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Just picked up a hardtop and need to paint it to match my car’s color. Anyone know how to remove the two cover strips down each side? Since there’s a gasket under them, i’d Like to remove before painting as taping here would look crappy. Also, any ideas on how the rear window gasket is removed? Thanks in advance
Just picked up a hardtop and need to paint it to match my car’s color. Anyone know how to remove the two cover strips down each side? Since there’s a gasket under them, i’d Like to remove before painting as taping here would look crappy. Also, any ideas on how the rear window gasket is removed? Thanks in advance
Can't speak about the rear window gasket but the two strips have plastic clips holding them in place. The service manual states they are one time use and WILL break upon removal and all of mine did. I just did the same a year ago. Dealer had the clips in stock.
Thx Mbren, you don’t happen to have pics of the strips removed, do you?
Sorry but i do not. I too had a body shop paint mine and take care of it all. I only know about the strips because the body shop was paranoid that they were going to break them. Since they knew i was a mechanic they asked that i do the research. I can't find it at the moment but i had found factory service manual page on disassembly of the top. It was very clear about using a non marring tool (plastic wedge) and carefully pry them up, it was also clear that the hold down/mounting clips are one time use and will break on removal. I had printed the document out and gave it to the body shop. The sheet even had the part numbers.
The glass was decided to be too risky to remove. They used a product that was like a small diameter rope that slide carefully between the glass and the top. It allowed the weatherstrip to be slightly lifted up which allowed the paint to be "blown" in under the weather strip for a factory like paint job. After it was done the weatherstrip laid back down and you can't even tell it was touched.
Found one of the pics. Doesn't give the part number though.
I also found the spot about the window removal. It states the molding around the window just pulls out and can be reinstalled if its not damaged (good luck). the glass is glued in with Urethane so it will needs to be removed and reinstalled by a glass company if you attempt it.
Hardtop Disassembly?
