As you may have heard by now, here in Southern California, we are on track for breaking the all-time record for the wettest year ever recorded. I guess the Mamas and Papas were right about this place: Maybe we should be building an ark instead of cars.
If your cruiser is feeling more like a capsized boat than a hot rod, it's time to take a look at your weatherstripping. Chances are that most of our beaters, and some of the nicer cars we drive, now have a few years and a few miles on them. That's enough to take its toll on the old rubber's ability to seal right. All this comes not a moment too soon; are my windows up?
Our patient here is an '88 Camaro with a bad case of the leaky T-tops. Luckily Classic Industries has the cure for the T-top blues. Follow along as we write the prescription for this leaky Camaro. You can do this right at home with a minimal amount of tools and a Saturday out in the garage. You are going to need as follows:
*(2) 5oz (the bigger ones) tubes of weatherstrip adhesive, try 3M's adhesive
*Body caulking, the pliable black stuff, it looks like rope licorice and is used for windshield installs.
*A small piece of #320-#400 grit sandpaper
*Any sort of adhesion aid liquid and a cleaner/solvent or wax and grease remover
*Weatherstrip release agent and/or a heat gun
*Any type of grinder, D.A. sander, or files for trimming the garnish moldings Screwdrivers and you may need a drill
The biggest and most time-consuming part of the procedure was removing all the old adhesive. Just be careful with scraping methods, not only for your safety but to help keep the paint on the car. Removing the adhesive took several hours and a couple of cans of elbow grease (should've put that on the list too). The kit comes with everything else to replace the rubber up the A-pillars, T-tops, and B-pillars.
Just think, when you get done you won't have to carry that towel in your car anymore.