1970greenLS5

I took off all the weatherstripping and trim peices from my 70 T-tops to get them ready for paint. A couple of the small white plastic tips that hold the weatherstripping on fell inside the double walled area around the outside edge of the T-top. When I move the T-top around, I can hear them rattling around inside. Trouble is, I can't get them out. Has anyone run into this before or have a solution short of cutting a hole, or spraying glue inside to capture them? Steve

CraigH

I drilled a small hole and got them all out, and plugged it back up.

Covered on page 7 of my thread here.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...journey-7.html

thegazman

If you remove the t-top headliner pad the broken plastic pieces will fall out. The pad is just velcroed to the t-top. Be better if the headliner was out when you painted them anyway.

Mod75

I also cut a small hole on the back side of the top, had some broken rivet heads in there, glassed the hole backup.

1970greenLS5

Thanks. I think I'll cut a hole / plug and either glass it or RTV the plug in case I have to get back in there again. Craig - thanks for sending the link. That was an interesting read. Its great to see how others are solving the same problems I've run into during restoration. Steve

Alan 71

Hi LS5,
I spent some time shaking the top panel to see if I could get a sense of how the debris moved around.
I then drilled a 1/2" hole in one corner in a place that would be completely concealed when the interior soft trim piece was installed. I didn't fill the single hole in each panel.
I figure as long as those holes are there I'll never have to get a loose piece out again.
BE VERY CAREFUL that you don't go through the top surface by mistake.
I used an old hand powered drill so I could judge the moment the bit began to go through the fiberglass.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

1970greenLS5

Thanks Alan. I did the same - drilled a 1/2" hole and the peices came out. I put a removable, plastic body plug back in the hole. Problem solved. Steve

Phil Zell

Does anyone have a picture of where they drilled the holes ?

Thanks

Alan 71

Hi Phil,
Here's where I drilled mine.
Be VERY careful!
Reagards,
Alan

1970greenLS5

Alan, the back of my T-tops were 'blacked out'. I like the idea of painting body color underneath as you did. They look better that way. Were the backs of yours originally blacked out or were they red? Steve