Header molding replacement
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 55
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From: Landskrona, SWEDEN, EUROPE
Header molding replacement
The header molding was looking crappy and boring on my car:
When I got it off it looked even worse...
I feared the worste and was quite worried until I got all the panels and rusted out screws away and was able to check the top of the birdcage.
I was of course relieved to find that it was just surface rust and no real harm done to the metal:
With this strange designe I can really imagine some water getting trapped here eating it´s way out...
I replaced the top end corners at the same time and the result was quite OK I think:
When I got it off it looked even worse...
I feared the worste and was quite worried until I got all the panels and rusted out screws away and was able to check the top of the birdcage.
I was of course relieved to find that it was just surface rust and no real harm done to the metal:
With this strange designe I can really imagine some water getting trapped here eating it´s way out...
I replaced the top end corners at the same time and the result was quite OK I think:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 758
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From: Ville de la Baie Quebec. A winner is just a loser who tried again.
Lots of sealant and hope moisture doesn,t get back in,, I drilled a small hole in the corners to help drain if any moisture gets there,, just in case. The disigne is poor,, its like a bath tub up there,,
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 55
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From: Landskrona, SWEDEN, EUROPE
I had to cut corners in this case so I put short screws without heads, locked them with some Loctite and let them slide into the holes in the front when putting the new corners in place.
That way the corner moldings will be supported by the frame even if it leaves some space for movement.
I know it´s a bit of a false but I couldn´t see myself taking the windshield out just for this replacement.
On the other hand, the old corners I took out was not supported by these tiny screws and I couldn´t find any disadvantage by that.
Last edited by CoolvetteC3; May 5, 2009 at 12:27 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,172
Likes: 4,250
From: Westminster Maryland
Thanks for the explaination.
I was wondering if you had figured out some way to get to those front screws with the windshield in place.
Your solution sounds pretty reasonable.
Regards,
Alan
I was wondering if you had figured out some way to get to those front screws with the windshield in place.
Your solution sounds pretty reasonable.
Regards,
Alan
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
IF you want to fix it right, so you will never have any problems...EVER.....take off all the trim and that top stainless that allows leaks over your top in a rain storm....seal the living heck out of it with RTV black from GE....about 3-4 tubes of it....
wrap the top staineles in black Vinyl up and over, trim as necessary around the convertible top aluminum.... totally flood the pillar sides with RTV as you seat the trim home...
then you have a totally tight completely waterPROOF seal against rain.....if you have a 68-72 you are in luck that the trim allows a complete seal against the glass/trim/whatever with RTV and you don't have a problem like later sharks...too large a gap to fill....
did it 15 years ago to my '72 and that puppy don't leak a DROP....even into a tropical at 80 mph....
NO water down the kick panels either....
I WIN....
wrap the top staineles in black Vinyl up and over, trim as necessary around the convertible top aluminum.... totally flood the pillar sides with RTV as you seat the trim home...
then you have a totally tight completely waterPROOF seal against rain.....if you have a 68-72 you are in luck that the trim allows a complete seal against the glass/trim/whatever with RTV and you don't have a problem like later sharks...too large a gap to fill....
did it 15 years ago to my '72 and that puppy don't leak a DROP....even into a tropical at 80 mph....
NO water down the kick panels either....I WIN....
