Glass T Tops

[Bills money pit]

I do not have glass t top for my 81. Are they worth the cost and do they emit heat into the cabin? All opinions are appreciated. Also, what is the proper glass color for the 81.
Thanks

 

[bill81vette]

The color of the glass tops depends on whether,your '81 was built in St Louis or Bowling Green...They were blue for ST Louis and Smoked Gray in BG..however good luck finding blue ones...with the pair I have they VERY HOT inside the vette...I did buy,however,the films that go on the cabin side if the tops to help keep the sun out!!!!
If your vin # has a 'S' after the 'B',you have a St Louis built ,if its a'5' its a bowling green vette

 

[GT1981]

glass t-top

A simple solution to reduce the heat buildup inside the cabin with glass t-tops is to apply polarized window film on the inside (bottom) of the t-tops. On a sunny day, this sunscreen film reduces inside temps by 15-20+ degrees. You can pick up window film from Lowe's or Home Depot and avoid paying marked-up prices at Corvette online retailers or auto supply stores.

I do not have glass t top for my 81. Are they worth the cost and do they emit heat into the cabin? All opinions are appreciated. Also, what is the proper glass color for the 81.
Thanks

 

[Yoda]

I do not have glass t top for my 81. Are they worth the cost and do they emit heat into the cabin? All opinions are appreciated. Also, what is the proper glass color for the 81.
Thanks

Bill Welcome

If you have a clearance issue with the T-Top and your head, then glass tops will give you about 1 1/2" more of clearance..

Finding the actual correct Glass Top can be challenging at best and mostly very expensive to get a GOOD Set...

Yes there is a big difference between the solid tops and the glass tops. I had a set of silver reflect type in the 1980 I ordered and it wasn't too bad, but still an increase cabin temp. compared to the solid tops.

Glass Tops are sometimes on Ebay (original tops) and there are a couple aftermarket places too. I don't recall the name of the one that refurbishes them and I believe they make new ones from a very close if not original pattern... somewhere around here is a thread on it...

Bud

 

[SVO]

If you add a set of glass tops to your car, I'd suggest that you check with your insurance company to make sure your car policy covers the tops for glass breakage. I had a '78 that came with the glass tops and had problems with State Farm replacing a broken top under the glass breakage portion of my policy. Somewhere here in my junk, I have a pair of broken glass tops, one from a bird strike at the header edge, and one broken while storing the top behind the seats. hnoes

 

[Koop]

Hot, hot, hot! Very hot! I don't use my glass tops in the summer and I live at the beach.

 

[6880 Mike]

I have glass tops on my 80; my 74 had fiberglass tops. I've never noticed any additional cabin heat from the glass tops.

I have noticed the cabin is brighter with the glass tops.

 

[Chas]

Imho

Hotter with glass tops than fiberglass........I have black interior so maybe thats the diffrence, but in my car when your sitting in the sun(glass) it is hotter than sitting in the shade(fiberglass).
I also put sheepskin covers on my seats so we can actually sit down on them without getting burned on the back of our legs.

 

[SVO]

My coupe operating procedure is that the coupe don't roll with the tops on unless it's pouring rain.

As far as the ole lady's 'do, that's what ball caps are for...

 

[starrfire6]

I love the look of the painted tops, but if I have to have tops on I like the glass. More light and more head clearance. as far as heat, thats what A/C is for.

TOPLESS IS ALWAYS BETTER!!!!

 

[73-81 BST]

T-Tops!!!!! we do not need no stinking t-tops. I have both fiberglass and glass tops, a they have not been on the car in 2 years...sitting in the attic. If mama wants to go for a ride, she can put a hat on....I lost all my hair a long time ago and don't a S*%- anymore.

To answer your question...Stay with fiberglass and spend the $1,000 on something else....



See ya at Bloomington Gold....

STW

 

[Koop]

Spent the $1,000 improving the sucky AC these old sleds are equipped with!