I just received a brand new set of seals for c c t tops if enough people are interested I would take them to a local seal company and see what it would cost to make them before I install them on my car
Appreciate the thought but we have seen this movie more than once.
A good hearted soul offers to see if they can gets seals made. Everyone say hell yes.
The kind hearted soul then calls a number of companies and finds that most are not interested and those tgat are will key do it gor so many hundred sets at a price that makes all the hell yes people vanish.
I am not trying to be negative but this is how it generally goes.
The real trouble is the low number of demand and the fact many Fiero owners are low buck folks un willing or unable to spend the money for this part. No reflection on anyone but just the way it is.
Low volume products are not cheap and even at $700 it would be a deal if you have water running in.
My hope is they may be able to print a part like this to remove the low volume issue so it could be done much cheaper.
Till then I expect these to be a very important part many want but will not pay the price for it.
If it works out to be a "reasonable" price, I have two t-top Meras and would be interested in some spare seals. Keep us updated as to how your manufacturer search is going.
I'm just trying to help people wasn't trying to get rich from this
It’s got nothing to do with you. You are the well meaning soul.
The problem is the mfgs don’t like low volume so they charge high prices for the low production numbers.
The second problem is many Fiero people will not pay a lot for parts. Some just can’t afford it and others don’t want yo put too much into their cars,
Every few years Soneone brings this up. They speak mfgs and if they find one they get a price that scares off most of those who say they would buy one.
It is just a pure economic issue that may never be solved till the car values are enough to bring the buyers willing yo pay the price or the mfgs find a way to make them cheaper.
I work in the performance industry and with the biggest mfgs of seals and in the past some might do this but it was never cheap and there was just too few buyers. The tooling costs just are too much.
I know you mean well but those of us who have been around this car gor 40 plus years have seen this more than once. It never has worked.
I'm going to call the company in the morning. If anyone knows of a manufacturer in the Cincinnati area, I'd be willing to check them out too. Just trying to help out before I install these things later this year.
Sharonville, Ohio Is where Soft Seal is but they were just sold sold. That would be a long shot that a new owner would take on such a project.
The. Best company to do this would the Fiero Store but even for them it would be a major investment just to make one run.
Our best bet is a well off Fiero fan invests for gaskets with their own money. But if you are that well off are you restoring a Fiero? Not saying we are brok but this is a very expensive project. Cars like Ferrari etc have people willing and able to pay what ever for some parts,
Sadly I just don’t see an easy cheap way to get this done unless it could printed then how good would the durability be.
Glass soon will be an issue. Most new glass is gone for t tops. Used panels are often scratched.
We did have on place make side Windows but there easier to sell since ever one had two of them.
Originally posted by hyperv6: Appreciate the thought but we have seen this movie more than once.
A good hearted soul offers to see if they can gets seals made. Everyone say hell yes.
The kind hearted soul then calls a number of companies and finds that most are not interested and those tgat are will key do it gor so many hundred sets at a price that makes all the hell yes people vanish.
I am not trying to be negative but this is how it generally goes.
The real trouble is the low number of demand and the fact many Fiero owners are low buck folks un willing or unable to spend the money for this part. No reflection on anyone but just the way it is.
Low volume products are not cheap and even at $700 it would be a deal if you have water running in.
My hope is they may be able to print a part like this to remove the low volume issue so it could be done much cheaper.
Till then I expect these to be a very important part many want but will not pay the price for it.
I prepaid, or was it an investment, (I forget), Lori from the Fiero Factory for her endeavor in making factory correct quarter glass windows for the fastback. It never came to fruition. I am not upset with her. I was also in for Pokey Fiero's factory correct quarter window. They also never came to fruition.
(I was able to locate a brand new old stock set of factory quarter panel windows, in the original GM box. About a decade ago. I paid 800+. I have not used them yet.)
My dumb ass did not get in early, nor at all in Keith Goodyear's fastback tail lights. I think, I do not remember, I could have had a set (before production) for $400.00. After fruition and a limited run they are no longer available. Selling for up to $1,800.00 a set on ebay. They are selling.
This could would be a grate investment for those that do not even have a T Top.
I prepaid, or was it an investment, (I forget), Lori from the Fiero Factory for her endeavor in making factory correct quarter glass windows for the fastback. It never came to fruition. I am not upset with her. I was also in for Pokey Fiero's factory correct quarter window. They also never came to fruition.
(I was able to locate a brand new old stock set of factory quarter panel windows, in the original GM box. About a decade ago. I paid 800+. I have not used them yet.)
My dumb ass did not get in early, nor at all in Keith Goodyear's fastback tail lights. I think, I do not remember, I could have had a set (before production) for $400.00. After fruition and a limited run they are no longer available. Selling for up to $1,800.00 a set on ebay. They are selling.
This could would be a grate investment for those that do not even have a T Top.
We are at that tipping point with a number of parts where they are not available reproduction or NOS. If you are lucky to find them it is best to buy them.
I have extra NOS t tops in case I drop one.
Have been saying it is best to buy a low mileage Fieros today as to restore one can cost more than to buy a clean low mileage one.
I have two other cars and I can nearly build one with reproduction parts but they built more of these cars and they are worth enough to make expensive parts people will buy.
One is a 911 1986 and I got a brand new fender from Porsche. But it was not cheap.
Sharonville, Ohio Is where Soft Seal is but they were just sold sold. That would be a long shot that a new owner would take on such a project.
The. Best company to do this would the Fiero Store but even for them it would be a major investment just to make one run.
Our best bet is a well off Fiero fan invests for gaskets with their own money. But if you are that well off are you restoring a Fiero? Not saying we are brok but this is a very expensive project. Cars like Ferrari etc have people willing and able to pay what ever for some parts,
Sadly I just don’t see an easy cheap way to get this done unless it could printed then how good would the durability be.
Glass soon will be an issue. Most new glass is gone for t tops. Used panels are often scratched.
We did have on place make side Windows but there easier to sell since ever one had two of them.
Sorry to get everybody's hopes up.I called a couple different companies.And they're talking in the 5 digits to make these i also called the Fierro store and they said they would talk about it and see if it would be worth it for them to make them.I told him it would be a couple months before I installed them.He said he would get back to me and let me know something wasn't trying to get richer anything just trying to help the community out.Because I know these things are hard to come by if anybody has any ideals, let me know.
Sorry to get everybody's hopes up.I called a couple different companies.And they're talking in the 5 digits to make these ...
Thanks for trying. Those of us who have been here for a while kind of expected that outcome. But someday, someone (maybe even you?) might surprise us all. I think it's going to take a new process (printing was mentioned?) but it's going to be a challenge.
This is why I sold/traded my T-top car, 24 years ago. Parts - including seals - were still out there, but prices were getting stupid. Aside from that, I much prefer a sunroof, that I can reach up and "pop open", instead of having to stop and remove panels. Also makes it lots easier to "undo" if it starts raining. But everyone has their own preferences. Enjoy your ride!
------------------ Raydar 88 Formula IMSA Fastback. 4.9, NVG T550 Praise the Lowered!
I never was trying to diss you but I have seen a number of people go down this same road.
Our best bet is the Fiero store as they could move this but it would take them time to get back their investment. Are they willing to have that money sitting on the shelf that long?
Sadly our list of impossible parts to find is just getting longer.
What would be nice is if someone could get the right seal but one we could cut and glue into the right shape. Not perfect but better than nothing.
[This message has been edited by hyperv6 (edited 06-30-2025).]
Originally posted by Raydar: This is why I sold/traded my T-top car, 24 years ago.
It is also the reason my seller sold me his. About 22 years ago. It was in the PFF mall for more than a week, located in San Antonio, close to where I lived. I had been out of town the whole time. Not one interesting party reply, but mine.
An 88GT T Top, $4,500.00. 98,000 miles. I drove it like I stole it (T Tops).
He told me he never used the T Tops. As he was afraid of seal use fail failure. Mine still do not leak, but they will at sometime.
Originally posted by Raydar: Aside from that, I much prefer a sunroof, that I can reach up and "pop open", instead of having to stop and remove panels. Also makes it lots easier to "undo" if it starts raining.
Pop open, or remove. If removed and raining, you still have to stop to put it back on. Ask me how I know.
I'm open to any ideas if anybody has any. I'm just trying to help this community. I'm not trying to get rich off of this.
Thanks for trying and you are not the first to get similar responses. The Fiero store is the best bet but they are not large and 5 figures is a lot of money to sit on the shelf till you sell it.
This is not a matter of getting rich or not. The trouble is it can be done but it is not cheap and Fiero people don't like to pay much for parts generally,.
Maybe this will change as the cars gain value but till then it is the same stalemate.
#1 protect your seals with silicone on a regular basis.
#2 Do not do anything that will damage them like try to pry on them with something sharp etc.
#3 If buying a car with T tops make sure the seals are good. If not walk away.
#4 these are good quality seals and they will las decades. Mine are 39 years old and still seal like new. Selling a car because you are worried about the seals is point less unless you have a bad set. even then you can take a set from a Mustang Fox body and adapt them. It is not perfect but with today adhesives you can make them work. C& C did the Fox body tops.
The real risk is the glass on the tops and even side windows as they are hard to find in good condition, Most are damaged. The tops are important as you ,lose your Fiero death grip you lose your top. So store carefully and protect them.
