Cascade Crew

jchaussee · Member Joined: 14 Nov 2010 Posts: 1318 Location: renton

So I scored a set awhile back of GM t top seals and it looks like we will have a few dry days so I am thinking of installing. I got the 3m rope caulk. Seems to be easier cleanest way to do it. So any tips, tricks, recommended steps will be appreciated.

IROCDave · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 7:20 pm Post subject:

Get old the old stuff off and clean the metal and paint well, de wax etc. Take the strip caulk and plug any hole that would allow water to enter the car if it got under the new weather stripping. Really pay attention to the front and back of the structural channel that ties the windsheild header to the rear roof. Make sure the weatherstrip reciever channels are spotless, if theres any rust, sand / sand blast and get all of it out then repaint the channels. The spreader on my car had a lot of rust, I tried sand blasting it off. After getting rid of the rust it was obvious that the peice was toast, to many rust holes. I bought a new one from a GM dealer in Portland, the parts guy said it was one of the last in GM inventory. That was 2006ish.
I ran a thin bead of 3M windsheild sealent in the weather strip channels prior to installing the new weather stripping. Take your time dry fitting and looking for potential leak areas, then use high performance sealants.
When your dry fitting look at how the water is supposed to run along the top edge of the weather stripping reciever. GM F'd up and didnt address how to let that water out at the A pillar. I made a channel out of the 3M strip caulk at this location. The water cannot run down the A pillar, it is forced to exit at the top. Do not let water get into any of the weather strip recievers.
I have a bunch of stuff left over from doing mine, let me know if you need any.

My car doesnt leak a drop, even when it's not in the garage Very Happy

IROCDave · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 7:33 pm Post subject:

Almost forgot, after installing the new stripping you will need to adjust your windows.

Get it right and no more wet seats or left leg.

jchaussee · Member Joined: 14 Nov 2010 Posts: 1318 Location: renton

Cool. Thank you. As far as the rope caulk. Did you it on each side of the channels or in the center. Also my t top bar is also toast, so ivwas thinking of leaving that part of stripping uncaulked until I get a good one.

IROCDave · Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 6:01 pm Post subject:

If your going to replace the t-top bar then wait to install the w/s.