What is the difference in the factory T-Top seals, and aftermarket conversion T-Top seals?

Can the Mustang or Camaro seals be used on both types of these tops?

Is there one of either of the Mustang or Camaro seals that work best for the Fiero, or the conversion T-Tops?

Thanks for the help.

All t-top kits are aftermarket. Only one company made all the t-top kits for the Fiero.

The difference in the factory ordered t-top option and the ones sold/installed before Pontiac offered it as an option in 1988 is the seals. The RPO CJB (t-top option on new ordered car) seal was redesigned to have the headliner lock integrated into the seal and where the top seal and the door seal meet was made a bit different, and the CJB top seal has a deflector for the door glass.

You can use CJB seals to replace non-CJB seal, or you can use non-CJB seal to replace CJB seals. You just have to use the matching seals for both the glass tops and the door glass seals. You can't mix and match them.

Here is an excellent post by a PFF member on T-Top seals:

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/104028.html

Yes, I have seen Jim's posting of his Camaro T-Top seal install. It was a great post. I was sorry to hear of his passing.

I have a '88 GT T-Top that I bought last summer. Besides a new clutch, which I am currently working on, it will need new T-Top seals asap.

How can you tell if the T-Top was a factory install, or installed after the car was purchased new?

I think it may have been installed after the car was purchased, as there is a sticker in the door jam, stating for T-Top and Sunroof repair, call Conversion Specialties, with an old (804) Virginia Beach, VA phone number.

Thanks for the help.

quote Originally posted by hdryder: Yes, I have seen Jim's posting of his Camaro T-Top seal install. It was a great post. I was sorry to hear of his passing. I have a '88 GT T-Top that I bought last summer. Besides a new clutch, which I am currently working on, it will need new T-Top seals asap. How can you tell if the T-Top was a factory install, or installed after the car was purchased new? I think it may have been installed after the car was purchased, as there is a sticker in the door jam, stating for T-Top and Sunroof repair, call Conversion Specialties, with an old (804) Virginia Beach, VA phone number. Thanks for the help.

Sounds like someone else did the install. Look under the front hood, you will see a sticker with 3 digit codes. Look for CJB. That is the code for "factory installed" t-tops. Otherwise, any dealer or person could have t-tops installed. Cars & Concepts of Brighton, MI was the company who made the tops. I owned an '88 Formula where the car was shipped to C&C to have the tops installed, by the dealer. Of course, that was just down the road from the dealer, at the time.

Does anyone have a preference for using the Camaro seals vs. the Mustang seals?

It seems the Mustang seals are the ones mention the most, for Fiero T-Top seal topic.

quote Originally posted by hdryder: Does anyone have a preference for using the Camaro seals vs. the Mustang seals? It seems the Mustang seals are the ones mention the most, for Fiero T-Top seal topic.

Do you mean the P-seal, which is just a felt covered seal along the sides of the glass/frame?

Otherwise, you will have to make either one of these fit, as they are not the same as the Fiero. The camaro is longer, I believe and the weatherstripping angle on the mustang may be different, where it meets the pillars.

quote Originally posted by jaskispyder: Do you mean the P-seal, which is just a felt covered seal along the sides of the glass/frame? Otherwise, you will have to make either one of these fit, as they are not the same as the Fiero. The camaro is longer, I believe and the weatherstripping angle on the mustang may be different, where it meets the pillars.

I will need to do every seal/weatherstrip I am sure.
If the main issue with the Camaro is that it is longer, vs. a different angle on the Mustang, it would seem the Camaro weatherstrip would probably be the best or most easy to modify for use on the Fiero.
Would that be correct?

quote Originally posted by hdryder: I will need to do every seal/weatherstrip I am sure. If the main issue with the Camaro is that it is longer, vs. a different angle on the Mustang, it would seem the Camaro weatherstrip would probably be the best or most easy to modify for use on the Fiero. Would that be correct?

That is only a guess, you would need to verify. I believe someone modified Camaro weatherstripping to fit the Fiero, see https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/104028.html . Is there a reason you don't want to use Fiero weatherstripping?

The P-seal from a mustang will work with minor adjustments, I understand.

quote Originally posted by jaskispyder: Is there a reason you don't want to use Fiero weatherstripping?

My understanding is, that the Fiero T-Top weatherstripping is not longer available, or at least very hard to find or get.

quote Originally posted by hdryder: My understanding is, that the Fiero T-Top weatherstripping is not longer available, or at least very hard to find or get.

New? Yes, very rare. Used exists. Did you put an ad in the Mall?

You won't find a plug/play set from a different car, sorry.

[This message has been edited by jaskispyder (edited 01-22-2013).]

Depending on how bad the weather seals are, you can always try silicone. There was a tread on another forum where a guy placed a piece of Saran wrap on one side of the seal(as a release agent), used rtv on the other and let them cure. Once dry, he pulled off the Saran wrap and has a good seal. I did this before the weather got too cold but the car is away for the winter. I will leak test mine in Spring. If you were going to replace the seals anyway, this may be worth a try.

The previous owner used rtv on the outside to seal up the leaking tops, and I have not removed that yet to take a look at the seal and weatherstripping condition yet.
I can see from the inside that some of the weatherstripping or seal, is bowed out for some reason near the center of the roof.