rust under header trim

[jmp]

Hey all,

I removed my header trim (needs replacement) and found out that the frame beneath it is rusting out. Scraping off the rust I've found 2 holes so far -- one fairly sizable. Question is why all the rust?

Pulling off the t-tops, you can see chrome trim and at the front of the chrome, along the length of the windshield, is a gap. Is the t-top weatherstripping supposed to protect that gap, or if I removed the chrome, should I find additional weather/water protection?

 

[billybob]

Generally rust is caused by mosture resting on bare metal and countless other things, heat and cooling rapidly causes condensation and our climate the car is more susceptable to it. You being from BC have a higher chance of rust due to the amount of mosture in the air.

How to stop it, or protect against it? Well Crappy Tire has "Rust Check - Rust converter" "converts rust to a paintable primer" but there are many other numerous products out there that do the same thing.

Sorry cant help with the weather stripping question, as I have yet to do mine but the answer would help both of us.


Bill

 

[69MyWay]

This is a common problem. Most of the big corvette aftermarket companies sell replacement upper and side windshield frame pieces. It ends up being a rather large job because the dash, glass, trim, etc. has to come out. Then, you may also find the lower portion of the windshield is rotted out.

Easy way to test. Get your head down in the floor board so you can look up at the fuse panel and under the dash. Have a friend run a water hose at 1/2 windshield level down back and forth on the car. Watch for water to come pouring in.

If you see moisture come in, you have bigger fish to fry than just the upper frame portion. Now you are talking about cutting the upper portion of the fenders back, removing the doors, wiper door, and having a welding shop section out and section back in fresh metal in that area of the front windshield cowl/frame.

However, you might get lucky and just have a rusty upper area, which after the car is torn down, it is a simple matter of cutting out and welding in the new windshield channel parts, seam sealing, rust proof/painting, then putting all that back together.


Between the extreme outer upper front windshield trim and the upper flat trim on the windshield frame there is no gasket. That seal is provided by the gasket on the t-top.

 

[jmp]

Urg! :eek

I certainly hope that is not the case. I have some faith since this car did go through a restoration some time ago and it has been checked out by both of the big 'vette specialist shops in town. I hope they would have looked for and noticed this problem.

I'll be testing for the lower windshield leak as soon as we get another sunny weekend, though!

Thanks for the info!