Top Delaminating
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,447
Likes: 743
From: Lincoln Nebraska
Top Delaminating
Two months ago, I bought a top from a forum member that reported it was off an ’09. I didn’t inspect the top nearly as closely as I should have partially due to the fact that I figured an ’09 top shouldn’t have any issues. I was taking the top to have it painted today when I noticed the top is delaminating from the frame.
In y'all's opinion, is there a way to glue the top well enough to trust it? I bought the top to have as a backup for the clear top that I run most of the time but want it “right” if / when I do use it.
Thanks!
In y'all's opinion, is there a way to glue the top well enough to trust it? I bought the top to have as a backup for the clear top that I run most of the time but want it “right” if / when I do use it.
Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
If it's really an '09 top I wouldn't expect it to do that. It might be something totally different from the original delam issues or, might really be an older top. I don't have an answer except maybe ask in C6 General and/or PM Talon90. I think there was a glue fix that came along after the original foam fix that didn't work. There is a lot of experience with the top issue in C6 General so you might find there is hope for yours. I have a vert so no personal experience. Good luck. 
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,909
Likes: 2,701
From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
If the top is separating from the frame (can you slip a credit card or thin feeler gage between the two) there is no repair. It's junk. Try to get your money back.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
If I remember correctly, the bad tops(polycarbonate) were black and the good tops(SMC) were white. You will have to remove the liner to see the color. If you have the black top, the seller screwed you, as it's not off a 2009.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,909
Likes: 2,701
From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,347
Likes: 25
From: Apache Junction AZ
BJK
Last edited by 07MontRedcp; Dec 18, 2010 at 12:04 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,909
Likes: 2,701
From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 11,139
Likes: 1,910
From: Missouri City, TX
If its polycarbonate, it can't be glued permanently. GM tried that already.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,447
Likes: 743
From: Lincoln Nebraska
Thanks to each of you. It sounds like I got poked on the deal.
I guess shame on me since I didn't look at it closely before now.
Lesson learned. I might post a picture tomorrow just to ensure it's as bad as I think it is.
I appreciate your comments!
I guess shame on me since I didn't look at it closely before now.
Lesson learned. I might post a picture tomorrow just to ensure it's as bad as I think it is.
I appreciate your comments!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,492
Likes: 807
From: West coast CA
The safety recall applied, I assume, only to cars shipped with the defective roof, and not to the roofs themselves.
If the purpose was to hold GM accountable for the safety of motorists who might be struck by flying roof panels, they should replace all the bad roofs that left their factory, regardless of where you got it. I doubt that this is the policy, though.
Were the dealers that performed the original recall work required to send the bad roofs (sans latch hardware, of course) back to the factory for destruction? Probably not.
You might try calling GM and asking nicely.
If the purpose was to hold GM accountable for the safety of motorists who might be struck by flying roof panels, they should replace all the bad roofs that left their factory, regardless of where you got it. I doubt that this is the policy, though.
Were the dealers that performed the original recall work required to send the bad roofs (sans latch hardware, of course) back to the factory for destruction? Probably not.
You might try calling GM and asking nicely.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,909
Likes: 2,701
From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
I don't think so. Back in 06 when this problem really hit the fan, I remember looking in the dumpster at my local dealer while my car was in for service and saw a discarded top in there.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,447
Likes: 743
From: Lincoln Nebraska
Guys - Many thanks for your advise - I really appreciate it. I posted another thread on the General forum along with pictures. It can be located here.....
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...ive-issue.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...ive-issue.html
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 3
From: Austin, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Houston, Dallas, Hong Kong, Elgin, etc.. Texas
If you can't get your money back from the seller, your first option is to contact your local GM dealer to see if they will replace under the safety recall. My guess is the odds are pretty low, but they may do it just to make sure its out of circulation. You never know until you try.
The next option is to re-glue it. 3M has an amazing array of commercial bonding products and I am sure they have one for this. You have to peel off the roof skin, grind off the original glue, prep the areas to be bonded, then bond the skin back on using the appropriate 3M adhesive. I bet the original problem was the lack of surface proper preparation of the Lexan skin on the part of the manufacturer.
The last option is to toss it out, of course.
The next option is to re-glue it. 3M has an amazing array of commercial bonding products and I am sure they have one for this. You have to peel off the roof skin, grind off the original glue, prep the areas to be bonded, then bond the skin back on using the appropriate 3M adhesive. I bet the original problem was the lack of surface proper preparation of the Lexan skin on the part of the manufacturer.
The last option is to toss it out, of course.
Last edited by Mez; Dec 19, 2010 at 06:51 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
If the seller is a forum member and mis-represented what was sold to you, contact a moderator and supply the information to him. They have no power over the transaction but they might elect to contact the seller. I have no idea but fraud is fraud.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 2
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
If you can't get your money back from the seller, your first option is to contact your local GM dealer to see if they will replace under the safety recall. My guess is the odds are pretty low, but they may do it just to make sure its out of circulation. You never know until you try.
The next option is to re-glue it. 3M has an amazing array of commercial bonding products and I am sure they have one for this. You have to peel off the roof skin, grind off the original glue, prep the areas to be bonded, then bond the skin back on using the appropriate 3M adhesive. I bet the original problem was the lack of surface proper preparation of the Lexan skin on the part of the manufacturer.
The last option is to toss it out, of course.
The next option is to re-glue it. 3M has an amazing array of commercial bonding products and I am sure they have one for this. You have to peel off the roof skin, grind off the original glue, prep the areas to be bonded, then bond the skin back on using the appropriate 3M adhesive. I bet the original problem was the lack of surface proper preparation of the Lexan skin on the part of the manufacturer.
The last option is to toss it out, of course.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,909
Likes: 2,701
From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
The only reason I don't think is going to work is that if there were a way to re-glue it and have it hold, I think GM would have found it. Rather than replacing the top with a different material as they ended up doing.