t-top rust!!

[86grandnat.]

I just recently purchased a '83 hurst olds and it has some bad t-top rust just behind the windshield on the passenger side. It's located in the corner of the windshield. I just got the t-top support bar for it, but I was wondering what methods can be done to fix the rust?? Can you just cut and weld or is there something easier, thanks in advance!

 

[Drop Top]

Its very typical for t-top cars to rust in that area. The best way to repaire it is to cut out the cancer (rust) and replace it with a piece from a doner car. Get one from a non t-top car, so it wont be in the same condition.

 

[86grandnat.]

Alright, thanks for the help! Any other suggestions out there?

 

[v8skantkeepup]

You may want to yank the windshield and cut the A-pillers on both sides, then cut as far back as you need to on the center T-channel...The drawback is you'll have to find the new part from a pretty clean t-top car. G-body T-top cars were notorious for rust in these areas, but there are clean parts out there...I'd check the local boneyards, gbodyparts, or bweavy, and see if you can locate what you need BEFORE you start cutting anything.
I would also check the area in the door jam, just under the windshield piller, for holes or rust. A Monte T-top I had once had a rust problem on the roof, behind the windshield, and moisture seamed to go inside and work its way down the inside of the piller(where there is no primer, just bare metal), collecting at the lowest point. It had nowhere to go, causing a bit of cancer there also.
I am currently putting a 84 Regal limited together and encountered rust holes in this spot in the jams also, and this is NOT a T-top car, and doesn't have any exterior rust issues on the roof(or around the windshield), either!
Anyway...Check the jams!
Keep everyone up to date on your project. Hope this was a little help...
I read this quote in a book once:
"There is no way to stop rust, there are only ways to slow down the process of corrosion."

 

[Red Regal T]

I have my donor Regal waiting to donate it's entire roof when my RED TTop car becomes too much of a problem to repair.