HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

If your convertible top is rubbing the paint off the rear lid at the canvas seamwork, this is your solution.

Gasket, Part Number: 10319827 $95.00 special ordered from a GM dealership


The problem is completely resolved through the increased distance created between the canvas material and the painted surface. The new replacement rubber gasket has more crush resistance across the entire rear.....between the abrasion spots, keeping a consistent increased gap between the canvas top and the rear painted cover.

Installation takes one hour.

The replacement process is tricky as access to four 8mm nuts is difficult. You'll need a 1/4" ratchet and an 8mm sized 1/4" socket. I do not recommend using an 8mm box wrench or other non-ratcheted socket wrench, as the tight space would double the over-all installation time. I used a Craftsman 1/4" socket wrench which is very small and smooth at the head which applies less pressure to the canvas top. Some of those cheaper/larger headed socket wrenches could damage the canvas.

Here are the steps for installation. It is 100% done while standing outside.

- open the rear cover and then close the canvas top so it is suspended over the trunk.
- note the replacement gasket has 2 threaded rods on each end. The original gasket also has them.
- referencing the new gasket, size up the location of the old gasket rods.
- in those locations, feel from the inside, a cheap rubber stickyback pad. The pad is actually two pads, one with clearance holes for the nuts, and one to cover over the nuts. It will be wrinkled and disorganzed.
- carefully peel out the 2 part stickyback cheap rubber pads. Try not to tear them as they will need to be reused. Once removed, your 8mm nuts are exposed.
- remove the 4 nuts, two on each side. This is done while standing outside twisting your arms through the door windows and from below. Raising the back window at times can help.
- IMPORTANT....make note which side of the new gasket goes on which side of the car, then peel off the old rubber gasket with ease.

Installing the new gasket. DO NOT try to slide the new gasket through the channel as the rubber will tear. Follow this procedure carefully.

- AGAIN, BE SURE the proper end of the new gasket is on the proper side of the car
- install the new gasket ends into the frame using the four 8mm nuts, leaving the rest of the gasket resting in the trunk. BE SURE the gasket is not twisted or you'll have to unscrew one end again end and untwist it.
- install the cheep stickback rubber pads that cover the nuts
- raise the rear window vertically
- Using your fingers only...no tools....wedge the outward facing lip of the gasket into the channel's outward edge, and press the inward edge into the channel. This is tricky, but once you get it started, it goes fairly quickly.
- once the entire gasket is snapped in, inspect the inward side through the use of a flat screw driver or puddy knife. Carefully pull back the rubber to inspect that the lip of the gasket has seated properly in the channel.
- Perform the same inspection for the outward facing channel, "dressing" the rubber flap of the gasket along the way.

If I had this process before I started, it would have been much easier with no damage. As I had no clue what I was doing, I tore a stickyback nut-pad, and also the new rear gasket a little trying to slide it into the channel instead of wedging it in. All is still well though. The gasket works great with a great seal. The gasket tear was minor.

Ron Dittmer
2001 Convertible

 

Someone was asking, so here it is again.

 

Ron, are you aware there is a TSB which addresses the problem using that seal? Some members can probably have this done under warranty at their dealer.

1998-2001: Service Bulletin: Paint Wear Through at Fifth Bow (Replace Seal)
Source: Chevrolet Dealer Service Bulletin
Number: 02-08-111-001
Date: 02/05/2002
Subject: Paint Wear Through at Fifth Bow (Replace Seal)
Model Year: 1998-2001 Chevrolet Corvette

Condition
Some customers may comment that the paint around the tonneau cover at the 5th bow is wearing through.

Correction
Replace the 5th bow seal using the following procedure:


Position the folding top with bows 1 & 5 in the up position.

Open the stowage lid and position the seats forward.

Close the top (with the stowage lid open).

Remove the right and left hand weatherstrip retaining nuts.

Position the folding top with bows 1 & 5 in the up position.

Remove the weatherstrip from the vehicle.

Install weatherstrip to #5 bow.

Install the right and left hand weatherstrip retaining nuts.

Position the folding top with bows 1 & 5 in the up position and reposition the seats.

Close the stowage lid and folding top.


Parts Information
Part Number
Description

10319827
Weatherstrip ASM-F/Top RR



Parts are currently available from GMSPO.

Warranty Information

For vehicles repaired under warranty, use:

Labor Operation
Description
Labor Time

B3160
Seal, No. 5 Bow- Replace
0.6 hr



GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.


© Copyright General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

Yes, I agree that some people who have their convertibles still under warrantee, can get this resolved free of charge.

Even though my vert was just beyond it's warrantee, I went to my dealer who had a procedure for cars in warrantee that did not involve replacing the gasket with the redesigned one. I tried that on mine with no results. The redesigned gasket is the only solution.

I understand the problem was resolved for 2002. That means the cars affected are the 98 to 01. Just about all of those owners are beyond their 3 year full warrantee. I suppose there are a few owners who have paid to extend that warrantee. They can get this resolved for free, as long as their dealer actually replaces the gasket with the redesigned one, and not do what my dealer was instructed to do.

Can anyone confirm the issue was resolved by 2002?

 

Can you be more specific as the location of the paint rubbing on the lid? I have some wear . But I thought it was caused by having the seats too far back and hitting the lid.

Thanks for the info.

98Droptop

 

Damage seen only with the top folded away, but identified with the top up.

With the top up, identify the stitched seam work that runs down each side of the rear window. The material is extra thick there due to the multiple layers of canvas material that construct the seam. Note how it rolls over at the bottom by the painted surface. Because the multiple layers of seam material is so thick, the seam itself rests on the painted surface. When driving the car, vibration makes the canvas rub the paint off, just aft of the cover's hard rubber strip. The size of the damaged paint is about 1/4 the size of a dime per side.

The replacement of the top's soft rubber strip, makes the rear of the top rest higher, so there is adequate clearence beween the canvas seam material and the paint.

You can easily identify your rubber strip, if it is the right one or the wrong one. Partially open the canvas top so the rear window is in the vertical position. This will allow you to inspect the soft rubber strip of the top. Press in along the entire length of the soft rubber strip. The rubber should be denser between seams, and more plyable from the seam forward to the doors.

The old/bad rubber strip has the same soft density throughout.

I hope this clarifies it.

Ron

 

My 58 was the same way...

 

I had mine replaced with the new gasket under warrantee and they repainted they toneau cover.

 

Any ideas of where one could buy this part number 10319827 (without paying 2 or 3 times the $95 price)?
thanks

BTW - not available from Cultrag

 

To the OP - thanks for posting this info.
After owning my 2001 vert for several years I finally got around to doing the swap. The part is not available from GM any longer. But a few vendors sell a reproduction (mine was made by Corvette Rubber Company).
It is tricky to shove the molding into the channel, especially if you have fat fingers. I used a couple of plastic and wooden sticks - sort of like chopstick, popsicle stick, and one side of an old-fashioned clothes-pin.
Not sure how I would have completed it without the good instructions provided here on CorvetteForum.
The back edge of the top now rides about 1/4" off the tonneau cover. Nice!!

 

What a great job on the instructional video!! Thanks so much.

 

What video?

 

Sorry…I apparently hit the wrong button. It's in C6 general discussion under 'Tonneau cover hits convertible top' (w/video).

Not sure if it applies to the C5 or not. If it does you will surely enjoy it, as it was really well done.