Wanted to find out if maybe 100mph tape or a similar product existed to temporarily cover over the T-Top weather stripping. They only leak when pressurized water hits them, but I'd still like to cover them up, because they are getting worse day after day. Basically the loom that covers the orange stripping has dried out and is tearing. I'd rather protect them with a good tape so I don;t gotta worry when I wash the car and stuff. Anybody know of some good stuff?

 

I can't speak on the tape, but I saw a guy wth an IROC who siliconed every seam on the roof to keep them from leaking. Good grief it looked hideous...but I guess it worked. He used bathroom silicone or something, it was clear.

 

Duct tape?? I wouldnt put it on the car. The adheasive will leave residue behind after you peel the tape off the car. Not to mention that pulling the tape would result in the ripping of the weatherstripping.
You could adjust your t'top brackets to be lower on the car to make a tighter seal on the roof.

 

The leaking isnt the problem. Its mostly asthetic. I think a heavy black tape (applied meticulously of course) would look alot better than the tearing loom and the orange stripping =\

anything else?

 

Depending on how it is leaking.. where do you notice the water coming from. Mine would leak during a hard rain.. But I know exacly where the water is going.. What was wrong with mine is the water actually goes between the seal and the body.. The top it's self has never leaked. Thus water finds it's way into the car this way by passing the seals, water usually drips down on the back seat area. Other spots water finds is between where the seal on the t-top it's self meets the seal on the car. this leak usually occures on the front part. and can drip down onto the seats from there. Especially if the hard rubber shields infront of the t-top seal is broken in anyway. Do any of these sound similar to your case? What I did to correct the first problem was pull out and re-seal the seals with the proper sealant. When I did pull mine up, low and behold.. there was no sealant at all.. it had crumbled away to nothing.. so no wonder it leaked.. the front was solved by adding more sealand to the spot where the seal goes from the top corner of the t-top then down the front end of the window in the corner water got behind the seal which gave it a direct route to the spot where the seal on the t-top met the seal on the body.. I would be posting pics.. but the car is under cover in storage.. Does any of this make any sense??

 

This makes sense, buddy. You know your way around t-tops. But - I want to make them look better for the time being. So - I don;t have a terrible leaking problem. A pressurized auto-wash does the trick, small puddle on driver rear side (plastic molding)... no biggy. If I could find a good thick (strong) tape to lay over the stripping, it will look better and stop leaking until I actually re-strip and seal it up. So... no such tape exists?

 

I have an Idea.. some thing I had been thinking about..what about an type of seal similar to what some auto glass installers use around the windshield.. it looks like a "T" I have see a seal thats all rubber with a thin bottom and a semi domed top.. One could simply un lock the t-top.. slide this in between the body & the seal.. and it would over lap the body and perhaps even a bit of the t-top.. Then lock the T-top down.. and it would presure hold the rubber seal down.. It wouldn't look bad.. it does no harm to the car.. and there proably would be a really good chance it would keep the water out.. The other Idea if you want to use tape.. would be electrical tape.. and depending on the color of your car.. could just buy some in the right color.. this way it wouldn't be a noticable.. Plus electrical tape if it left any goo behind after a while.. it just cleans off with some bug & Tar remover.

 

Electrical tape - I thought that it might not be strong enough but I think it might work.

Do you have any idea what the rubber seal material is called?

 

It's hard to say.. What I can locate here in Canada.. might be different than what you might find.. If someone else from the US jumps in with some thoughts as to what it would be.. I'd have to take a look around .. Have not actually looked for it directly.. but have seen it once several years ago..

 

the tape you are looking for is called trim tape. i bought a roll at auto zone for like two bucks. it is thick and weather resistant, very sticky, just be sure to apply in medium weather.. not too cold. it will work for what you are talking about, just be **** about the cutting, dont want alot of overlapping... it dosent fold well. i used it on the black trim around the windows that wasnt going bad.. just cracking, and it improved the look drastically.. not permanent.. but good for a temporary and asthetically pleasing solution.

 

can someone please tell me why the he11 weather stripping is soo dam expensive,,,, its only RUBBER... i mean this stuff must cost pennies to make.... any comments?

 

It won't. The adhesive softens in the sun and the tape will pell off as you drive down the road.
Sctoch 1" 'clear' tape (what one would wrap presents with) works pretty well and isn't very unsightly either.

 

i think new weather strips would look better

 

The T-top body gaskets need to be maintained w/ Vasoline on a regular basis to ensure that they don't leak.
As previously mentioned, the body mounts can be lowered... thus improving the overall 'seal' of the t-tops.

Try to 'moisturize' the body gaskets w/ a light coating of Vasoline and see it they leak... they probably won't after they are soft and supple again.