You can now order the complete set and save big.
T-Top Weather Stripping Seal Kit - Reproduction
GM discontinued the main factory T Top weather stripping several years ago for the Gbody. We now buy from a source that actually was a GM supplier. After much research and trial fitting of other seals, this is still our best source. As of this date we have sold over 800 sets and we have had no problems. Well you are always going to have the 1 or 2 that just can't get it installed. That is just being honest. We do recommend if you have never done this before to get a professional body man to install them for you.
If you have a fairly good mechanical ability and patience this job can be done pretty easily.
Stainless Steel Complete T-Top Kit
These parts are the effort of countless hours brain storming and even many more hours of work. The end result is a restoration part for our customer that will NEVER rust and can still be ordered without worry of being discontinued...as GM has done. The GM pieces were stamped steel and were prone to rust as water and moisture tended to "sit" in the corners.
Our stainless steel T-top kits are manufactured from "DOMESTIC" -Type 304 Stainless Steel Alloy.
This is the most widely used form of stainless steel. The stainless is used in a wide range of applications in the automotive,aircraft, food,dairy,pharmaceutical and many,many other fields. This is a "NON-MAGNETIC" alloy and is widely used because of it's high corrosion resistance. The stainless steel is precision cut utilizing an industrial laser to precise tolerances and then formed and assembled into the appropriate panels and assemblies.The manufacturing process is performed with a background of 44+ years of industrial and custom metal forming and fabricating expertise and experience providing the customer with the ultimate and longest lasting product with the utmost quality.
We are only announcing this as we have seen other cold rolled steel copies of our t-top kits. When buying a stainless steel t-top kit from a vendor be sure that it isn't magnetic. If it is, it isn't a GBodyParts Stainless steel T-top kit.
With the increase of stainless steel use since 1998 we have maintained our retail pricing. What has happened was our vendor pricing has slightly increased. With this product being built in The U.S. This has lead other vendors to go to a less expensive form of steel.
This t-top kit is complete and includes the following items:
1 x Stainless Center Rail
1 x Stainless Center Ridge
1 x Stainless Front Weatherstrip Retainer Strips
1 x Stainless Rear Weatherstrip Retainer Strips
1 x Stainless Top Plates (Left and Right)
Fits ALL GM Gbody Cars!
Please refer to the (Click on) GM T-Top Diagram for an exploded view of the Gbody T-Top assembly
INSTALLING YOUR NEW WEATHER STRIPPING
Nothing is more frustrating than wind noise while cruising down the road. Well, maybe a wet seat or leaky t-top is more frustrating. Installing new weather stripping will eliminate the wind noise and leaks as well as annoying rattles.
For door seals, it is imperative that you adjust your doors to the factory gaps. Consider the age of your car and how long the doors have been opened and closed. You will need to make these adjustments prior to installing your new seals. Also consider the condition if your striker plates and hinges. All these will affect your fit. Otherwise, you will be fighting the door to get it closed due to the improper gaps.
After removing your old seals, clean the surface thoroughly. You can use a wire brush to remove the old seal debris and all the glue. Once the surface is free of debris, clean thoroughly with alcohol or adhesive remover to get that last bit of glue removed. The channel may also contain a bit of mold release agent that can affect your new seal from adhering properly. Be sure to clean and dry the surface prior to installing your new seal. This would be the time for paint (before installation), if applicable.
Depending on the seal, there may be nylon pins that line up with the factory holes that will clip in place. For instance lower door seals come with the pins that will line up perfectly, just like the factory seal. Start in the center of a t-top body seal and work your way out. For door seals, start with the large pin at one end and work around the lower door. Always dry fit to make sure you have the correct pin placement prior to gluing the seal in place. Once you are confident with the placement, apply a thin bead of weather strip adhesive between the nylon pins and work your way along the surface, snapping the pins in as you go. Once you reach the end of the seal, repeat the process for additional applications.
Important for seals on an operating surface (doors, trunks, t-tops, moon roof, etc.) after installing your new seals, we recommend that you lightly spray the seal with water, just slightly dampen it. Then close the door and leave untouched for a minimum of 48 hours. This will allow your seal to form a memory. The chemistry and composition of the rubber is designed to do this. Once it sets, the memory is activated and locked in place and your leaky doors and troublesome wind noise are gone for good!
