Yikes!
the images of the rust are pretty scary.
Having sold my hardtop GN and replaced it with a t-top GN let me share my personal experience...
When I bought the hardtop GN, I planned to modify it to run mid to low 11's as well as show and cruise. I eventually realized I didn't have the time or finances to make all that happen. After I sold that car I knew I wanted another GN but I decided I just wanted a good clean car that I could cruise around in and enjoy. When I was in high school I had a hardtop '79 Monte Carlo and my friend had an '82 Cutlass with t-tops. We had both installed Chevy 350s' in our cars, but if the weather was nice, we usually went cruising in his because it was more fun to ride around in with the t-tops out.
IMHO, the 80's t-tops *will* leak, period. you can do things to reduce the leakage, but they will still leak some. The hardtop cars are definately more rigid, but there are a few t-top cars in our local club running *really*fast. You can also do things to increase the rigidity of a t-top car like the chasis braces and poly bushings.
I may get flamed for this opinion, but I belive hardtop cars make better race cars and t-top cars are more fun to cruise in (unless you end up in a rain storm
). So, what do you want to do?
Rob
