Drag Car with T-Tops??

[hurstolds6]

Hey guys. Curious if anyone here has experience with a T-Top car on the drag strip? If so, did you have to add any stabilizers to the frame or can you just run the car with the tops on?? Thanks everyone!

[88hurstolds]

How much power are you looking to run?
The Turbo Buick guys run these cars all the time on the strip with t tops however GM purposely had hardtop only body for the GNXs.
Grab a pair of rear seat braces from a Kirban Performance or from a Grand Prix.
Also grab the front frame brace from a GP, aftermarket ones or fab them up and tie the front and rear frame rails together to limit body twist and keep from the upper quarter to roof panel wells from cracking which is common with any Gbody street driven or raced.

[hurstolds6]

Thanks for the advice 88hurstolds! The motor is still being built, however is will be making over 600 hp and over 600 lb/ft torque. Thanks again

[74hurstolds]

Saw a thread on ROP of a t-top G body twisting like crazy off the line. The guys on there had fun with it. Frankly I'm surprised the t-top didn't fly off as soon as he launched. You'll want an anti-roll bar if you are planing some serious hp's.

http://www.realoldspower.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=54232&highlight=twist

[hurstolds6]

just read that thread. That is some serious twist! Thanks for the post. I ended up ordering some front fender braces and a rear seat brace from GBodyParts.com.

[88hurstolds]

OMFG lol

[88hurstolds]

Another thing to keep in mind if you're building a car to handle that much HP is boxing the frame and welding in bracing to the lower rear control arm braces.
Also, thicker core support to fender braces and installing one of these braces in the front doesn't hurt:

http://scandc.com/new/node/180

Don't forget no hop bars and bagging the rear right spring.