Body General body information and techniques for restoration, repairs, and modifications.

where to put sealer on t top bar?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-25-2022, 07:19 PM
  #1  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
TylerSteez's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: CT
Posts: 1,403
Received 55 Likes on 39 Posts
Car: 86 Trans Am WS6
Engine: 383 stroker
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt 3.45
where to put sealer on t top bar?

hey guys, about to install a t top bar and haven’t seen too much info on where to put sealant prior to install. i’ve read to seal around each bolt hole and the “front and back” but am not sure exactly where i should put it on the front and back.

any chance someone could draw where they applied sealant on the underside of this t top bar pic?


Old 11-25-2022, 08:42 PM
  #2  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (9)
 
battmann's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Rochester NY
Posts: 1,118
Received 418 Likes on 267 Posts
Car: 1984 TA (1 stock / 1 custom)
Engine: LG4 / turbo LQ4
Transmission: 700R4 / 4L80E
Axle/Gears: Stock / 4:11 Moser 9"
Re: where to put sealer on t top bar?

This thread has a ton of great information:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...-bar-foam.html
Old 11-25-2022, 09:11 PM
  #3  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
TylerSteez's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: CT
Posts: 1,403
Received 55 Likes on 39 Posts
Car: 86 Trans Am WS6
Engine: 383 stroker
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt 3.45
Re: where to put sealer on t top bar?

Originally Posted by battmann
This thread has a ton of great information:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...-bar-foam.html
that helps, i commented on that when it was posted but for some reason never ran into that thread again. it seems like from the factory they only had sealer in the areas where the pads are. i’m planning on using window weld along the entire perimeter and on each screw hole as well as around the gasket material i will be using to replace the pads. hopefully that’ll work
Old 11-30-2022, 03:08 PM
  #4  
Supreme Member

 
navy02ws6's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 2,208
Received 63 Likes on 52 Posts
Car: '02 T/A WS6, '91 T/A, '91 Camaro RS
Engine: LS1, LB9, L03
Transmission: T56, 700R4, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 4.10 10 bolt, 2.73 10 bolts
Re: where to put sealer on t top bar?

Originally Posted by TylerSteez
that helps, i commented on that when it was posted but for some reason never ran into that thread again. it seems like from the factory they only had sealer in the areas where the pads are. i’m planning on using window weld along the entire perimeter and on each screw hole as well as around the gasket material i will be using to replace the pads. hopefully that’ll work

My best advice is put seam sealer EVERYWHERE under that bar, particularly heavy close to the edges, and double coat areas that you have any question about. I started the other thread, followed that t-top leak guide to a T, and my bar STILL leaked from several places, mostly in areas towards the front. Couldn't afford to buy seals again and didn't want to spend another 40+ hrs re-sealing mine, so I ended up putting seam sealer between the bar and the body without removing the bar, which looks awful, but at least it doesn't leak anymore.
Old 11-30-2022, 03:12 PM
  #5  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
TylerSteez's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: CT
Posts: 1,403
Received 55 Likes on 39 Posts
Car: 86 Trans Am WS6
Engine: 383 stroker
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt 3.45
Re: where to put sealer on t top bar?

Originally Posted by navy02ws6
My best advice is put seam sealer EVERYWHERE under that bar, particularly heavy close to the edges, and double coat areas that you have any question about. I started the other thread, followed that t-top leak guide to a T, and my bar STILL leaked from several places, mostly in areas towards the front. Couldn't afford to buy seals again and didn't want to spend another 40+ hrs re-sealing mine, so I ended up putting seam sealer between the bar and the body without removing the bar, which looks awful, but at least it doesn't leak anymore.
i put window weld around the entire perimeter and each bolt hole but that stuff just doesn’t flatten out enough which caused the bar to be raised up higher than ideal. i’m gonna pry it off tonight and redo it with RTV instead of the window weld.

i was considering using seam sealer but feel like that would absolutely glue the t top bar to the car and make future fixes if it leaks almost impossible to correct. at least the rtv will come off relatively easy. would love to hear opinions on this
Old 12-02-2022, 01:04 PM
  #6  
Supreme Member

 
navy02ws6's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 2,208
Received 63 Likes on 52 Posts
Car: '02 T/A WS6, '91 T/A, '91 Camaro RS
Engine: LS1, LB9, L03
Transmission: T56, 700R4, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 4.10 10 bolt, 2.73 10 bolts
Re: where to put sealer on t top bar?

Originally Posted by TylerSteez
i put window weld around the entire perimeter and each bolt hole but that stuff just doesn’t flatten out enough which caused the bar to be raised up higher than ideal. i’m gonna pry it off tonight and redo it with RTV instead of the window weld.

i was considering using seam sealer but feel like that would absolutely glue the t top bar to the car and make future fixes if it leaks almost impossible to correct. at least the rtv will come off relatively easy. would love to hear opinions on this

Seam sealer usually comes off, had to dig a bunch of it out recently to fix a large hole that someone drilled in my cowl. Didn't take too long, just using a large screwdriver to pry it up.
Old 12-02-2022, 01:05 PM
  #7  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
TylerSteez's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: CT
Posts: 1,403
Received 55 Likes on 39 Posts
Car: 86 Trans Am WS6
Engine: 383 stroker
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt 3.45
Re: where to put sealer on t top bar?

Originally Posted by navy02ws6
Seam sealer usually comes off, had to dig a bunch of it out recently to fix a large hole that someone drilled in my cowl. Didn't take too long, just using a large screwdriver to pry it up.
yeah i went with sealer. my fear would be bending the t top bar trying to pry it back off the car if i had to, they aren’t cheap lol
Old 12-03-2022, 02:32 PM
  #8  
Junior Member
 
codydivelbiss's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Missouri
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: where to put sealer on t top bar?

Quick question regarding the Ttops. I just bought a fixer upper and the Ttops are factory, cracked, and need replaced how do I go about converting to the C&C Ttops?
Old 12-03-2022, 03:00 PM
  #9  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
TylerSteez's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: CT
Posts: 1,403
Received 55 Likes on 39 Posts
Car: 86 Trans Am WS6
Engine: 383 stroker
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt 3.45
Re: where to put sealer on t top bar?

Originally Posted by codydivelbiss
Quick question regarding the Ttops. I just bought a fixer upper and the Ttops are factory, cracked, and need replaced how do I go about converting to the C&C Ttops?
not sure why you’d want to convert to the c&c t tops, a lot of extra work and there’s far less aftermarket “support” for those t tops. they were installed in hard top cars after the factory made them
Old 12-03-2022, 03:48 PM
  #10  
Junior Member
 
codydivelbiss's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Missouri
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: where to put sealer on t top bar?

I had heard they were superior in preventing leaks. This is my first fbody. So would getting the factory tops suffice?
Old 12-03-2022, 03:50 PM
  #11  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
TylerSteez's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: CT
Posts: 1,403
Received 55 Likes on 39 Posts
Car: 86 Trans Am WS6
Engine: 383 stroker
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt 3.45
Re: where to put sealer on t top bar?

Originally Posted by codydivelbiss
I had heard they were superior in preventing leaks. This is my first fbody. So would getting the factory tops suffice?
they may be better sealing than the factory t tops but they are smaller than factory t tops which would probably require you to cut the factory t top roof off, and either put a c&c roof on or track down all the parts required to put c&c t tops in.

i can’t see it being worth the extraordinary hassle in the slightest bit
Old 12-03-2022, 03:58 PM
  #12  
Junior Member
 
codydivelbiss's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Missouri
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: where to put sealer on t top bar?

I see. Yes that seems like way more of a hassle lol
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
KR81
Suspension and Chassis
18
10-07-2022 06:58 AM
darkhorse91
Suspension and Chassis
4
03-06-2010 11:21 PM
Dubya
Suspension and Chassis
26
03-21-2008 12:36 PM
BOSS 357
Body
6
11-04-2005 10:13 AM



Quick Reply: where to put sealer on t top bar?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:02 AM.