mac86

iTrader: (1)

I have been noticing a discoloration and some bubbling between the t tops and the hatch, and thought it was just some rust, and put it off for a few. I just had a wack at it today, wite brush and screw driver, and it seems to me that it is rotted out. it is only in the center of this piece. i knock on the outsides of it, and it sounds like you are knocking on fenders, like normal, but when i knock on the center, it sounds like knocking on plastic and when you push on it you hear a crunching between the metal. im guessing bad. there are little holes under the paint, i learned it the hard way. they are small holes, but it sounds like the damage is bad on the inside. i will post pics soon when i get the chance but i want to kno wut u guys think and what i shud do. my neighbor said as a joke to get it converted to a convertible.i dont know which to do. get a new roller, or cut the rusted area away, and weld a new one in. IM ALL ABOUT SAVING CAMAROS so im not gonna scrap it. i hate it when people tear them apart instead of saving them. anyway lemme kno wut u guys think. i need answers, and if anyone else has had this problem, share ur story of wut u did. thanks.

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

Here is a good thread about what is involved to fix that rust.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...-top-seal.html
I have my car in the shop and had rust issues. Mine weren't as bad, but the body man had to add metal to the lip that holds the weatherstrip after he cleaned out the rust.

mac86

iTrader: (1)

thanks. anyone else?

mac86

iTrader: (1)

how do i take out the t top center bar

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

Unscrew it and pry it off.

mac86

iTrader: (1)

k thanks

mac86

iTrader: (1)

anyone else?

haps

iTrader: (4)

Pics man, we need pics.

mac86

iTrader: (1)

k i actually got to work today. i took off the t top center bar, and removed the seals around that area. luckily there are no holes. just some rotting of the seal tracks. It seems that the rust is going from the inside out. here are some pics.

seal track areas

http://s1134.photobucket.com/albums/...rent=rust6.jpg

http://s1134.photobucket.com/albums/...%3Drust2-1.jpg

Behind t tops:

http://s1134.photobucket.com/albums/...nt%3Drust5.jpg

doesnt look like anything but there is small bubbles everywhere.

http://s1134.photobucket.com/albums/...%3Drust1-2.jpg

the worst of the worst

this one shows where the location is better.

http://s1134.photobucket.com/albums/...%3Drust3-1.jpg

and the center bar:

http://s1134.photobucket.com/albums/...nt%3Drust4.jpg

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

It looks like somebody tried to touch up those rust spots already. It also looks like they changed those seals because they aren't even glued in. Those spots on the roof are probably a big headache. When you have at it with a wire wheel you will probably see those go all the way through.

mac86

iTrader: (1)

i replaced the seals before. the pics i took were after i removed all the glue. man do my fingers hurt. anyway, that is wat is going to happen exactly, but i was the one who touched them up on the roof. just temporarily. before it looked like the original paint, but it was bubbled. that is how i found out. in the summer i am probably going to cut away the sheet metal there, and slowly cut further and further until i get all the rust, then replace the sheet metal, fill the area so it is flush, and smooth, and then goes paint.

mac86

iTrader: (1)

i still hear a crunching under the paint in that spot too when i press on it. i guess it is the rust crumbling. cant put this off anymore