how to seal the rear window hatch glass to trunk lid
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: chicago
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: 350 tpi
Transmission: auto/stock
Axle/Gears: stock
how to seal the rear window hatch glass to trunk lid
So what can be used here to seal this off? I'm sure a LOT of water had gotten in through here.. luckily it's all cleaned up.. just want to make sure it doesn't leak into this area again. Thanks
https://db.tt/Y9dMRVwa
https://db.tt/Y9dMRVwa
#2
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1988 Pontiac Firebird
Engine: 2.8l V6 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Re: how to seal the rear window hatch glass to trunk lid
I used 3m windo weld I got at O'rilleys. Haven't seen a leak since. Just be careful as the stuff can make a mess. If you get it on carpet Fast Orange gets it off relatively easily. When you are working with it keep a bottle of isopropyl alcohol handy and soak any you get it on immediately to keep it from curing then scrub at it with the Fast Orange. My idiot friend tracked it all in my house because he got some on his sock.
#3
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: chicago
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: 350 tpi
Transmission: auto/stock
Axle/Gears: stock
Re: how to seal the rear window hatch glass to trunk lid
I used 3m windo weld I got at O'rilleys. Haven't seen a leak since. Just be careful as the stuff can make a mess. If you get it on carpet Fast Orange gets it off relatively easily. When you are working with it keep a bottle of isopropyl alcohol handy and soak any you get it on immediately to keep it from curing then scrub at it with the Fast Orange. My idiot friend tracked it all in my house because he got some on his sock.
#5
Supreme Member
iTrader: (25)
Re: how to seal the rear window hatch glass to trunk lid
If it's leaking it's probably already loose, Does your hatch line up with the rear bodywork perfectly? If not, I would take the lid off the glass (just a couple of nuts and some screws) and clean the glass and reseal the entire thing by glueing it back on with windshield adhesive.Simply glue the 2 together and lightly secure the bottom plate, set the hatch closed (remove hook!) and align with the bodywork , carefully tighten the nuts so it won't move after you have the alignment perfect and let cure. A lot of these cars have separated lids that are misaligned and leaking.
#6
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: chicago
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: 350 tpi
Transmission: auto/stock
Axle/Gears: stock
Re: how to seal the rear window hatch glass to trunk lid
If it's leaking it's probably already loose, Does your hatch line up with the rear bodywork perfectly? If not, I would take the lid off the glass (just a couple of nuts and some screws) and clean the glass and reseal the entire thing by glueing it back on with windshield adhesive.Simply glue the 2 together and lightly secure the bottom plate, set the hatch closed (remove hook!) and align with the bodywork , carefully tighten the nuts so it won't move after you have the alignment perfect and let cure. A lot of these cars have separated lids that are misaligned and leaking.
#7
Supreme Member
iTrader: (4)
Re: how to seal the rear window hatch glass to trunk lid
If it's leaking it's probably already loose, Does your hatch line up with the rear bodywork perfectly? If not, I would take the lid off the glass (just a couple of nuts and some screws) and clean the glass and reseal the entire thing by glueing it back on with windshield adhesive.Simply glue the 2 together and lightly secure the bottom plate, set the hatch closed (remove hook!) and align with the bodywork , carefully tighten the nuts so it won't move after you have the alignment perfect and let cure. A lot of these cars have separated lids that are misaligned and leaking.
If you want to do it correctly, this is the way to go. Trying to run sealant along the seam where panel meets the glass is going to make a mess. If you dont lay enough in, and get it nice and smoothed out, you might still get water though. There was never sealant there. Its all inside between the panel and glass.
Its actually REALLY easy to remove that panel, reseal it, get it aligned and back on. And it will be 100% good to go. The only time its a royal PITA is if you have the aero spoiler. Because those can be a pain to work with depending on their condition.
Are you sure you dont have leakages around the hatch seal or the little pieces that go with that? If you need to leak track, you can pull the rear plastics, dust some baby powder around the area, then hit it with a hose. Any leakage will leave tracks in the powder. Unles youre SURE its coming from between the glass/panel.
J.
Trending Topics
#9
Senior Member
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: On TGO
Posts: 531
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 88 GTA
Engine: Built 355 to install
Transmission: Built turbo 350
Re: how to seal the rear window hatch glass to trunk lid
Here's the Hatch alignment 101 article;
http://web.archive.org/web/200408040...tchalign.shtml
Be careful not to over tighten the hatch to glass nuts, I've read 11 ft.lbs. is spec......
http://web.archive.org/web/200408040...tchalign.shtml
Be careful not to over tighten the hatch to glass nuts, I've read 11 ft.lbs. is spec......
#10
Supreme Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: MN
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Car: 85 SC, 86 Berlinetta
Engine: V6, V8
Transmission: 700r4, 700r4
Re: how to seal the rear window hatch glass to trunk lid
FWIW, the stuff that comes from the factory is very sticky and tough. I used a box cutter to remove a panel one time because it wouldn't let go. It stretched up a couple of inches and was cold enough that it didn't stick to the blade.
#12
Supreme Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: MN
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Car: 85 SC, 86 Berlinetta
Engine: V6, V8
Transmission: 700r4, 700r4
Re: how to seal the rear window hatch glass to trunk lid
It could be but that's why I'm assuming it never leaks. I haven't had a problem with alignment on either one of mine.
#13
Re: how to seal the rear window hatch glass to trunk lid
True, butyl tape (which is what the 3M kit is above) never truly hardens. I would use urethane window adhesive instead, or in conjunction with the butyl tape. Once the urethane has cured, the glass will never move again. The stuff is used in almost every unibody windshield because it is a structural part of the car.
#14
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Virginia
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 83 Z28
Engine: 5.0
Transmission: TH200C For Now
Re: how to seal the rear window hatch glass to trunk lid
I started doing my hatch alignment yesterday, but didn't get to finish because I was having a hard time cutting through the sealer between the glass and the hatch. I was looking at the Hatch Alignment 101 article and I was wondering if anybody knows what phillips head screws he's talking about in step 11. I removed the nuts, but didn't see any screws, so I'm curious where these screws are.
Edit: Okay, never mind. I read again and saw that it's the screws I missed in step 5. Sorry.
Edit: Okay, never mind. I read again and saw that it's the screws I missed in step 5. Sorry.
Last edited by tate richards; 11-12-2013 at 03:23 PM. Reason: Brainfart
#15
Re: how to seal the rear window hatch glass to trunk lid
The screws you are looking for go through the trim molding that surrounds the perimeter of the glass into the hatch panel itself on either end of that trim.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
1992 Trans Am
History / Originality
27
05-10-2023 07:19 PM