My coupe leaks around the t-tops. I know it’s hard to believe, but it does 😀. So I was wondering, other than being really careful with the water hose, what do folks do to keep the water out when washing?
I was thinking of putting 2” wide painter’s tape over all the seams before washing.
Eventually it will have new weatherstripping and work done to mitigate the leaks, so this is a short term solution.

 

The tangs on the T Tops have shims, you can adjust the height of the top vs the center mount, giving more or less crush on the gasket.

Check the fit and seal of the T top chrome ( on the car) all around to see if there are any gaps to the windshield frame and windshield brace.

 

This is a good tip above. The factory adjusted for gaps and looks. Most leaked from the factory!

 

Use a pressure washer on the undercarriage and wheel wells. Use waterless wash and good quality spray sealant on the rest of the body.

I use good quality microfiber cloths on the body and a soft bristled paint brush to get into cracks and crevices.

 

FWIW
When I was adjusting a set of T-tops (not from the car, new weather strips etc) I took some strips of heavy plastic (like heavy garbage bag) about 2" wide and laid a couple of them across the mid-bar, the front and rear and then put the t-top on and latched it. Pulling the plastic strips out told me which areas were too loose (all of them in my case) and I used the shims in the center and the receiver/latch on the outside until they would move but with a bit of resistance. A common mistake is people try to tighten the weather strip right down thinking it'll fix leaks. Also know that the rear of the tops wasn't flush with the halo

If you don't want to screw with the tops just get a couple of the synthetic chamois, the ones that don't harden up, cut a few strips maybe 4-6" wide or so and roll/stuff them into the gap between the tops and along the rears, that should stop most of the water.

Related but not really
Also watch for a gap between the sill plates and the rear door jamb, without the diverter on the jamb, the water will run down the jamb and into that gap and into the interior under the seat where you don't see it until the seatbelt is all wet
Also, the rear astrovent grills, if you pour the water into them it will overflow into the rear storage area, the drains aren't that big and the vent door flaps are open when the car is off.
M

 

Please don’t think I am trying to hi-Jack this thread.......but this is a great question.
I also do the tires and wheel wells on my ‘81 C3 and whatever I can reach underneath with the pressure washer, and then from the 1/2 way mark on the body down with the hose pressure only. Finally, the upper part with waterless spray and microfiber towels. And glass with Costco glass foam.
I have been sneaking up a bit on the hood and tail end with just the hose and don’t see any adverse effects. I have been a bit afraid of the side vent area splashing into the under dash area though.
BUT...MY BIG concern is the wiper tray! It really needs pressure to get it clean but I’m afraid of water running down those side screened openings in the tray and leaking into the cabin. It would be nice if I can hose that area then I could do the whole hood and windshield with a low pressure hose. And still finish off the upper part with water-less spray.
Being plastic, and with Arizona baby powder dust clinging to everything as well as the desert bushes pollen it gets dirty pretty quick. Granted it’s not mud or East coast salt but being a white car (oops,
sorry about the non-woke white reference) it gets dusty-crappy quick.
ps....sorry if I insulted any WOKE liberals .......not really 😂

 

Lightly washed the '69 after trailering it home to VA from PA in slightly shotty weather, I think that was back in 2011/2012?. That's the first time there was proof that the t-top gaps were perfect but the weather stripping was not. Gave her a light traditional washing once and she hasn't seen a hose since. She's garaged and not driven in inclement weather. That being said, she only gets the detailing spray with microfiber clothes to keep the show shine going strong. Before having a hose bib installed in the garage that runs off the softener, hard water sucks, I used to fill a 5gal bucket with water from the bathtub and cup rinse the tires after a cleaning.