought that was the guy that i sold the t-tops to...u lucky snot!!! i really wish i could of put them on my fiero... glad you found all the parts and everything
looks totally cool man!! good job *sure got alot more guts then me cutting in to my car*
oh ya if anyone is interested, i wanted to purchase the entire car that the t tops came off of but looks like it was smashed really hard from the passenger side if i remember right like atleast 40mph or so and it was bashed in pretty good.....plus it was only a 4cylinder which it came from so why bother? lol..j/k....
specs on the donor car was t-tops, 4cyl, power nothing, 4spd manual
Personally, I'd never trust anybody to cut my car, and second, I'd never have the brass b*lls to di it myself. Talk about one hell of a weekend, Looks great!
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12:56 AM
PFF
System Bot
GTFiero1 Member
Posts: 6508 From: Camden County NJ Registered: Sep 2001
Personally, I'd never trust anybody to cut my car, and second, I'd never have the brass b*lls to di it myself. Talk about one hell of a weekend, Looks great!
Yeah, having done a couple sets on customer's cars...I can say the only thing scarier than taking a sawzall to your roof is taking a sawzall to SOMEONE ELSE'S roof...
Looks great...congrats on the job, and welcome to the "I've installed T-tops" club!
Jeremy B. (thinking ya decided to do it yourself after meeting me in Daytona and finding out I was the dude that was going to be slicing on your car if you brought it to the Fiero Factory...lol...)
My 7 Fieros: as far a PITA you are drilling overhead for the most part so I had hot metal bits falling in my face. ouch. Notice that I had my interior completely covered to protect it, (it would be safer to remove it, but I didn't want to remove it after I spent 6 months putting it in )
Fierotech: I would have loved for you to slice into my car, but my Brother works a lot cheaper than you do
As far as tools, I should mention that I needed a couple of tools that I didn't have such as a 1/4" riveter, and they are not a common tool that you will find at Sears or Home Depot. I had to order it from Harbor Freight.
And I needed an angle grinder. I purposely cut on the inside of the line, so I had to manually grind away a little metal.
The other thing is that although the C&C installation manual is great, some of the drawings are confusing. I would have found it a lot more difficult if I didn't have the donor roof there to compare and take measurements from.
I'll take more pics in the morning...I hope you like what I'm doing?
Jonathan (Jscott1)
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02:27 AM
Kelvin Vivian Member
Posts: 1233 From: San Jose, CA, USA Registered: Jan 2001
All I can say is the you got more guts than I do!!!!
Great job!
Now, have you done the leak test yet??
Thanks for all the good words...
The glue for the weatherseals is still curing, and I have a few loose ends to fill in before I try the leak test. I know that factory T-tops of the Fiero era tend to leak anyway, so I won'd be too upset if I get a drip or two.
I am getting closer to that dream Fiero I always wanted...Red, 88 GT, 5 sp, T-tops, what's next?
RossT, it would have been easier just to buy your car, but not nearly as much fun.
Man do I hate people with Talent, Knowhow and Ambition. Actually, I changed my own wiper blades once.....Without any help!! Seriously...A FANTASTIC job, and a POSITIVE rating to boot. One question...On a car with a sunroof, do you feel it would make the job any easier? Thanks And again...Fantastic Job
Outstanding work! I wonder how many folks are gonna booger their roofs after watching that install. Man, you made it look easy. Anybody who has the 'nads to take a sawsall to their sweet ride gets a "+".
What are you asking for the "kit", and what all is included?
It was removed from our wrecked 88 GT. I have all the piece including grey interior trim and a newly professionally done headliner. $900 but rather not have to ship it. It was removed by cutting the A&B pillars so you have the entire roof secion like jscotts1 so you can check and get all the measurements needed.
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10:02 AM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
Thanks again for all the good words, but my brother deserves a big round of applause. He had barely ever seen a Fiero before but he came in and made all the measurements. I had so much confidence in him I didn't bother to double check them, I just cut on the dotted line. It appears my confidence was well placed.
JKFIERO - As for a sunroof car, it would be a little bit more difficult, because you would have to remove all the sunroof hardware before starting. Once you make the first cut, the roof skin comes off and it doesn't matter whether you had a sunroof car or not, all Fieros have the same spaceframe.
If anyone is interesting in buying Skitime's kit, I would be glad to help in providing tips and instructions.
A kit would be a lot easier than getting the parts from 3 different cars. At one point the trim holes weren't lining up and I realized that the trim was from a different car was the reason.
Was it worth it?
YES!!
[This message has been edited by jscott1 (edited 05-26-2003).]
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10:09 AM
Smoooooth GT Member
Posts: 8823 From: Lake Palestine, Texas Registered: Jun 2001
Look's awesomw like the rest of the 'proud family'... I am full of envy right now.... I am going outside to work on mine..
Skitime... $900.00?? WoW! I know that's about right, it just caught my little brown eye this morning..lol Someone buy it from Ski, so I can stop thinking about it for me...!!!!
) But the T-tops will be completed in one long weekend.
I had it shipped from Idaho to Houston
ouch. Notice that I had my interior completely covered to protect it, (it would be safer to remove it, but I didn't want to remove it after I spent 6 months putting it in 
