Originally posted by 84c10
No offense taken Nathyn, I actually appreciate the debate and all going on. I'm playing a devils advocate and thinking aloud, hoping someone else would chime in actually...
The parts I am more concerned with are the long flat panels that are near the windshield,not so much the center beam. On the center beam I agree with you 100% that the odds of water leaking out are minimal. The two flat rails however usually rust out from underneath, or at least that has been the epxerience from cars I've owned and parts cars I had. Then again, who knows what people are going to opt for powdercoat vs plain panels as they are offered both ways. I'm just thinking aloud here, anyone else feel free to chime in
I'm probablly not the other opinion you want to here from
Having had over 40 t-top cars thru here I can tell you that the rot in the front & the other steel parts is from improper seal installation or the tops were ignored once leaks & rotting had begun.
I have seen 54K miles Gn's with major rot once the plates & seals were removed.I've also seen 70K mile T-top cars with no rot.Mainly because they were never removed or garaged kept.
We ahd to sell a complete rust free roof to a customer in texas with a 38K mile Monte Carlo SS.The roof came from a 89K mile Burgundy Monte carlo SS
With the seals properlly installed & maintained there "should" be no water going to the mild steel.That is the way it was engineered.The exposed parts that we are doing is the most common problem.Front retainers normally rot out from the outside edge & work their way in.his is due to the t-top pressure on the top plate & wearing off the paint & exposing bare metal. The top plates start from underneath untill you get bubbling on the surface of the top plate.These are rubbing against the retainer below it.These & the center rails seem to be the worse problem areas that when caught will prevent the seal from loosing it adhesion & allowing water into the mild steel area.
Once this happens & water is trapped underneath it's just a matter of time.It is no different then the roof on your home.If you see water damage starting you have to take care of it ASAP.If you don't & let it go for a few years then the damage multiplies & costs more.
Powder coating the stainless is just for the painters so that they can adhere paint to the stainless steel easily.In a different color vehicle like a t-type the reatainers should match the body color.
As far as the water entering the cracks from the trim pieces,Have you ever tried to remove the trim on the windshield That covers the top? You need a heat gun & patience unless you plan on bending them. There is double sticky sided tape That is sealed tight & then screwed in.The only places I have seen them rot is where the screw holds the trim to the body,The screw heads were never sealed.
In a perfect world the rain hits the t-tops & everything acts like a rain gutter.But even gutters need to be replaced.
Last year I sold 3 solid roof conversions for t-tops.This year 0.We have sold quite a few replacement parts & have never had a complaint yet.Not to say that no one will !!!
