What now??
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
What now??
So I drive my 'vette on a trip this weekend. Before I leave I install a new fuel pump (and I will shake THAT engineers hand!!) and all is well. Car runs great and I average 30.2 mpg over 600 miles. I am pretty happy with that - so all is well, or so I thought. On the way home I let the wife drive. I know it needs doors seals so an air leak or two I can live with. But, I have this amazing leak coming from the passenger side. Snooping around at 70 mph I find that it is coming from the top. But not the seal for the top (where it would seal against the body), from under the glass (where the glass would seal to the frame of the removable part). Now I need to know how to fix this - I am sure I am not the only person this has happened to. Can I use a silicone sealer? Or urethane? I am scared to drive this thing now for fear of the glass flying off. Any help is appreciated!!
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 157
Likes: 2
From: Fayetteville Ga
I had the same issue when I bought my Vette. Everything seemed fine during the test drive. Then, about 50 miles into a 500 mile trip home, it started to separate. I used (alot) duct tape (laugh but it worked) to make it home.
Here's the tricky part, bad news I'm afraid. You better start saving for another top. Once they begin to separate, they can't be trusted at high speeds.
If you can get the tip of a adhesive caulking gun in there, you can use windshield adheasive to hold it together for now. The factory adhesive is not available anywhere I could find.
I took the glass apart from the frame and cleaned off the old adhesive. But I've been warned by several reputable targa top remanufacturers not to attempt a repair. The factory adhesive must be used, and the glass and base must be held together by a special press while it's drying.
Check eBay for deals on used ones if $$$ is tight. But I would strongly recommend spending the extra $$$ and getting a good quality refurb with a guarantee from a reputable place.
Note the year of your Vette, there were a few changes in the front mounting configurations through 84-96, even though the glass was the same shape.
Here's the tricky part, bad news I'm afraid. You better start saving for another top. Once they begin to separate, they can't be trusted at high speeds.
If you can get the tip of a adhesive caulking gun in there, you can use windshield adheasive to hold it together for now. The factory adhesive is not available anywhere I could find.
I took the glass apart from the frame and cleaned off the old adhesive. But I've been warned by several reputable targa top remanufacturers not to attempt a repair. The factory adhesive must be used, and the glass and base must be held together by a special press while it's drying.
Check eBay for deals on used ones if $$$ is tight. But I would strongly recommend spending the extra $$$ and getting a good quality refurb with a guarantee from a reputable place.
Note the year of your Vette, there were a few changes in the front mounting configurations through 84-96, even though the glass was the same shape.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,963
Likes: 709
From: WI
My top is like that to. The forward passenger side egde is unglued from the frame part of the top. You can use C clamp and glue to fix it. I've had my car to 140 MPH without any problems. 
There are a few threads about this problem. One of the threads has details on special glue to be used. I glued mine before reading that thread. If my glue fails I'll goto the special stuff.
There are a few threads about this problem. One of the threads has details on special glue to be used. I glued mine before reading that thread. If my glue fails I'll goto the special stuff.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Duncanville Texas
glue rules
I repaired mine with structural urethane adhesive. Now that stuff really holds last time I checked just a hair less than 1000psi Its usually used for bonding panels that can't be welded.
