Help with GM T-top seals!!

[scot w.]

Is there a trick about these GM t-top seals? cause mine fit like sh*t! still has the big gap at the top of the glass at the back, The seals appear to be too long too This is so far the biggest pain in the arss iv'e been through with this car. Any tips? is the window adjustable or something? This sucks!!! Please help out if you can.. Scot w.

 

[BLACKHAWK]

the car has factory or dealer installed t-tops?

 

[Frank718]

the car has factory or dealer installed t-tops?

How would you tell tthem apart because I need to get a set. Thanks in advance and happy holidays.

 

[BLACKHAWK]

i can tell be looking at the roof of the car,my car has dealer installed tops(hate them).the factory installed comes out inches to the front of the top of the car towards the windshield,the dealer is a few inches back,hope that helps,if u post some pics of the top of the car i can tell u right away.

 

[scot w.]

the car has factory or dealer installed t-tops?

They start 1" from the widshield moulding. it looks like they are factory t-tops. but the fitment of the new GM weatherstripping sucks!! especially at the top of the window towards the rear of the car, right in that 90deg corner. I'm looking for someone who has done a set or two of these to tell me if there is any tricks to the fitment.. Thanks.

 

[David65]

How would you tell tthem apart because I need to get a set.

If the car came from the factory with t-top's, there should be "CC1" on the SPID sticker on the trunk lid. At least on the 87's anyway...

 

[mark ace]

can you lift your door up & down, does your door sag ? kirban has a book on window issues lots of good info!

 

[scot w.]

Okay guys, I just need to have someone here who has installed these t-top seals before to post there tips on how they got them to seal good. Thats all. The doors don't sag! the t-tops ARE factory so getting GM seals should have been the way to go you would think! We can now rule out: factory vs aftermarket. also NO sagging doors! IT IS THE FIT OF THE NEW WEATHERSTRIPPING up in the top corner thats all....

 

[mark ace]

Okay guys, I just need to have someone here who has installed these t-top seals before to post there tips on how they got them to seal good. Thats all. The doors don't sag! the t-tops ARE factory so getting GM seals should have been the way to go you would think! We can now rule out: factory vs aftermarket. also NO sagging doors! IT IS THE FIT OF THE NEW WEATHERSTRIPPING up in the top corner thats all....

you asked for help the window in the door is adjustable i just replaced mine today and had to raise it in the rear to get it to seal good! i was assumeing you were talking about the window to t-top. try posting a picture so we can see the problem area

 

[STAGE 2]

I replaced all of my weatherstripping a couple of years ago. Here are the two biggest things I learned from it. First, get the black 3M weatherstrip adhesive. Be LIBERAL with it. Be careful because it strips pain, but be liberal.

Second, and most important, do a test fit with the weatherstripping on the t-tops. I didn't do this and I have a 1/4" gap between the roof seals and the seals on the t-tops themselves.

Part of the problem is just that these are crappy parts so they aren't just going to drop in and fit right. However if you are liberal with the adhesive you will be abe to stretch the seals to where they will fit properly.

 

[scot w.]

you asked for help the window in the door is adjustable i just replaced mine today and had to raise it in the rear to get it to seal good! i was assumeing you were talking about the window to t-top. try posting a picture so we can see the problem area

After the holidays I will have time to pull the door panel off and check the window, cause the glass near the outside door handle wiggles quite a bit so i'm sure it needs adjusting. Iv'e had time to calm down now after this so now I can approch it with a different view. Thanks, Scot w.

 

[Jerryl]

After the holidays I will have time to pull the door panel off and check the window, cause the glass near the outside door handle wiggles quite a bit so i'm sure it needs adjusting. Iv'e had time to calm down now after this so now I can approch it with a different view. Thanks, Scot w.

Yeah, it "can" can pretty emotional at times.
I got all new GM t-top seals about a year ago and would be VERY interested in the final outcome. Mine will be put on by the body shop though.

 

[scot w.]

I replaced all of my weatherstripping a couple of years ago. Here are the two biggest things I learned from it. First, get the black 3M weatherstrip adhesive. Be LIBERAL with it. Be careful because it strips pain, but be liberal.

Second, and most important, do a test fit with the weatherstripping on the t-tops. I didn't do this and I have a 1/4" gap between the roof seals and the seals on the t-tops themselves.

Part of the problem is just that these are crappy parts so they aren't just going to drop in and fit right. However if you are liberal with the adhesive you will be abe to stretch the seals to where they will fit properly.

This was a test fit! I did'nt use any adhesive yet. and it's not that I need to stretch it , it appeared to be too long!! and I had to bunch it up in the straight sections. The corners HAVE to go in the corners and the ends HAVE to go where they are supposed to with the screws, so that basicly leaves you with straight sections that are TOO LONG. I would think that weatherstripping should be just a tad bit short! cause it's ALOT easyier to stretch it than it is to bunch it up and make it fit.. Kinda sucks!! But I'll either send the seals back and put the old ones back on or just make do with this junk!! Scot w.

In this pic it shows that the seals are too long. I have already tried to slid that out of it and it just bunches up and ripples the seal along the body.. It SUCKS!!!!!

 

["More Boost"]

i used to work at a chevy dealership in the service dept. and whenever we got vehicles i n that needed new seals. we would send them to the body shop. sometimes they would have to trial fit 2-3 different (same part no#s) seals to get a perfect fit. i realise this doesnt help you with your problem but just letting u know what the dealerships sometimes had to go through i realise you (we) cant afford to buy 3 sets of t-top seals at $300 a set to do this. anyway, i have put a set of gm seals on my car, they werent too long like yours. but they are a real beach. when you removed your factory seals did u notice an awful lot of (dumb-dumb) gm sealer underneath your old seals? you must replace all this crap (just like gm did originally) or they will leak. not sure if this will help u, just my 2 cents, Good Luck

 

[scot w.]

i used to work at a chevy dealership in the service dept. and whenever we got vehicles i n that needed new seals. we would send them to the body shop. sometimes they would have to trial fit 2-3 different (same part no#s) seals to get a perfect fit. i realise this doesnt help you with your problem but just letting u know what the dealerships sometimes had to go through i realise you (we) cant afford to buy 3 sets of t-top seals at $300 a set to do this. anyway, i have put a set of gm seals on my car, they werent too long like yours. but they are a real beach. when you removed your factory seals did u notice an awful lot of (dumb-dumb) gm sealer underneath your old seals? you must replace all this crap (just like gm did originally) or they will leak. not sure if this will help u, just my 2 cents, Good Luck

Yes I replaced the (dumb-dumb) Window seal (buthl tape) The black scammer stuff. But that stuff would'nt have anything to do with helping out long seals.. ??

 

[scot w.]

Stupid Editing Time Limit!!

Here's the picture that I could'nt beat the stupid edit timer...




This is the only area that i'm having problems with...

 

[bishir]

I"ve done this job and I remember mine looking that way too, but I let them sit out of the package for awhile and the seemed to "plump up" and shrink a little. When your craming it in the groove you'll use a little more material so hopefully it waill take up the slack you have. Do make sure you use plenty of the adhesive and get around the trim bolts as well as they can be a source of leakage later on. Mine turned out great and I didn't feel like I had a clue what I was doing. Good luck!

James