Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Forum
Trans Am Information => Restoration => Topic started by: 17transam on March 23, 2013, 07:29:30 PM
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Hi guys, I was looking at my car and saw these gaps in the T-tops and the doors, how would I go about fixing them?
driver side t-top
Back
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r601/crazy58fury/78%20trans%20am/100_3310.jpg)
Front
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r601/crazy58fury/78%20trans%20am/100_3312.jpg)
passenger side
Front
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r601/crazy58fury/78%20trans%20am/100_3317.jpg)
Back, Big gap
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r601/crazy58fury/78%20trans%20am/100_3313.jpg)
Door gap
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r601/crazy58fury/78%20trans%20am/100_3314.jpg)
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r601/crazy58fury/78%20trans%20am/100_3315.jpg)
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r601/crazy58fury/78%20trans%20am/100_3316.jpg)
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I'd start with new or rebuilt hinges
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all the tops fit diffrent in all the ta's. its in the fit of the quarter and lead work from GM.
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Not so sure if lead work has anything to do with the problem. After new busing in your hinges jack up the rear of the car until both tires are just off the ground and see if any of your gaps change. You may need some heavy body tweaking! And then a set of sub frame connectors
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Not so sure if lead work has anything to do with the problem. After new busing in your hinges jack up the rear of the car until both tires are just off the ground and see if any of your gaps change. You may need some heavy body tweaking! And then a set of sub frame connectors
what do you mean by heavy body tweaking?
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well if the car is sagging or twisted you would have to correct it, I'd go with new hinges first and then re align the door. as for the t tops. are they setting down as far as they can when you push down on them?
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door hinges I can do, yeah the T-tops are sitting there like they should, they are flush all the way around except the corners on the outside, and the one that has a gap, Would a broken right side frame rail cause that?
ty
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definitely possible
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definitely possible
Where would I go to get the body tweaked?
ty
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I know basically nothing about bodywork and all that,,,but it looks to me, judging how the gap is wider at the top and then closes up at the bottom edge of the door....that the quarter section of the car is out of alignment. It seems the door hinges and front of t-tops are ok,,but the car ''pulled away'' at the back side of the t-top and door,,and is pivoting/bending at the lower rocker area (?)
I'd definatley try jacking the furthest part of the rear of the car up and see if the gaps close. How is the frame?? Bent? Rusted away?
how about body bushing??? body bushings fixed a whole lot of alignement issues I had up at the front end.
Also,,try sighting down the middle section of the roof front to back and see if that piece looks 'effed up.
I remember a similar issue with old convertible corvettes. The conv roof would be too big. A measurement from the top of windshield to edge of the body behind seats would prove that the windshield pillars (A pillars?) rusted out down by the firewall area and the windshield was 'falling' inward.
thats just how I'm picturing this ,,but opposite direction.
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I know basically nothing about bodywork and all that,,,but it looks to me, judging how the gap is wider at the top and then closes up at the bottom edge of the door....that the quarter section of the car is out of alignment. It seems the door hinges and front of t-tops are ok,,but the car ''pulled away'' at the back side of the t-top and door,,and is pivoting/bending at the lower rocker area (?)
I'd definatley try jacking the furthest part of the rear of the car up and see if the gaps close. How is the frame?? Bent? Rusted away?
how about body bushing??? body bushings fixed a whole lot of alignement issues I had up at the front end.
Also,,try sighting down the middle section of the roof front to back and see if that piece looks 'effed up.
I remember a similar issue with old convertible corvettes. The conv roof would be too big. A measurement from the top of windshield to edge of the body behind seats would prove that the windshield pillars (A pillars?) rusted out down by the firewall area and the windshield was 'falling' inward.
thats just how I'm picturing this ,,but opposite direction.
the right side, frame rail in the rear under the trunk, rotted away in one spot on the bottom of the frame rail and the leaf springs pushed it up a little bit,
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the right side, frame rail in the rear under the trunk, rotted away in one spot on the bottom of the frame rail and the leaf springs pushed it up a little bit,
yeah,,,I have no clue...never even seen that area.....yet. ;D
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Get your body work done in the door jams, new hinges, and then go from there.
The gaps buy the widow and Tops will be taken up by new seals.
The edge of the T top that sticks up is adjusted after new seals using the chrome
anchor points for the t tops.
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Get your body work done in the door jams, new hinges, and then go from there.
The gaps buy the widow and Tops will be taken up by new seals.
The edge of the T top that sticks up is adjusted after new seals using the chrome
anchor points for the t tops.
Ok cool, So I should just get everything fixed first then worry bout that after right? like fix the frame floors etc..... Thanks for the info, It's very helpful everyone! I apperiate it a lot!
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Yes the door jambs and hingees, get everythin hung and aligned as best as possible then with new T top seals you can adjust those tops
with the chrome anchors the pins go into
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Would a set of 81 t/a T-tops work on a 78? just curious,
ty
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If they are Fisher and not any other type.