T-Top Project.

[MP81]

Okay, I had another topic about how my t-tops leaked, and we pretty much figured out why.

(See first pictures)

So, I finally got around to buying a new center section on eBay for like $50 (with shipping). It's got a little surface rust, but I'm going to get all of that off with some steel wool and then paint the entire thing with some anti-rust black paint.

(Pictures of the new piece are after the current one)

Now, I've read about people taking the stock pieces off when they bought the car and putting silicone under them or something? How can I go about sealing this thing so I don't get leaks or have it rust out like before? I know it can be done - I just need to know how.

Thanks.

Also - what would be the best way to safely remove the weatherstripping - I put it on in the summer, and I'm not spending another $200 to replace it again. I remember Jeff mentioning a heat gun...

[96BlackBetty]

U should be able to just pull the old weather stipping right off. Are U doing all of it? It should just come off with a tug. Most likely has some kinda sticky stuff to it put u should rip anything while doing it. I cant help ya with replacing that center section Ive never done it nore have I looked into on how u do it. But ill try to find out for ya.

[SlyStoner421]

looks like u need to redo your headliner as well.

use sandpaper or scrap it doesnt really matter i wouldnt think. youll be painting anyways, just cover everything up so you dont over spray.

make sure if its a 3M style sticking adhesive you CLEAN like yous never cleaned before using alcohol and prep wipes, otherwise you wasted 50 bucks

[MP81]

looks like u need to redo your headliner as well.

Yeah - that does need to be redone, as well as new foam (or plastic), after I put this new center bar on.

use sandpaper or scrap it doesnt really matter i wouldnt think. youll be painting anyways, just cover everything up so you dont over spray.

Yeah, it'll be painted before going on. Should I paint everything flat black (like it is now), or should I go with the top part (where the tops slide under, and is visible with them on) being gloss black?

make sure if its a 3M style sticking adhesive you CLEAN like yous never cleaned before using alcohol and prep wipes, otherwise you wasted 50 bucks

Adhesive for what?

Also - I noticed two adhesive pads on the bottom of the part. Obviously they aren't sticky anymore, but are they nessecary. Will I need new ones?

[SlyStoner421]

i was under the impression your new weather striping was adhesive for some reason.

if the adhesive pads on the center bar are bad i would replace them with something it probley has to do with rattling or vibration problems.

[MP81]

Yeah - they're just not really sticky on the part that would go to the body.

Aww, no the weatherstripping (OER, from Year One) that I put on in the summer just used regular weatherstripping adhesive - so I really hope that a heat gun will be able to break the bond because of where I had to put it (the adhesive).

I'm really not up for another $180 or so to replace the weatherstripping again.

[MP81]

Okay, so I've taken a wire brush to the surface rust spots, and done what I could with them.

Then I painted everything with a coat of Krylon Rust Eliminator flat-black paint.

Still need to get all the existing stripping (very small amounts) off the thing with my heat gun, but I needed to get this thing coated, so no more rust would form.

[SoulTerror]

Looking good.