Topic: took t-tops apart and prep for paint
in Forum: C3 Body
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Lifetime MemberAsh Fork, AZ - USA
Joined: 4/18/2007
Posts: 1058
Vette(s): 1981 Red Interior White exterior
So I removed all the old weatherstripping and trim, sanded the old paint and shot a them with primer/filler. I'm not going to paint until spring which means I'm not going to glue the weatherstripping in place yet. My question is upon removal, there were badly deteriorated pieces of foam and glue between the trim and the lock mechanism, what would be a good substitute?
Dave C..........My mantra: I can not be bought!! Long and short term leases available.
In the words of Zora Arkus-Duntov "Is your seat belt fastened? Alright, Let's go"
Yeah, I know, Shut up Dave.
Yeah, I know, Shut up Dave.
Lifetime Member #192
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Sorry I couldn't help myself. 
Can you post a pic so we know what your exactly talking about.
TKO500 5 spd.
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975
Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.
Lifetime Member #26
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Dangit Darryl..ya beat me to it!
I'm also confused on what trim around the lock mechanism ya mean. Are ya talking about the headliner? Those are foam-backed vinyl...
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
My Link 
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
Lifetime MemberAsh Fork, AZ - USA
Joined: 4/18/2007
Posts: 1058
Vette(s): 1981 Red Interior White exterior
Yep folks, remember there are NO stupid questions...stupid answers on the other hand seem to be a dime a dozen.
This is the pin rod for the hold down/lock on the t-top. Small channel between rod and outside of t-top. You can see some residue there in this bad picture. Wide piece of the chrome trim fits over this so you don't see the rod and so the weatherstripping doesn't interfere with it's movement. I thought GM would have used the same glue they use on everything else, the stuff that's like putty and never hardens, but there was foam here.
Dave C..........My mantra: I can not be bought!! Long and short term leases available.
In the words of Zora Arkus-Duntov "Is your seat belt fastened? Alright, Let's go"
Yeah, I know, Shut up Dave.
Yeah, I know, Shut up Dave.
Lifetime Member #192
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Prolly some foam rubber in there to keep the rod from rattling, would be my guess. Never seen the inside of that mechanism, so that's just a guess. IF that is what it is/was, I would assume you could replace it with foam rubber....
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
I haven't had time to get on the site lately but this morning I was wondering how you were doing with the restoration project. I am glad I checked this forum is better than Comedy Central 👍. I am still laughing over the stupid answer reply,
Lifetime MemberAsh Fork, AZ - USA
Joined: 4/18/2007
Posts: 1058
Vette(s): 1981 Red Interior White exterior
Redwoman said: I haven't had time to get on the site lately but this morning I was wondering how you were doing with the restoration project. I am glad I checked this forum is better than Comedy Central 👍. I am still laughing over the stupid answer reply,
What do mean the stupid answer reply, I used Great stuff!
We, my daughter and I, are still deciding on a paint color. I've narrowed it down to the original white or a lighter shade of gray. If it's gray we may do something funky with it like use a flat gray or a metallic gray. I just saw what looked like a flat black metallic. It was really different looking. The owner said it was really great at night with the lights on it. I'll be painting it probably in the late spring /early summer next year, just waiting for warm weather. That is unless I get it to Mesa AZ before then. If by some miracle of weather we get a break in the snow I'll be driving to Arizona much earlier.
Dave C..........My mantra: I can not be bought!! Long and short term leases available.
In the words of Zora Arkus-Duntov "Is your seat belt fastened? Alright, Let's go"
Yeah, I know, Shut up Dave.
Yeah, I know, Shut up Dave.
Lifetime Member #192
Here's an idea. How about some of that mirror finish stick on vinyl they are doing nowadays. Make it look like the optional transparent T tops.
Only 34 years together
Not he great stuff reply! I am still laughining at your reply "no stupid questions but stupid answers are a dime a dozen" I will use that one for sure.
Lifetime MemberAsh Fork, AZ - USA
Joined: 4/18/2007
Posts: 1058
Vette(s): 1981 Red Interior White exterior
Redwoman said: Not he great stuff reply! I am still laughining at your reply "no stupid questions but stupid answers are a dime a dozen" I will use that one for sure.
Gotcha. Use it at will, no charge. Yeah, Sarge and I harass the hell out of each other. People wonder if we even like each other sometimes(of course we don't). It nice to rip each other new a$$holes knowing neither is serious...and Joel? There's just something odd with those Texas folk so we let him slide.
I was looking at doing the car in a vinyl wrap and the quote was about $2300. As far as doing the t-tops alone I like the solid color look so I'm going to paint them.
Dave C..........My mantra: I can not be bought!! Long and short term leases available.
In the words of Zora Arkus-Duntov "Is your seat belt fastened? Alright, Let's go"
Yeah, I know, Shut up Dave.
Yeah, I know, Shut up Dave.
Lifetime Member #192
in Forum: C3 Body
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