Vetteblack-96

I seem to have a problem with my glass rear window. It is starting to come unglued and is hanging down a little. I've tried to avoid taking the top down too often as this seems to be making the problem worse.

The "A" arrow points to the contact area on the top. It feels like it used to be some super heavy duty two sided tape, but that's just a guess. The "B" arrow shows where it (supposedly) sticks to the glass.

The "A" side seems very slick and I'm wondering what kind of adhesive there is to re-glue it. I thought of silicone but that doesn't seem strong enough. I also thought of Dow 5200, a marine grade super adhesive, but I thought I'd ask here first before I try the 5200.

The top is in way too god a condition to replace just b/c of the window. I'm hoping to fix it before the whole window drops out and I have a real problem.
Any ideas?

MRPVette

Try some urethane from a local auto glass shop alot stronger the silicone.

Vetteblack-96

Thanks MRP, I really didn't think silicone would do it but it was my first thought.
I'll check around for the urethane. I might have to have the shop do the work but it beats having the window fall out!

zr1fred

A hot melt glue gun works pretty good.....no, it doesn't get hot enough to break the glass. And if it holds in the Arizona sun......

Vetteblack-96

Fred, the hot melt seems like it would be less likely to make a mess.

As far as the sun goes, it is a little warmer in Arizona than Texas so that eliminates one concern.

Now I'm torn between urethane and hot melt.........

Dougs63

Somewhere here on the Forum, I recall someone re-bonding their entire rear window - using many strong magnets on the inside and outside of the seam to hold things in place. Seems they had enough magnets to hold the entire window in place, then glued a few inches at a time, allowing time for drying, until the entire perimeter was re-glued.

Earlier this year, I sent my glass rear window, which had come loose, in my '94 Vert. to Al Knoch's and had them install it in a new soft top.

Just trying to preserve the originality.

Vetteblack-96

Doug, I vaguely recall the same thread, but I did a search before I posted my question and came up empty. Holding my window in place shouldn't be too much of a problem as most of it is still bonded. My question is what kind of adhesive did that guy use?

So far I'm down to hot melt or urethane. I'm a little hesitant b/c the surface that the glue has to stick to on the top is super slick; Arrow "A" in my pic.

So far (unless something better comes up) I'll experiment and see what works best.
I'll post the results when I'm done. Here in Texas there is still a lot of top-down weather ahead and if I keep moving that loose window it may come down!

Tommycourt

I would check out some upholstery shops and see what they have to say. Fred is in Phoenix and I am in Mesa and his climate is soooooo much cooler than mine. But we have some upholstery shops over here than do verte top repairs and they have good luck. Might be worth a try.
Tommy

DinoBob

I used a toluene- based glue to do this on a Sebring convertible once. It lasted for over two years. Wish I could remember the name but all of those clear toluene glues are the same.

JrRifleCoach

Check out NAPA for some emblem/moulding double sided tape.

Vetteblack-96

Tommy, how hot does it get in Arizona? Highest I've ever seen around here was 109, but I think you guys get it a little warmer than that.
I'm sure it gets pretty hot in the garage where I keep my car.
I'll try an upholstery shop and see what they say. Doing it myself is not mandatory. I'd just like a good job.

DinoBob, I'm no authority on glues but I'll do a search on toluene based adhesives and see what I come up with.
Where to buy? Paint store? I don't think Homer or Lowe's would carry something like that.

RifleCoach, I'm up to my ears in ideas now. I never thought of the obvious: go to a parts store.!
O'Riley's is big around here but I'm sure I could find a NAPA.

DinoBob

I bought it at Autozone. I think it was a Permatex product of some sort. It was not gasket adhesive. If I think of the name I'll reply. It's clear and smells exactly like model cement.

enventr

This is a common problem on the verts.approx 7 years ago it happened to my 95.I very carefully used ge silicone around the perimeter of the window taking my time and masking tape around the area . Today it still looks the same. I do currently live in NY where it is cooler so I do not know if the very high temps will have an affect on it. You just have to have patience to make sure you do not get the silicone on the top. Good luck.

hcbph

I wonder if one of the adhesives they use to attach rearview mirrors to the windshield might work? I had one come loose on my one car and got some stuff at NAPA that I used to reattach it and it's going on maybe 8-10 years and holding just fine.

Vetteblack-96

Thanks DinoBob, There's an AutoZone pretty close to me. I'll ask about the Permatex stuff and also the double sided tape that RifleCoach referred to.
I think the tape he's suggesting is more durable than the usual foam double sided tape.

Eventr, I've used that masking technique for other things I've caulked. It works if you're careful, like you said. I don't know if this problem is climate related or not.
My car spent the first 14 years of its life in New York. Probably just an age thing (like people!).
Maybe I'll try a small dab of whatever I end up using on the slick strip of the top and see how well it holds. That is, if it peels off easily after a day or so.

Vetteblack-96

Hcbph, Doesn't that mirror adhesive come in tiny tubes?
It doesn't show in my pic but I have about 24" of loose window.
Still it would be worth it to buy several tubes if it worked.
As long as I'm going to an auto parts store I may just as well ask about the mirror stuff.

MRPVette

Trust me the mirror adhesive wont work it is basically super glue with a adhesive promoter to bond 2 clean flat hard surfaces. go by a glass shop or a upholstery shop and get there opinion.

MRPVette

Maybe this? http://www.amazon.com/3M-08609-Windo...ews/B000FW61EW

Vetteblack-96

MRPVette, I did a quick read on the Amazon site and it seems to work well for glass to canvas tops. My concern is that the strip on the top is super slick and I wonder what will stick to it. I wonder if old fashioned contact cement would work? Going to the car parts store tonight to see what they say.

shawn 84&92

We used Gorilla glue on a friends window and it worked great.
Shawn