Removing/replacing T-top molding? How difficult?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
Removing/replacing T-top molding? How difficult?
Talking about the thin molding on the front and side edges...was told its best not to remove it, as very difficult to reinstall. Need to sand and prep the tops for paint...
Thanks!
Thanks!
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 709
Likes: 1
From: Lakewood Colorado
Just did sides and it wasn't so bad if you have pop rivets, strip caulk, new weatherstrip, and have a way to either remove or quiet the drilled out rivets and any broken weatherstrip pressin posts that come off during removal. The assembly manual is pretty helpful in explaining where the caulking, and visually but easlily assesible rivets and screws are.
I did not remove front, but searches indicate its a press off and press on with maybe a crimp involved to bind it to the top.
Good luck.
I did not remove front, but searches indicate its a press off and press on with maybe a crimp involved to bind it to the top.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,283
Likes: 4,374
From: Westminster Maryland
Some folks report having success in getting the front strip back on after painting. The fellow who sprayed my 71 strongly recommended leaving the front piece of trim on the roof panel. He was able to control the amount of paint right at the trim piece so you don't see any build-up of paint against the stainless. My car is lacquer however, so doesn't have as much paint on it as a 2 part paint system would. It seems to me you really take a chance of scraping the paint or dinging the stainless gettig the trim back on and crimped.
Regards,
Alan
Here are 2 pictures... note the roof panels aren't there... they were placed loosely in place and painted on the car. The underside part of the panels that should show color were painted before hand when the door jams and engine compartment gutters were painted. The dog is more help than you'd think!
Regards,
Alan
Here are 2 pictures... note the roof panels aren't there... they were placed loosely in place and painted on the car. The underside part of the panels that should show color were painted before hand when the door jams and engine compartment gutters were painted. The dog is more help than you'd think!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,060
Likes: 46
From: winter haven florida
St. Jude Donor '12
i would leave it on. mine were not easy to get off and even cracked part of the glass on the edge in the process. made more work than it was worth in the end. i am not going to reinstall the trim on mine, i am going for a custom look so it was ok. if i were going to keep it stock i would leave it alone.
