I'm tidying up loose ends on my T-top conversion and want to know if factory T-top cars are sealed at the C-panel. Meaning the C-panel that goes across the roof just ahead of the back glass that terminates at the rear quarter panels. The front end of the C-panel where it meets the back ends of the T-tops ......is that sealed or is there a little tiny air gap? You have to look really close by hunkering down level with the roof with a powerful flashlight ....then look up and across from the side and you'll be able to see what I'm talking about. I'm in doubt as to whether or not I need to seal this little gap (maybe water drains out of it someway if it gets in anyway)?

 

I am surprised no one has responded. I will take a look this weekend. And let you know, But I believe it's sealed, with as much water that has been on my car it was the front of the t-tops to start leaking. Now I have to fix a rust spot.

 

Thanks, another member posted in another thread and said he was pretty sure it's molded sealed from the factory. I'm going to shoot some air on it and see if it comes out of the bottom ...even if it does though there's no way for me to know if there are holes of somekind in the roof "underneath" the C-panel that could drain into the interior. I think I'm going to use some permatex "clear" and just seal it up once I blow a hair-dryer on it for awhile (in case there is trapped water in there needing evaporated). It's been dry for several days and will be driven open without sealing it for several more dry days too ...just to get airflow through there and ensure that water isn't trapped before I seal it. Thanks for the input.

 

Canbaufo: This isn't your car, is it?



That's at the Advanced Auto Parts Cruise-In in Cross Lanes last year. I'm the one that organized it. I don't see many beefed up LT1's around here, so thought I'd ask. I remember talking to you a little bit on the board several years ago, but don't remember anything about your car.

 

Just took these shots of my factory t-tops -- hopefully you can find an answer to your question in these. It doesn't look like there's any kind of seal. Note that you can see light from behind the C-panel in the last pic.

Yes, it's dirty, I know.

 

Yup, that's me Rebel' ....thanks for organizing that! It was nice to finally dyno (446 on that 92* day and running a bit lean) ...car wasn't shined up nice that day though. JakeRob...thanks for the pics! I will take pics later and post. The entire "lip" that runs along the C-panel is not on my conversion ...which leaves the rain channels wide open in a sense (they just ground it completely off and very smooth). I think the conversion looks cleaner than factory but I have an obvious issue due to lack of external sealing. Looks like the C-panel is not sealed underneath on the factory T-top cars either.....weird.

 

Awesome man! That's some nice power you're putting down! The car definitely looked good. Made me miss my 96 polo green Camaro. Glad you had a good time. I might do one again, but it won't be till next year at the earliest...got a huge event in mind, and several people on board, just lost motivation. That show was a great turn out with over 100 cars, but we only got $60 for the charity

I talked to you at the show, though very briefly (I was running all over with little time to talk to anyone) I was actually parked right across from you. Here's me talking to Troy from Channel 8 news and my car... I was talking to you and Mark right after I finished my interview.

 

Oh...and in regards to your t-top situation.. I wouldn't stress it much. If you're like me, your car won't go out in the rain anyway (though it did twice last year unwillingly when I got caught in the rain at or coming home from car shows). The ONLY time I ever have my tops in is when I'm washing it. I was concerned with how well they would seal right after I bought the car (this is my first to have t-tops) but soon realized it didn't matter

If it's bad enough to let water in while washing it, I'd just put some weather strip on it to keep the water out for that purpose and not worry much about how easy the tops go on or whatever. For this purpose, you could put the strip on the tops themselves, or the car. Depending on how you can install the weather strip, it might look better on the tops, as it won't be seen on the car with the tops out. As long as it doesn't look bad and your car stays dry. That is, again, assuming you don't take it out in the rain.

 

My thoughts exactly, a little piece of weatherstrip along the backside of the T-tops. Mark said we could replace the C-panel with a factory T-top C-panel .... I don't think that's necessary (besides, it looks better than factory IMO). Yup, same as you I'm not out in the rain unless by accident or when washing. I want to be able to take it on a weekend trip without worrying about an occasional downpour though. Even if it pours in those rain channels it really should route itself to the drains in the rear part of the seals on the corners anyway. I'll try to get pics this evening or tomorrow evening and post them.

lol that's funny that I talked to you and didn't realize it was you, small world lol. Hey, now looking at the pictures I remember! I even asked you and your girl how you liked T-tops and told you I was thinking of converting. I looked your car over while we talked about it ....nice looking ride!

 

Time to finally post pics:

Now the "after" version since Rebel's already posted the "before" version (flame suit is on for making it look like a V6 with body color C-panel lol):



lil' peek from above:



I can see the sky now! :



Needs a little cleaning up (dust) but pic is ok:



Note the lip is not there on the C-panel at all:



Another look, same thing:



Little tidying up to do but you get the idea:



Front (driver) corner:



Driver-side rear corner:



Driver-side rear corner again, note the C-panel is open and cut clean off at the edge (no edge left):



....continuing 9 more pics in next post .....

 

Here's the rest ....

Passenger side rear looking back under C-panel, little weird spot but not bad:



Driver's side rear looking back under C-panel, this is the spot that concerns me most, will be filling it for sure ...honestly you really have to look hard to even see it, I had to take several pics up close to even see it in the picture:



A look from above:



Gap between rear of T-top and C-panel due to not having an edge on the C-panel (see rain channel in bottom:



Here's a closer look at that gap, see rain channel underneath?:



Driver's side front edge (passenger side is better but this isn't bad for so close up):



A look from the front with the tops on:



A look from the back with the tops on:



Headliner:



My thanks to Mark, Mark and Herbie of Absolute HP LLC ....they did the hard stuff and now I'm just nitpicking ...they will help me tie up loose ends too.

 

Looks awesome dude! Came out better than mine! Where did you get your headliner?

 

Looks good!

 

Thanks for the props, I do think they did a great looking job on it, but I want to address the little issues pretty soon before it gets rained on. I got the headliner from E-bay but not cheap, like $275 shipped but it is better than OEM (it's ABS plastic instead of the OEM type of board). I'll have to check my receipt to get you the name of the company, it was several months ago.

 

Looks really good. Did you repaint the car the factory polo green metallic? It looks slightly different. Little bit more yellowy. I like it either way.