Ttop rust repair

[regal81455]

Ok Ive checked and checked, looked and looked and I swear I found a thread somewhere here awhile ago showing some repairs done to the normal areas rusted out on a TTOPs car. Ive got similar issues and would like to see some pics of previous repairs made by others.

Anyone know the link to this thread or have some pics of repairs made that can be shared?

 

[Mike E]

Here is mine I just recently finshed the repair work on. The rust on mine was pretty minor.
http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/show-car-restoration-body-repair/317036-86-wh1-restomod.html

 

[regal81455]

Ok cool! I found this one ( http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/general-turbo-buick-tech/247082-t-top-repair-pics.html ) but I thought there was another as well?

 

[regal81455]

Here is mine I just recently finshed the repair work on. The rust on mine was pretty minor.
http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/show-car-restoration-body-repair/317036-86-wh1-restomod.html

Mike yours was the one I was looking for!! Thanks a bunch! Im going to take pictures of mine later today when I start cutting out the rot. I don't think its as bad as I wanna make it out to be but its definitely there.

 

[Mike E]

Good luck. Mine wasn't very hard to repair. Just a word of advice. If your rust extends up into the corners in the roof, don't make your patch panel joints at the bends. I did that on one side and I had a lot of trouble with warping. The body line is a little wavy on that one. Luckily there is trim to cover that bend.

I ordered the drivers front and passenger rear weatherstrip retainers from G-body parts. I only had to use ~6" of the passenger rear piece. So I still have ~14" of it left that I don't need. If you only need a portion of it to repair yours, let me know and you can have it for the price of shipping. The replacement rear weather strip retainers are straight and will work on either side.

 

[regal81455]

From what I saw last nite my rust is strictly in front. Ive got minor rusting in the rear but I don't think its a big deal and if cleaned and POR'd I think it will be ok. My rust is in the front at the pillars. Ill have to check but do you think the rear retainer could be made to work with the fronts if I only needed to replace 4" or so? I not at home to look and see but Im guessing no cuz it has a slight curve to it right? Anyways Ill know more tonight after getting to work with the cutoff and wire wheel. I might have to take you up on the small piece but I need to evaluate my situation a little more before commenting for sure but HUGE THANKS REGARDLESS for your kindness!

 

[Mike E]

If yours is rusted in the outside corners like mine was that section of weather strip retainer is the most curved. You should probably order the correct pieces from g-body parts.

 

[regal81455]

yes right at the corners. I wonder if I could manage to buy one side and split it and splice both ends in?

 

[Mike E]

Here's a pic from the G-body parts website. Fronts on top.

I doubt you could get two ends from one piece. I would reccomend replacing the entire strip on the fronts even if only the ends are rusted. It's not much harder to replace the entire piece than it is to section some in (the rears are a different story). Use body panel adhesive to put them on. That way you can POR15 all the old sheetmetal before you glue the strips on. That should the keep rust away for years to come.

 

[regal81455]

pics of the rot

Ok well it looks like the rot is BAD on the front but I think I should be able to get by on the back as long as I POR the whole thing. I might take you up on the short piece Mike as Ive got a couple of spots along the rear at the ends that while still there probably wouldn't hurt to patch in. When you did yours did you just glue and but tight and then POR the seam between the two? That panel adhesive is some tough ****, I imagine you could smear it across the seam then paint over it?

 

[Mike E]

Ok well it looks like the rot is BAD on the front but I think I should be able to get by on the back as long as I POR the whole thing. I might take you up on the short piece Mike as Ive got a couple of spots along the rear at the ends that while still there probably wouldn't hurt to patch in. When you did yours did you just glue and but tight and then POR the seam between the two? That panel adhesive is some tough ****, I imagine you could smear it across the seam then paint over it?

I tig welded the rear strip section on to mine. There isn't much to glue to towards the ends. The front I glued. I'm going to put some seam sealer over any joints before the final coat of paint. The rear section on yours looks much better than mine did.

 

[turbonut85]

My .02: ....use 3M body panel adhesive. It will hold like nobody's buisness and will also seal out moisture from getting back under the W/S retainers. HTH ---Keith

 

[phillyturbosix]

My .02: ....use 3M body panel adhesive. It will hold like nobody's business and will also seal out moisture from getting back under the W/S retainers. HTH ---Keith

That stuff is no joke! I had my body guy fix a little rust bubble on the a pillar on my 87 with that stuff and it's the cats a$$!

I just located and scored a RH NOS seal for cheap today actually. This is one of my projects I want to do someday. I have everything but the LH seal now. All I need to do is find someone with a LH NOS GM gasket for cheap and I may start.

Keep up the good work and keep us T top guys posted with some pics!

 

[regal81455]

yeah I intend to use speedgrip structural adhesive ( same stuff as the 3M ) to glue the front strips back on - ive got a few more pics ill post in a little bit - over the weekend i cut out all the rot and rustbullet'd the rear and center section and used some rust stop chassis coating ( i had it laying around ) inside the chassis under where the front strips go since i had access due to cutting out the rot, hoping to have the patches in before the end of the week - we'll see how things go!

 

[regal81455]

progress pics

Been awhile since Ive posted any progress pics but Ive been very busy. Im awaiting the weatherstrip channels to finish the ttop repair but it is all but done at this point.













Next up on the plate is to get the chassis reset on the frame and then its off to paint!!

 

[ZNix]

How did you strip the car? I am contemplating options atm.

 

[regal81455]

Mostly chemical stripper with the an occasional use of the 8" buffer using 80grit and then 80 grit with a 6" DA to final prep the steel.

 

[ZNix]

Alright! Sounds easy enough!