Ok, my 1980 Camaro was vandalized before I could take delivery of it a few years back. The interior was set on fire and the roof was badly damaged. I'm planning on grafting on a roof from a donor car and I was wondering which avenue to choose. Can I;

1.) Cut off the roof and leave about a 1/4" to 3/8" lip around the windows and front / rear windshields and then just weld the donor roof in. Basically, cut the roof like THIS .

2.) Cut off the roof completely from the original weld points on the car and replace with donor roof.

If I do choice #2 then where would I have to weld in structural supports? Anyone ever done this? I know it's common on rusty 1st gens, but what about second? Any help is appreciated. BTW, I'm not paying anyone to weld, I've got everything I need, so price for install is non existant. Gimmie whatever advice ya got, pricey or not! Thanks,

 

The best bet is to cut it off near the factory welds. Trying to do option 1 is a sure recipe for warpage.

Back when I worked for a body shop we would take the doors off, and weld or bolt support bars across the top of the door opening. Once you cut the roof the unibodies tend to sag there.

I would also take cross measurements of all the window and door openings, so you can gauge if anything does move. I have even gone so far as to make cardboard templates of the front and rear windows, just to test fit after it is tacked back together.

 

Try checking NastyZ28.com. They know their sh*t about putting together and taking apart 2nd gens.

 

I don't know if this site will help you, since it is on a 3rd gen, but thought I'd offer anyway.

Does this mean you don't need me to do your 4th gen conversion??

http://www.markscustomkits.com/T-top_Conversion.html

 

by the way red blur, how much do u charge for the ttop conversion, im not sure if i want to do it bc i kind of like the hardtop look, but im jw

 

check this out

The only thing that I am changing to that thread is that I can now provide the parts. I can get the entire t-top conversion parts for $350. Other than that, the mentioned post should have all the info you need. Email me if you have any other questions

Jeremy
herronz28@hotmail.com

 

texlurch - Yea, that's what I figured. Thanks!

DWray - I'm registered on there, but everytime I ask in that board it just kind of tapers off. No one ever gives me an answer.

lol, oh no, I'm coming to you for that still! My 1980 is basically trash, I'm going to try and save it (if I can pull it off) if not, then it's off to the scrap yard!