i have rescently found the awsome t-top rust that comes with most 3rd gen f-bodies under the t-tops any help on how to fix this problem would be great

 

Did mine last year, post pix and I will see if its close to my former mess. I will tell you what I did if it is.

 

mine had a littel too, just requires some basic metal fab and welding, well i guess that depends on how bad it is.

 

Ah yes. T-Top rust. While I was in Iraq, my loving wive bought me a 1985 Iroc TPI LB9 with lots of loving issues to fix. The one that's out of my experience range is T-Top Rust and replacing the T-Top seals. Evidently, the previous owner was less loving to the car that I'm going to be but all in all it's solid. It just suffers from typical T-Top Rust and bad shade tree mechanic work. The roof shows signs of bondo behind the T-glass and rear Hatch.

Doing custom Fab body work and welding are not issues. I have a mig, sand- blaster, Compressor, etc. I just lack the most important thing. A garage. So I need to do it between rain drops. Before I rip it apart, can anyone educate me on what to buy, order, or acquire as far as replacement seals and replacement panels before I tear it down?

Thanks in advance.

 

depending on what you would like to get, I got all my weather stripping from soffseal.com but you have to be very carfull with warpage by the roof the metal is verrrry thin take a look at something called cold steel
http://www.eastwood.com/autobody/wel...mal-paste.html

here is another t-top leak thread https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...ks-toward.html

 

If you dont have major rust and large holes you can try all-metal. I have used this numerous times for holes up to 1/2 in. and it works great. It is two part like bondo and spreads like it also. After it hardens it is very hard and durable not like bondo. I helped my dad use this stuff on a chevelle window frame on the front and rear and its been close to 10 years and there is no signs of it deterrating. You should be able to pick it up at any paint supply store.

 

thought i would add on of te whole car just for fun picked the car up for 500.00 and its a one owner

 

that an old chevy in the background? impala?

 

nope not a chevy it's a 1963 ford fairlane 500 but i picked it up for 100.00 starts runs and only surface rust sat in a field for 12 yrs

 

That's one hell of a deal. I'd LOVE to have a fairlane or galaxy. Awesome cars.

As far as the rust goes you can either sand it all of and bondo it (I'd paint with rust bullet). You can also buy a new cross bar. But they're like $200. A wee bit much for me

 

You'll need to get that cross bar off and see what damage is underneath (if any) and where the seals meet the body. That piece you pictured is replaceable, just did that on mine with a... rust free piece off an 84 and mines an 86! I guess it spent more time in a garage than mine.

 

A junkyard should have one. I pulled one at a local Upull and sent it to a guy in SD for around $30 or so. the worst part was finding a box for it. Some rust and some don't just need to find one that's in good shape.

But I agree you'll have to see what's underneath that first.

 

that was going to be my next guess lol, anyways ya the gm replacement one is 250 + shipping from what ive seen, like the other guys said you should check out a local junkyard. i found some good stuff not any f-body parts because those were completely picked over

 

 

T top rust is on anything with t tops the g body has it bad.Even the fox body mustang that had them got rust too.

 

I guess my big question. I Ordered new softseals from Summit. Should be here today. I'll need a new cross bar "or one for a u-pull." but how does that seal come out?

It appears to slide in a track of sorts. is there any sort of glue used?

 

If you are talking about the weather stripping, then it should be glued on. But with a bolt one each side are the ends. the center part come off with six philliphs screws just becarfull not to strip em. I Bought my new center bar " n.o.s" from ebay for like 75 bucks! just keep an eye out...

 

Tx, give that camaro a polish.

Sounds like these t-tops give a lot of problems. Are they worth it? i'd imagine in my area (cold winters, mild summers) i'd only get 2-3 days a year when the weather would be suitable to open the t-top up.

 

I think it just depends on the car. My theory is if they allow water in and it sits there then it can rust out. I've seen rusty cars with perfect centers in MN quite often at the junkyard.

 

I own 2 camaros both with t-tops... Both look like that... and both leak... Common problems? Anyways, I picked one up at a Upullit about an hour away from me for like 10 bucks? Just keep your eyes open.

 

While this is a very temporary fix, running black electrical tape over the rust on the t top bar cleans up the look of the car and is hardly noticeable

 

Its what under the T-top bar that may be a big problem. If thats all the rust you have in t-top area, you are very LUCKY. Thats a easy fix.

 

Yeah exactly. I had similar rust and I let it go. Here is what I'm fixing now.

 

Here's another kind of t-top rust. This will be no fun to fix...

 

 

I see all of this yet I still want a T-top both camaros I have are hard top

 

I found a T-Top bar if anyone is interested. It does have some rust on the ends but should be easy to clean up. Looking to get $30 for it.

I posted an ad here: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/exte...t-top-bar.html