T-top leak found at last
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa Ok
T-top leak found at last
After spending many frustrating hours getting my butt wet after replacing all my weatherstripping ,I finally realized water was getting in through the chrome strip on the outside edge. I used butyl tape to seal under there and finally am dry.
A tip of the hat to 71,454,4spd whose post led me to rethink the situation.
:cheers:
A tip of the hat to 71,454,4spd whose post led me to rethink the situation.
:cheers:
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,660
Likes: 3
From: South Central Louisiana
St. Jude Contributor
Re: T-top leak found at last (FeedVaal)
Glad you found the problem. I learned my water drainage knowledge from TNT. He lives about 25 minutes away from me and he showed me where the trouble spots were.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 16,483
Likes: 1
From: The Only Corvette in Gila Bend, Az.
St. Jude Donor '09
Re: T-top leak found at last (71,454,4spd)
I'm going to replace all my weather stripping in a couple of weeks.
When do you think you will be here to help :lol: :lol: :lol:
When do you think you will be here to help :lol: :lol: :lol:
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
Re: T-top leak found at last (71,454,4spd)
I replaced the T-top weatherstripping to no avail, but haven't found the problem yet. The water gets in somewhere, drips into the plastic that covers the frame(between the windshield and the back window) and FLOWS out onto my left leg where that plastic piece ends. Any pictures of the problem area and what you guys did? Water makes me crazy... :crazy:
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,009
Likes: 240
From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
Re: T-top leak found at last (FeedVaal)
PLEASE tell us all a more detailed explanation of where the water leaks in from........WE NEED TO KNOW!!!!!! I am unsure of which chrome piece you are speaking of.
Bruce
Bruce
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,660
Likes: 3
From: South Central Louisiana
St. Jude Contributor
Re: T-top leak found at last (7t2vette)
The chrome strips that are riveted to the stainless t bar strip, you will notice the stainless piece has a grove in it that makes the curve and empties toward the chrome pieces. Its important to have a good seal in between these chrome pieces and the fiberglass ledge they are on top of, but on mine, I added some clear silicon in between the chrome and the arch (or whatever you call it).
I got a picture, who wants to host it for me?
[Modified by 71,454,4spd, 11:37 PM 12/17/2001]
[Modified by 71,454,4spd, 11:41 PM 12/17/2001]
I got a picture, who wants to host it for me?
[Modified by 71,454,4spd, 11:37 PM 12/17/2001]
[Modified by 71,454,4spd, 11:41 PM 12/17/2001]
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,660
Likes: 3
From: South Central Louisiana
St. Jude Contributor
Re: T-top leak found at last (Desertdawg)
Desertdawg, come on down to Lousiana. Its the perfect time, the gumbo pots are in full force and crawfish season is upon us.LOL :yesnod: :lol:
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 10,787
Likes: 0
From: My own state of mind
Re: T-top leak found at last (FeedVaal)
After spending many frustrating hours getting my butt wet after replacing all my weatherstripping ,I finally realized water was getting in through the chrome strip on the outside edge. I used butyl tape to seal under there and finally am dry.
A tip of the hat to 71,454,4spd whose post led me to rethink the situation.
:cheers:
A tip of the hat to 71,454,4spd whose post led me to rethink the situation.
:cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: T-top leak found at last (FeedVaal)
Wish I had spotted your initial thread some time ago, as in fact this is an age old problem with any GM car....well most of them anyway, especially convertibles.....I had an old '73 Grandville convertible, with stainless headliner on the windshild bow, and it allways leaked, badly...never fixed that fault on that car....well also got a bit later a '70 GTO Lemans...convertible....header was done in vinyl glued over the steel plates....so I re did it to freshen it up, never leaked a drop....SO, when getting my present '72 vette it was stainless, and it leaked....so I wrapped the stainless while mounted in place, trimed the vinyl around the latch area with a razor, and now my car will not leak even into a hurry-caine at 80 mph......now if I could just do same with side windows where water gets blown UP the side window, to that crack in the weatherstripping where the top fold in half....and in on my shirt sleeve.....but haven't figgered out how to do that yet, it's a mess....
GENE
GENE
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 0
From: Moon Township PA
Re: T-top leak found at last (FeedVaal)
If your tops are leaking, go to K Mart and buy a small shaker bottle of talcum powder. Pull your tops off and liberally sprinkle the talc around the area where the T top will sit. Gently lower the T top in place, trying to avoid sliding the top over the talc. Once you have the top down and secure, take a garden hose and spray away. Then lift your top back off and you may be able to find the leak by the trail where the water went through the talc. This has worked for me for doors too.
Gary
Gary
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,679
Likes: 6
From: Charles Town WV
Re: T-top leak found at last (GaryS)
If your tops are leaking, go to K Mart and buy a small shaker bottle of talcum powder. Pull your tops off and liberally sprinkle the talc around the area where the T top will sit. Gently lower the T top in place, trying to avoid sliding the top over the talc. Once you have the top down and secure, take a garden hose and spray away. Then lift your top back off and you may be able to find the leak by the trail where the water went through the talc. This has worked for me for doors too.
Gary
Gary
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 286
Likes: 11
From: LA CA
Do any of You guys has the pics for this thread? I am having a big problem with water getting in through the T Tops and I am trying to fix it. As a rare thing it has been raining here in CA for the last week and the floor pan on the passanger side looks like a pool...
Thanks for any help...
Regards: Edgar......
Thanks for any help...
Regards: Edgar......
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 9,441
Likes: 240
From: Powassan ON
Tks for the TALC idea....never thought of that before!!
I know where mine leaks I just cant get it to stop!
It leaks BETWEEN the weaterstrip and the SS surface where the weatherstrip is supposed to sit. I just cant get the T-top to sit "lower" in that area. Im afraid to pull it down to much and break or crack the tops. Car has the eyebrow effect. Pic attached is with the blue glass tops. Fiberglass tops are the same eyebrow effect.
Both he fiberglass and blue glass tops have new rubbers and have the same leak. Is it possible to adjust the SS piece any? I doubt it.
Anybody with the same problems?
rubbersidedown
Dodosmike
I know where mine leaks I just cant get it to stop!
It leaks BETWEEN the weaterstrip and the SS surface where the weatherstrip is supposed to sit. I just cant get the T-top to sit "lower" in that area. Im afraid to pull it down to much and break or crack the tops. Car has the eyebrow effect. Pic attached is with the blue glass tops. Fiberglass tops are the same eyebrow effect.
Both he fiberglass and blue glass tops have new rubbers and have the same leak. Is it possible to adjust the SS piece any? I doubt it.
Anybody with the same problems?
rubbersidedown
Dodosmike
