[Springo]

I was really hyped for installing a set of Hurst Hatch T-Tops on my 77, and even more so when I scored a pair of the T-Tops themselves. I even managed to track down all of the hardware, clamps, roof braces and seals. However - the seals are not useable as they are old and hardened. The Hurst Hatches had leakage issues as it is - I don't need to compound the problem with rotten old seals.

But I have hit a snag here, because replacement seals are simply not to be had. Not NOS, not repop, and not useable used ones. I searched the web for a pair, and invariably, when I found a link that had all the right words, it was from somebody looking for the seals. And I currently have a "wanted" ad in Hemmings for a pair and have heard nothing. Even if a pair of NOS seals appeared, they would cost around $1,000. And a much as I want the T-Tops, it is not worth $1,000 seals for me.

So I am now switching to Plan B. An electric internal sliding moonroof. There is no problem finding and installing one, or rather, having one installed - because I wouldn't touch that job with a fifty foot hose. But this company http://www.classicsofttrim.com/index.html is the largest installer in the US, and has a shop near me. The price is not bad either, although I am waiting to hear back with a quote for my GP. But it will probably be around what just those seals would cost me, if I could even find them.

The electric sliding moonroof, with a retractable shade, is also very nice and is a perfectly fine substitute for the T-Tops that I can't install. Both have pros and cons - the T-tops give a more open feel than an open moonroof when they are off, but the moonroof can be opened and closed while driving and does not need to be stowed in the trunk. It's six of one and a half-dozen of the other. Anyway, the aftermarket moonroof is like a factory sunroof, but better, since it is of smoked glass and not painted metal. I also did some research about the quality and fit of these moonroofs, and read nothing but good stuff, as long as they are installed by a trained, factory installer (which is where Classic Soft Trim comes in). They have an excellent reputation for not having leakage issues, or any other issues. In fact, many new car dealers have moonroofs installed in some of their vehicles by these folks. They are OEM quality in every way.

I do have one question about this that you guys can help me with, and that is where the switch was located on a 73-77 Grand Prix with a factory sunroof. I want to try and get an OEM Pontiac sunroof switch and use that that to operate the moonroof. I -think- that it looked like a regular GM chrome single window power switch, and in fact may just be one. In that case, i already have a couple of them. I have been in some GP's with the sunroof but i can't recall where the switch was. But I like having them on the dash, instead of on the roof. If the factory witch was on the roof, I just might make some sort of custom dash switch, using a regular GM chrome window switch.

Also, I guess that I will be selling my Hurst Hatches. I no longer have any use for them. Unless somebody sends me a free pair of seals, i am officially giving up on the T-Top idea, especially since the solution of the aftermarket moonroof is so neat and tidy, no loose ends here. Actually I have not even paid for my T-Tops yet, I still have to send the payment for them. But if anyone here wants them, PayPal me the $75 that I owe the guy (including shipping), and I will pay him and have him send the tops to you. If nobody here wants them, they will go back on Ebay, advertised as "Hurst Olds" T-Tops, which they are, but sounds better and might get me a few more bucks. But I am only going to list them for the exact same starting bid as was on there when I bought them. All I am trying to do is get the money back that I spent on the tops.

Thanx again, GP'ers!


http://www.classicsofttrim.com/index.html

[Springo]

I was really hyped for installing a set of Hurst Hatch T-Tops on my 77, and even more so when I scored a pair of the T-Tops themselves. I even managed to track down all of the hardware, clamps, roof braces and seals. However - the seals are not useable as they are old and hardened. The Hurst Hatches had leakage issues as it is - I don't need to compound the problem with rotten old seals.

But I have hit a snag here, because replacement seals are simply not to be had. Not NOS, not repop, and not useable used ones. I searched the web for a pair, and invariably, when I found a link that had all the right words, it was from somebody looking for the seals. And I currently have a "wanted" ad in Hemmings for a pair and have heard nothing. Even if a pair of NOS seals appeared, they would cost around $1,000. And a much as I want the T-Tops, it is not worth $1,000 seals for me.

So I am now switching to Plan B. An electric internal sliding moonroof. There is no problem finding and installing one, or rather, having one installed - because I wouldn't touch that job with a fifty foot hose. But this company http://www.classicsofttrim.com/index.html is the largest installer in the US, and has a shop near me. The price is not bad either, although I am waiting to hear back with a quote for my GP. But it will probably be around what just those seals would cost me, if I could even find them.

The electric sliding moonroof, with a retractable shade, is also very nice and is a perfectly fine substitute for the T-Tops that I can't install. Both have pros and cons - the T-tops give a more open feel than an open moonroof when they are off, but the moonroof can be opened and closed while driving and does not need to be stowed in the trunk. It's six of one and a half-dozen of the other. Anyway, the aftermarket moonroof is like a factory sunroof, but better, since it is of smoked glass and not painted metal. I also did some research about the quality and fit of these moonroofs, and read nothing but good stuff, as long as they are installed by a trained, factory installer (which is where Classic Soft Trim comes in). They have an excellent reputation for not having leakage issues, or any other issues. In fact, many new car dealers have moonroofs installed in some of their vehicles by these folks. They are OEM quality in every way.

I do have one question about this that you guys can help me with, and that is where the switch was located on a 73-77 Grand Prix with a factory sunroof. I want to try and get an OEM Pontiac sunroof switch and use that that to operate the moonroof. I -think- that it looked like a regular GM chrome single window power switch, and in fact may just be one. In that case, i already have a couple of them. I have been in some GP's with the sunroof but i can't recall where the switch was. But I like having them on the dash, instead of on the roof. If the factory witch was on the roof, I just might make some sort of custom dash switch, using a regular GM chrome window switch.

Also, I guess that I will be selling my Hurst Hatches. I no longer have any use for them. Unless somebody sends me a free pair of seals, i am officially giving up on the T-Top idea, especially since the solution of the aftermarket moonroof is so neat and tidy, no loose ends here. Actually I have not even paid for my T-Tops yet, I still have to send the payment for them. But if anyone here wants them, PayPal me the $75 that I owe the guy (including shipping), and I will pay him and have him send the tops to you. If nobody here wants them, they will go back on Ebay, advertised as "Hurst Olds" T-Tops, which they are, but sounds better and might get me a few more bucks. But I am only going to list them for the exact same starting bid as was on there when I bought them. All I am trying to do is get the money back that I spent on the tops.

Thanx again, GP'ers!


http://www.classicsofttrim.com/index.html

[Pontiacdaver]

The factory switch was located in front of the sliding panel on the roof. GM used a molded interior panel which housed the roof, when retracted, and the motor and operating hardware. I don't know how they would do this in an aftermarket intall. Did you know the GM sunroof was also available in a manual model? I saw one in a 74 4spd Grand Am I almost bought, it had a built-in crank where the switch would be. Also, 77s were the only year a moonroof (glass panel instead of steel) was offered. Daver

[Springo]

The aftermarket roof uses it's own switch, and I would simply like to replace it with a GM switch if possible.