Im in the middle of cleaning up a hardtop for my cruiser. It is the older style with ribs and folding rear hatch. I also have the older style hard doors.

I am currently searching for latching parts for the folding rear hatch. I also need the passenger side wing window with the metal pieces to go along with it. If anybody knows of any sources or has the parts themselves please let me know.

Also looking for sa ource for window gaskets for the sides and curved corner windows.

As im cleaning it up my main concern is that it doesn't leak. I will be redoing the fiberglass cap and that is where I need advice / suggestions. Currently the metal gutter is pretty rusty and i plan to clean up the best I can and or use parts from CCOT. The edge of the fiberglass is cracked all along the edge where the rivets have pulled out and there are a few soft spots in the top. I think I can deal with the soft spots but I dont' know how to rebuild the edge or lip however you want to call it. At first I was thinking I could just use a 4inch strip of fiberglass and overlap the cap and the metal gutter both fixing the lip and sealing the top to the gutter. Any ideas on fixing up the lip and gutter of the top.

Thanks

arndog

I also like to know the best way to make repairs to that rain gutter, edge, lip, guizmo, whatever you call it ?
Those rivets can be frustrating. :(

me too

The best way to deal with those fiberglass and gutter problems is to just find a new cap in good shape. If you can't do that (is the early cap different?), then you can patch and repair the fiberglass from the inside without fooling with the outer surface. Replacing the gutter with the new CCOT metal is a PITA, as there is something like 120 aluminum rivets. Pay the money and get the correct rivet set and bucking bar to do this many rivets. It is something like $15 to get the set at your local metal working supply shop.

I used stainless sheet metal screws to replace the broken rivits. Its not a "O.E" fix but it has worked well for the past 3 years.

I have tried almost every kind of flexable type of sealer there is along the gutter but nothing has been able keep the water out. There was a thread on this a LONG time ago and think the conclusion was to use the NON- flexable sealer that sets up hard.

hmmm not a lot of comforting responses but thats what I was suspecting. Any other thoughts

I don't think the caps are different but I do think the metal portion that attaches to the windshield is different.

Any experience with the hard sealer cracking with flexing of the top?

arndog

Hey Arndog,
I bought a cap to replace mine on the 71 (rusted rain gutter). I don't think my old one has any cracking. When I get my swap done you could get my old one for cheap or free. You can come look at it if you like. I'm in North Bend.
I don't know if the early cap is different from the 71. (It looks like the 78 I got will work on my 71.)

David

david sounds awesome. I don't really mind replacing the rain gutter but rebuilding the fiberglass all up and making sure it is solid sounds like a major pain. Let me know when you want to get rid of it and Ill come pick it up. In the meantime anybody know if a 71 cap will fit a 66.

arndog

Originally posted by arndog
Also looking for sa ource for window gaskets for the sides and curved corner windows.

When I did my resto. on my top ('71 model) I went to the glass shop and and they installed a 2 piece type rubber. The first part is roped in to get the lip set and ther using s special tool they set a bead within the rubber. I can shoot a pic if you want.

i tried putting a top from a 75 on my 64 top and the bolt holes just didn't quite meet up, but that's an easy fix. just find out where the threaded sections on the rain gutter are and egg out the holes in the side panel.
also the lips are different...what windshield frame are you usingi prefer the lip on the later tops because they bolt on where the corrugated tops do not.
you said you're looking for corner glass weatherstrip, but the corrugated tops don't have those. do you have two tops? the later style side panels won't work with the bi fold door.
as for the wing window, which wing window parts are you looking for. the doors that would go with that top would have the windows that hinge in the weatherstrip (which is currently unobtainium, hopefully soon to change), or do you have the 65-74 doors with the post/spring setup that goes down into the door? if you have the later style, matt tarnow has some parts for those style vent windows and his pricing is excellent.

Ill try the glass shop for the seal so that sounds good.

I have the ribbed sides and somebody clearly cut the corner windows in. Im not sure which doors your speaking of and will have to take a look but I think I have the early early so basically the unobtanium.

I am also using the stock windshield frame so the 66. This top should basically be a bolt on.

thanks again guys

arndog

I was just out in the garage looking at some old hard top sides and I noticed that the early ones (I'm not sure how early) had straight (up and down sides) where the tube slips into the B pillar and the later ones were angled slightly in (1/2 inch) at the top. This suggests that the caps for these tops may be different too.