Just purchased a 1986 IROC-Z28 wl t tops and the passenger side t top leaks a little.


Any good ideas to prevent this from happening?

 

mine leaks too, really bad when it rains heavy, but not too often. Im not sure what else you can do to fix it besides replace the weatherstrips, but i have never really looked into it before.

 

Weatherstipping is only part of the equation, there are ways to adjust the panels to sit tighter down to the body. One way is to adjust the mounts which connect your t tops to the body. You should be able to adjust them by removing the plastic trim and then adjusting the actuall reciever for the pin (or hook, depending on the style). Should be Pin on an 86'. Once you get the trim off you should just have to loosen the bolts that hold the mounting plates, and just adjust them, tighten the bolts, and test it out. Adjust untill they seal nice and tight.

 

yea i figured there was something else to it, but like i said i have never really looked into it..but thanks for the info. I might need to do this soon with all the thunderstorms lately

 

I know what you mean, back before I had a garage for my Trans Am I'd have to leave towels all over my driverside on rainy days/weeks to soak up most of the water, when mildew started becoming an issue I replaced the weather stripping and it was still happening. After I thought about it and adjusted the mounting plates, and it stopped leaking. Its by far the most overlooked cause of Ttop leaks.

 

I was told that for a temporary fix you can put a piece of foam in between the t top and the car to make a tighter seal

 

Putting some dense foam in between might do the trick if you are short on time, but honestly its better long run to just do the adjustment, it took me about 25 minutes to get it all figured out once I got the trim peices off, so I may have spent an hour tops from disassmebly to reassembly.

 

that's not bad at all. I'm excited to start driving and working on my IROC. I'm at school for a few more weeks then I get to go back home and enjoy it all summer.

 

3M Gasket Seal/Weatherstrip Adhesive - available at any auto parts store. It's black, dries really just like weatherstripping. Where the weatherstripping meets the car, a small bead all around (clean the surfaces first with some brake cleaner on a rag, then wipe with the rag). Then take finger and mash it all along the edges where the weatherstripping meets the body. Let dry for the rest of day if possible with the tops out of the car. This stuff works great, just sealed up my T-tops on my 4th gen car.