I pulled the T top frame off of a donor roof I cut off a junkyard car a few years back. I'll be able to use that roof as a template for cutting the roof on the Indy.
I pulled the T top frame off of a donor roof I cut off a junkyard car a few years back. I'll be able to use that roof as a template for cutting the roof on the Indy.
'79 Indy pace car T-top
'81 Cobra
'81 Cobra T-top
'82 Mustang GT T-top
'87 Corvette
'10 Mustang GT Convertible
'17 F250
'17 Landrover Discovery Sport
Laying out the rough measurements. I'll tape it off exact before I start cutting. Getting closer to the point of no return.
'79 Indy pace car T-top
'81 Cobra
'81 Cobra T-top
'82 Mustang GT T-top
'87 Corvette
'10 Mustang GT Convertible
'17 F250
'17 Landrover Discovery Sport
Well this looks good.
'79 Indy pace car T-top
'81 Cobra
'81 Cobra T-top
'82 Mustang GT T-top
'87 Corvette
'10 Mustang GT Convertible
'17 F250
'17 Landrover Discovery Sport
The old sunroof was bad. These were a horrible design.
'79 Indy pace car T-top
'81 Cobra
'81 Cobra T-top
'82 Mustang GT T-top
'87 Corvette
'10 Mustang GT Convertible
'17 F250
'17 Landrover Discovery Sport
Like other areas on the cars, proper and adequate water drainage goes a long way to things lasting longer than they do. You're a brave individual tackling a project like roof conversion. Good luck with it
Mike
1986 Mustang convertible ---> BUILD THREAD
Past Fox-chassis "four eyes":
1983 Mercury Cougar LS
1986 Ford Thunderbird ELAN
1980 Capri RS Turbo
Work in progress website ---> http://carb-rebuilds-plus.boards.net/
Don't ever do a T top conversion without having a donor roof. Seriously. You absolutely need it to make measurements from for the cuts. I'm also surprised how poorly executed the factory conversions were. It looked like they just handed grade school kids a sawzall and told them to get to work. Crooked cuts, rivets going into nothing, drilled holes without rivets.... There is some room to play with from the flange overlap on the roof. About 1/2" on each side. And they used it. There was one part on the factory roof where it only overlapped an 1/8" or so. The rivets from the T-top brace were just hanging in the air. I'm going to be able to do a much nicer job than factory. Also, a pneumatic riveter is a must. So you don't get forearms like Popeye.
'79 Indy pace car T-top
'81 Cobra
'81 Cobra T-top
'82 Mustang GT T-top
'87 Corvette
'10 Mustang GT Convertible
'17 F250
'17 Landrover Discovery Sport
Eh... I'm going to move this to the online car show. I guess I turned it into a build thread.
'79 Indy pace car T-top
'81 Cobra
'81 Cobra T-top
'82 Mustang GT T-top
'87 Corvette
'10 Mustang GT Convertible
'17 F250
'17 Landrover Discovery Sport
Getting the front brace fastened in. The top brace rivets to this piece in the front.
'79 Indy pace car T-top
'81 Cobra
'81 Cobra T-top
'82 Mustang GT T-top
'87 Corvette
'10 Mustang GT Convertible
'17 F250
'17 Landrover Discovery Sport
Good progress. Installing T-roof will be a ton of work, but you'll end up with something unique.
Keep up the work and progress pics
1979 Indy Pace Car Mustang 302 / 5spd
1982 Mustang GT T-Top 302 / 4spd
1986 SVO Mustang - 1C
Great build, keep up the good work.
It looks better as a "Targa" top!
Mike
Remember, "Drive Fast, Turn Heads, Break Hearts!"
1995 Ford Powerstroke F350 "Centurion" STRETCHED Crew Cab Dually
I like "Cut & Coach Built" vehicles!
www.musclecardeals.com
I think I would have fixed the sunroof trough. Lots easier. And dont have to change the doors and door glass.
Last edited by gregpro50; 02-01-2018 at 08:45 PM.
'79 Indy pace car T-top
'81 Cobra
'81 Cobra T-top
'82 Mustang GT T-top
'87 Corvette
'10 Mustang GT Convertible
'17 F250
'17 Landrover Discovery Sport
Drilled out a bjillion spot welds to separate the top of the frame from the bottom. PITA... No paint or primer in there. Just bare metal.
'79 Indy pace car T-top
'81 Cobra
'81 Cobra T-top
'82 Mustang GT T-top
'87 Corvette
'10 Mustang GT Convertible
'17 F250
'17 Landrover Discovery Sport
So it looks like those 2 supports sandwich the roof top an bottom? Interesting. Which goes in first, top or bottom?
I never really looked at exactly how the t-top was installed in my 82 when I had it apart.
1979 Indy Pace Car Mustang 302 / 5spd
1982 Mustang GT T-Top 302 / 4spd
1986 SVO Mustang - 1C
I'm not sure it matters. I was going to get the top part in first, then rivet the bottom in and weld them together. The last conversion I did was 15 or so years ago and I did the bottom first. There is more play to adjust the bottom than the top. The reason I did the bottom first last time was that I installed it before I cut the roof to keep things from shifting. This time I tack welded a couple braces on each side of the door frames.
'79 Indy pace car T-top
'81 Cobra
'81 Cobra T-top
'82 Mustang GT T-top
'87 Corvette
'10 Mustang GT Convertible
'17 F250
'17 Landrover Discovery Sport
Test fit.
'79 Indy pace car T-top
'81 Cobra
'81 Cobra T-top
'82 Mustang GT T-top
'87 Corvette
'10 Mustang GT Convertible
'17 F250
'17 Landrover Discovery Sport
Just be aware ,t top cars ,do not like being in the changing weather .
They create their kwn eco system knside the car .
Glass roof panels create condenstion ....and stuff grows from there .
I know this as i have owned mine for 20 years.
clowns to the left of me , Jokers to the right
'79 Indy pace car T-top
'81 Cobra
'81 Cobra T-top
'82 Mustang GT T-top
'87 Corvette
'10 Mustang GT Convertible
'17 F250
'17 Landrover Discovery Sport
Great video. I considered it on my pace car but ended up replacing my original style roof.
I really wasn't planning on doing it to this car but once I saw how bad it was it made sense. I've been hoarding T-top roof sections over the years every time I see them make their way to the junkyard and half-heartedly keeping my eye out for another coupe to convert. I still have three more kits that I can convert cars with although only a couple more pairs of doors.
Anyway, I've got the brace all riveted in and I'm going to start converting the doors now. Then I'm going to finish the interior, paint it, and apply the decals and call it a driver.
'79 Indy pace car T-top
'81 Cobra
'81 Cobra T-top
'82 Mustang GT T-top
'87 Corvette
'10 Mustang GT Convertible
'17 F250
'17 Landrover Discovery Sport
Well if it’s a race, you might beat me.
Aluminum brake drums. 79 only.
'79 Indy pace car T-top
'81 Cobra
'81 Cobra T-top
'82 Mustang GT T-top
'87 Corvette
'10 Mustang GT Convertible
'17 F250
'17 Landrover Discovery Sport
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