T TOPS

[zincyellow03]

Thinking about adding t-tops to my 03 stang. How much would it cost to have some one to do them for you? I saw an online kit for $1224.00 and that's too much for me. My dad's friend installed t tops in one of his kids cars (not a stang but some crappy car like a corolla or something) for $600. Would you believe it or was he just talking ?

 

[doc4444]

zincyellow03:

You must be VERY carefull with stuff like that. Changing the structure of any roof, whether it be t-top, moonroof, sunroof, etc.... is dangerous should you have a crash with a rollover. You may say, then why do they make covertibles? My answer is 1) they sell, and 2) THEY ARE STRUCTURALLY REINFORCED at the factory for this. Still, they are not as structurally sound as a coupe that's why they sell roll bars for verts, to help out should a rollover occur. Please think again about this. Yes it would be a cool upgrade, but it would also be a dangerous one.

 

[zincyellow03]

Didn't really think about that too much...I'd rather be alive than dead. Thanks!

 

[Mean03V6]

zincyellow03:

You must be VERY carefull with stuff like that. Changing the structure of any roof, whether it be t-top, moonroof, sunroof, etc.... is dangerous should you have a crash with a rollover. You may say, then why do they make covertibles? My answer is 1) they sell, and 2) THEY ARE STRUCTURALLY REINFORCED at the factory for this. Still, they are not as structurally sound as a coupe that's why they sell roll bars for verts, to help out should a rollover occur. Please think again about this. Yes it would be a cool upgrade, but it would also be a dangerous one.

I agree with everything doc said. I just wanted to add that another major problem you run into when you alter the roof of a vehicle are leaks. Basically, you are going to be sawing off a large (especially for T-Tops) section of your roof. Not only, as doc said, could you be compromising the structual integrity of the roof, but you're likely to have leaks bustin out all over the place when it rains. Just something to think about....I don't have any personal experience with aftermarket sunroofs etc. but I know alot of people who do have experience with them and who have come into these kinds of problems...not to mention the problem of someone stealing your t-tops after you get them. Unfortunately, that is also a very common problem and it's not cheap to replace them.....and it's not like you can just replace them whenever you get the money, unless you're happy with a ruined interior once it rains. This is all just IMO. I have never seen a Stang with T-Tops before, and I tend to think there's a reason for that. Although, I also don't like the sunroofs I see on Stangs either. Just doesn't fit the car IMO.

 

[marvinmycat]

Get some decent full-length weld in subframes if you do this though. When ever you mess with the uni-body structure of a car, there are all kinds of stability and structural problems that come with it, like sagging and doors not aligning correctly.

If you chop the top off your coupe, I wouldn't go with any kit less than $600 just for the materials, not including all the welding that will come with it.

 

['66 coupe]

Would you believe it or was he just talking ?

I say BS.
Car's like Corollas would also require modification to the tops of the door. It's not just a matter of cutting out part of the roof.

Like everyone else said. You're going to lose a lot of structural integrity. On top of what everyone else said, I would add a 6-point roll cage to the list, just to regain the integrity you'll be losing.

It'd prolly just be a lot cheaper to trade for a convertible.

 

[Mustang5L5]

2) THEY ARE STRUCTURALLY REINFORCED at the factory for this.

At least the new ones are.

Fox Body convertibles are nothing more than coupes with the roofs cut off and the tops tacked on. Each car actually began life as a coupe body style. Only structural reinforcement done is different engine mounts.

T-tops on an '03 would be very difficult to do. I wouldn't even do a sunroof to a SN95 car.

But T-tops are fun in a car. My '85 GT has factory T-tops and when i have them off i get so much attention. I always hear "I didn't know Mustang's came with T-tops! Those are so cool!"

 

[marvinmycat]

I always hear "I didn't know Mustang's came with T-tops! Those are so cool!"

DUH!!!! For the onlookers.

 

[mustangmat99]

i see the point in the rolling over and it being weaker...but how many rollover do mustangs have? i havent heard of many, i may be wrong, but i think its a cool mod, i never seen one, i even though of doing something like that..if you do it right, there shouldnt be leaks, as well as dont roll over? i donno, i see both sides

 

[97v6Silver]

i think t-tops arent a ford thing more like chevy... t-tops = teh loose

 

[super302]

i think t-tops arent a ford thing more like chevy... t-tops = teh loose

ummm.....mustang had them up until 1988.....

 

[super302]

...don't waste your money on aftermarket t-tops, they tend to leak no matter what

 

[ryanrule]

if u know a guy at a body shop who does good work and wont rip u off, then go for it. else yur gonna pay a ****load for this