Body General body information and techniques for restoration, repairs, and modifications.

t-top leaks. tired nearly everything

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 7, 2004 | 01:01 PM
  #1  
PHAT89TA's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 0
From: Newark, Ca, USA
Car: 02 ws-6
Engine: 5.7 liter
Transmission: t56
t-top leaks. tired nearly everything

aight guys i have this problems with my t-tops leaking for almost a year now. most of the leaks are on my driver side t-top where the t-top meets with the body. now it started a new leak from the rear hatch where it leaks onto my rear seats. I have tried nearly everything. I have bought new t-top weatherstrippin, it still leak. i tried silicone sealer, it still leaks, i have tried to tighten them down to where theres no play, but it still leaks. the only thing i have't done is put vasoline on but i tried silicone and it didn't worked so i believe vasoline wouldn't work either. i heard from some people that i need subframe connectors because my chassis is flexing which causes my t-tops to leak. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Reply
Old Dec 7, 2004 | 07:58 PM
  #2  
Big AL91's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: SE Ga
Car: '91 Camaro
Engine: 305ciV8LO3TBI
Transmission: Auto.
Those leaks will drive us crazy, just before being confined may I suggest if not already done so, remove the headliner and observe while testing. Even at that a careful inspection a must as the leak most likely will drip or run from its fault. Handle the headliner with a helper as damage has occured because of the leaks. As information. the T-bar, screws and failure of the sealant at each end where meets the roof is most times overlooked. Others will offer suggestions. Good Luck!
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2004 | 05:41 AM
  #3  
dr1's Avatar
dr1
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
Car: '89 Firebird Formula
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: T5
i had leaks when i bought mine, and mine already had good weatherstripping... anyways... it wasnt some kinda crazy **** like the water working its way deep under the weatherstripping, or down and over the inside part of it either
first step that cured half the problem, was sealing the outside edges of the center bar.. mine had no sealant there and water was running right in...
after heavy rains i kept noticing water was still getting in, i found that on the passenger side, the top corner of the weatherstripping near the t-bar was a little deformed from not being seated correctly i guess, and water was basically running across the glass, under the center bar, and right over the weatherstripping into the car... a buncha silicone in there ended that problem

ive had many heavy heavy rainstorms since ive done this (just tonite in fact, it poured like crazy), and havent noticed any dampness whatsoever.. and i check everytime it rains, cos i keep thinking im gonna be proved wrong and water will in fact defy gravity to get into my car like some of the people here seem to think... heh, anyways im ranting again

so anyways, id be willing to bet, for alot of people, the water is managing to get over the top of the weatherstripping near the center bar, id try sealing the top of that up good

i still have leaks on the passenger side near the window, because that ttop doesnt have the rubber drip peice on it
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2004 | 10:42 AM
  #4  
PHAT89TA's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 0
From: Newark, Ca, USA
Car: 02 ws-6
Engine: 5.7 liter
Transmission: t56
thanks for your quick response guys. The t-top weatherstrippin that i bought includes the weatherstripping that goes on the t-top. the stripping is over 5 months old. I would take off the headliner and inspect it whenever it stops raining over here . The funny thing is that when i go through the car wash, it leaks where the t-top meets with the body. But when its raining outside, it leaks where the b-pillars are located. It leaks on both sides. . I also tried silicone on the outer edges of the center bar. I put more silicone.

Last edited by PHAT89TA; Dec 8, 2004 at 10:52 AM.
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2004 | 03:37 PM
  #5  
Marc 85Z28's Avatar
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,577
Likes: 1
From: MD
You did use the GM weatherstrip kit right? If not, shame on you.

I replaced mine with the GM kit and followed GMs TSB. No leaks
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2004 | 11:43 PM
  #6  
PHAT89TA's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 0
From: Newark, Ca, USA
Car: 02 ws-6
Engine: 5.7 liter
Transmission: t56
i used gm weatherstripping
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2004 | 11:50 PM
  #7  
Rick King's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 436
Likes: 0
Car: 1987 TA
Engine: 350 stock/twecked
Transmission: 700r4
take it into a body shop and have them check to make sure that the body is not twiste up

later

rick
Reply
Old Dec 9, 2004 | 01:27 AM
  #8  
kretos's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,383
Likes: 0
From: surrey b.c. canada
Car: 89 Iroc
Engine: lb9
Transmission: wc t-5
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt 3.08 posi
take some rtv and seal them up, stops the leaking till you can get it fixed properly(new weatherstripping)
Reply
Old Dec 9, 2004 | 10:26 AM
  #9  
Marc 85Z28's Avatar
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,577
Likes: 1
From: MD
Originally posted by PHAT89TA
i used gm weatherstripping
First of all, silicone rarely seals, especially the clear stuff. Second, you followed GM's TSB 91-319-10 right? I shows where to use the strip caulk - NOT SILICONE!

Last edited by Marc 85Z28; Dec 9, 2004 at 10:30 AM.
Reply
Old Dec 9, 2004 | 12:17 PM
  #10  
PHAT89TA's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 0
From: Newark, Ca, USA
Car: 02 ws-6
Engine: 5.7 liter
Transmission: t56
i had a mechanic put the weatherstripping on for me so i dunno if he followed the the tmb 91-310-10. they did use weatherstripping adheasive. Im about to take out my weatherstripping and re-install them.
Reply
Old Dec 11, 2004 | 11:19 AM
  #11  
Gunny Highway's Avatar
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,467
Likes: 1
From: The nation's capital
Car: 91 RS
Engine: 350 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Where can I find the GM weatherstripping and that manual or reference yall keep referring to?

Mine leak whenever I wash the car or it rains heavy

EDIT: OK, well I found the GM stripping at Hawk's , but still no impact on the reference.

Last edited by Gunny Highway; Dec 11, 2004 at 11:29 AM.
Reply
Old Dec 11, 2004 | 06:41 PM
  #12  
stiers's Avatar
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 1
From: Mahtomedi, MN
If you had a mechanic put the weather stripping in then take it back to him and tell him to fix the half assed job he did putting it in.
Reply
Old Dec 11, 2004 | 08:39 PM
  #13  
Baylisstic12's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Guelph, Ontario..where snow wrecks cars!
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 305 V8 Currently being rebuilt
Transmission: 5 spd
My t-tops were leaking at the 2 front inside corners (near the windshield), all I did was replace the 2 steel plates that you see when you take the t-tops off. I guess moisture gets built up in there and they rusted. Problem fixed.
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2004 | 10:48 AM
  #14  
PHAT89TA's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 0
From: Newark, Ca, USA
Car: 02 ws-6
Engine: 5.7 liter
Transmission: t56
baylisstic i check into that. Did u buy ur metal plates at the dealers?
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2004 | 10:59 AM
  #15  
91formulaSS's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 542
Likes: 0
From: Lowell, MA
Car: 91 Formula, 95 GT
Engine: 5.7, 5.0
Transmission: T5, T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42:1, ???
Do you have any pics of these metal plates?
Reply
Old Dec 14, 2004 | 06:07 AM
  #16  
Baylisstic12's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Guelph, Ontario..where snow wrecks cars!
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 305 V8 Currently being rebuilt
Transmission: 5 spd
Sorry it took so long to get back to you, I'll post pics later on today.
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2009 | 09:13 PM
  #17  
KITT1983's Avatar
Supreme Member
15 Year Member
Liked
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,943
Likes: 20
From: Boston, MA
Car: 1983 Pontiac Trans Am Daytona 500
Engine: Crossfire 305ci V8
Transmission: Jasper 700R4 4 speed Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.23 limited slip/posi
Re: t-top leaks. tired nearly everything

any updates?
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2009 | 06:15 AM
  #18  
PHAT89TA's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 0
From: Newark, Ca, USA
Car: 02 ws-6
Engine: 5.7 liter
Transmission: t56
Re: t-top leaks. tired nearly everything

sold the car and bought a 4th gen.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
1Aauto
Sponsored Vendors
1
Jan 15, 2016 06:26 AM
86IROC112
TPI
13
Nov 27, 2015 09:54 AM
Stryker412
Cooling
14
Sep 20, 2015 06:59 PM
1Aauto
Sponsored Vendors
0
Sep 10, 2015 02:02 PM
IROCZDAVE (88-L98)
Exterior Parts for Sale
0
Sep 6, 2015 06:23 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:28 AM.