C5 Convertible Top Rear Window
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
C5 Convertible Top Rear Window
Hi to Everyone - New User Here!!
Have a tech. question on '98 convertible rear window - the rear window came loose from the top material leaving the 'heat set' adhesive strip intact on the top material. Dealer and National Service both say new top $3400 plus labor. I don't want to buy a new car, just reattach the window, which by the way has safety straps to prevent crashing, so becoming unglued must have been foreseen though I can find no one who will admit to having ever seen one come loose. I need a recommendation for best adhesive to use to reattach glass to strip on top. Anyone seen this before?
Thanks Carguy
Have a tech. question on '98 convertible rear window - the rear window came loose from the top material leaving the 'heat set' adhesive strip intact on the top material. Dealer and National Service both say new top $3400 plus labor. I don't want to buy a new car, just reattach the window, which by the way has safety straps to prevent crashing, so becoming unglued must have been foreseen though I can find no one who will admit to having ever seen one come loose. I need a recommendation for best adhesive to use to reattach glass to strip on top. Anyone seen this before?
Thanks Carguy
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 1
From: Lafayette CA
$3,400 for a top? Must be the dealership price. I think MidAmerica has them for under $500. They are a supporting vendor. Check the vendor section. They might also be able to tell you how to fix yours. I hear they are very helpful to work with.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
From: Fredericksburg Va
Originally Posted by carguy1507
Hi to Everyone - New User Here!!
Have a tech. question on '98 convertible rear window - the rear window came loose from the top material leaving the 'heat set' adhesive strip intact on the top material. Dealer and National Service both say new top $3400 plus labor. I don't want to buy a new car, just reattach the window, which by the way has safety straps to prevent crashing, so becoming unglued must have been foreseen though I can find no one who will admit to having ever seen one come loose. I need a recommendation for best adhesive to use to reattach glass to strip on top. Anyone seen this before?
Thanks Carguy
Have a tech. question on '98 convertible rear window - the rear window came loose from the top material leaving the 'heat set' adhesive strip intact on the top material. Dealer and National Service both say new top $3400 plus labor. I don't want to buy a new car, just reattach the window, which by the way has safety straps to prevent crashing, so becoming unglued must have been foreseen though I can find no one who will admit to having ever seen one come loose. I need a recommendation for best adhesive to use to reattach glass to strip on top. Anyone seen this before?
Thanks Carguy
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,515
Likes: 17
From: Keller, TX
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by carguy1507
Hi to Everyone - New User Here!!
Have a tech. question on '98 convertible rear window - the rear window came loose from the top material leaving the 'heat set' adhesive strip intact on the top material. Dealer and National Service both say new top $3400 plus labor. I don't want to buy a new car, just reattach the window, which by the way has safety straps to prevent crashing, so becoming unglued must have been foreseen though I can find no one who will admit to having ever seen one come loose. I need a recommendation for best adhesive to use to reattach glass to strip on top. Anyone seen this before?
Thanks Carguy
Have a tech. question on '98 convertible rear window - the rear window came loose from the top material leaving the 'heat set' adhesive strip intact on the top material. Dealer and National Service both say new top $3400 plus labor. I don't want to buy a new car, just reattach the window, which by the way has safety straps to prevent crashing, so becoming unglued must have been foreseen though I can find no one who will admit to having ever seen one come loose. I need a recommendation for best adhesive to use to reattach glass to strip on top. Anyone seen this before?
Thanks Carguy
Also do a search... there was a recent thread on this an some had good suggestions on adhesives.
HTH
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas 2005 National Champs in Football and Baseball.
Convertible tops are best left to experts. The penalty for doing it wrong is too great. Recommend you find a reputable, independent top shop near you and seek their professional advice and assistance. It won't cost any where near $3400 and you'll get a first class job.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,266
Likes: 156
From: Galloway Twp. NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Originally Posted by Shane_S
I Love JB Weld. But i'm not sure about using it on a surface as smooth as glass. I say hit up MidAmerica.
Shane
Shane
I'd say use the JB weld!
I'm one of the people that used the JB weld on the rear window glass, it's still holding after more than 1 1/2 years.
I couldn't see buying a new top just because the rear window adhesive wasn't holding anymore, I priced a new top at around $350.00 and another couple hundred to have it installed at a local shop that specializes in convertible tops and interiors. ( NEVER take the car to the dealer, they'll rape you EVERY time!)
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 273
Likes: 39
From: SC
This just happened to me 6 weeks ago. Bad timing too because I was going to close on selling my house and relocate down south. Went to Home Depot and found "Perfect Glue 2", made my Liquid Nails. They had a perfect glue 1 but #2 sounded like the right one to use. I put in on with the top up, ran a bead from where it separated in the middle of the window all the way across to the other side. Then I applied pressure with 3 rolls of paper towels and let it sit for 3 hours. Once I settled on the house, I drove 500 miles to SC, drive started with lots of rain from N. VA. thru Richmond, VA. Still holding good at this time, this on a 2000 vert.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 24,921
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville, TN
CI 3-4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude '03 thru '26
Originally Posted by RPOZ4Z
I'd say use the JB weld!
I'm one of the people that used the JB weld on the rear window glass, it's still holding after more than 1 1/2 years.
I couldn't see buying a new top just because the rear window adhesive wasn't holding anymore, I priced a new top at around $350.00 and another couple hundred to have it installed at a local shop that specializes in convertible tops and interiors. ( NEVER take the car to the dealer, they'll rape you EVERY time!)
I'm one of the people that used the JB weld on the rear window glass, it's still holding after more than 1 1/2 years.
I couldn't see buying a new top just because the rear window adhesive wasn't holding anymore, I priced a new top at around $350.00 and another couple hundred to have it installed at a local shop that specializes in convertible tops and interiors. ( NEVER take the car to the dealer, they'll rape you EVERY time!)
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,058
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
Originally Posted by carguy1507
Hi to Everyone - New User Here!!
Have a tech. question on '98 convertible rear window - the rear window came loose from the top material leaving the 'heat set' adhesive strip intact on the top material. Dealer and National Service both say new top $3400 plus labor. I don't want to buy a new car, just reattach the window, which by the way has safety straps to prevent crashing, so becoming unglued must have been foreseen though I can find no one who will admit to having ever seen one come loose. I need a recommendation for best adhesive to use to reattach glass to strip on top. Anyone seen this before?
Thanks Carguy
Have a tech. question on '98 convertible rear window - the rear window came loose from the top material leaving the 'heat set' adhesive strip intact on the top material. Dealer and National Service both say new top $3400 plus labor. I don't want to buy a new car, just reattach the window, which by the way has safety straps to prevent crashing, so becoming unglued must have been foreseen though I can find no one who will admit to having ever seen one come loose. I need a recommendation for best adhesive to use to reattach glass to strip on top. Anyone seen this before?
Thanks Carguy
