Excessive T-panel and upper door jam adhesive

[Trstno1]

Hey guys-

So, the other day I started taking my T-panel apart to get ready for a new windshield and to figure out why my T-panel seemed to be bowing upward on one side. I also thought it would be a good opportunity to swap out the outer door seals as the current set is old ripped and petrified.


I was able to remove the T-panel off fairly easily, but noticed I was not the first person in there. Not only was the rear upper screen finisher reinstalled broken in half, the foam spacer under the T-panel was broken in half. I cannot believe the po reinstalled this stuff broken!!!. On top of all that it seems as though there was a lot of extra adhesive under the foam insert under the panel. I can tell the po used a blue gasket sealer to re-affix the T-panel to the roof, but I am more curious about the amount of black sealant that seems to be built up under the foam spacer. Is this normal? Or should I take all that stuff off? I also noticed the same black sealant is all over the door hindges and basically everywhere someone thought there would be a leak. I don't even want to mention the layers of adhesive used to affix the outer door seals....it's old, and hard, and will need to be wire wheeled off.....What gives? I'm guessing this isn't normal and I have an uphill battle on my hands in order to remove it all.........my question is whether or not the T-panel will sit right if I remove all of the built up adhesive under the roof panel foam insert? Has anyone had experience with this?

Also, when removing the T-panel I noticed a very slight crease in it. It's not a crease that is very noticeable unless in the right light, but it still really bugs me! Now I'm not a body guy, but is this something a body shop can fix or will I need to get a new T-panel?

Any thoughts?

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[DMCMW Dave]

Hey guys-

So, the other day I started taking my T-panel apart to get ready for a new windshield and to figure out why my T-panel seemed to be bowing upward on one side. I also thought it would be a good opportunity to swap out the outer door seals as the current set is old ripped and petrified.


I was able to remove the T-panel off fairly easily, but noticed I was not the first person in there. Not only was the rear upper screen finisher reinstalled broken in half, the foam spacer under the T-panel was broken in half. I cannot believe the po reinstalled this stuff broken!!!. On top of all that it seems as though there was a lot of extra adhesive under the foam insert under the panel. I can tell the po used a blue gasket sealer to re-affix the T-panel to the roof, but I am more curious about the amount of black sealant that seems to be built up under the foam spacer. Is this normal? Or should I take all that stuff off? I also noticed the same black sealant is all over the door hindges and basically everywhere someone thought there would be a leak. I don't even want to mention the layers of adhesive used to affix the outer door seals....it's old, and hard, and will need to be wire wheeled off.....What gives? I'm guessing this isn't normal and I have an uphill battle on my hands in order to remove it all.........my question is whether or not the T-panel will sit right if I remove all of the built up adhesive under the roof panel foam insert? Has anyone had experience with this?

Also, when removing the T-panel I noticed a very slight crease in it. It's not a crease that is very noticeable unless in the right light, but it still really bugs me! Now I'm not a body guy, but is this something a body shop can fix or will I need to get a new T-panel?

Any thoughts?


The foam piece is factory-taped to the t-panel. At this point you use a spray adhesive. Then the foam is attached to the roof with doublesided foam tape, as many layers as needed to get it to sit correctly. Avoid the temptation to glue the panel in place as it's hard to get the setting right and a huge PITA for the next guy who takes it off for whatever reason.

It's good to remove all the door seal glue, it's pretty common practice for folks to just keep added new glue, and the wrong kind, over old glue, and after a few generations of this it's as mess.

The RTV all over the roof is factory AND a recall notice about fixing roof leaks. Another place that for some reason everyone things "lots is good" and they pour it on, although with RTV a seal is a seal and more thickness doesn't really help much.

[Trstno1]

Does anyone know where I could purchase the ground down screws for the roof seals so that I don't have to use a pop rivet gun?

Also, any tips on how to get T-panel Bowes out. Mine seems Bow up near the drivers door......

[Trstno1]

The foam piece is factory-taped to the t-panel. At this point you use a spray adhesive. Then the foam is attached to the roof with doublesided foam tape, as many layers as needed to get it to sit correctly. Avoid the temptation to glue the panel in place as it's hard to get the setting right and a huge PITA for the next guy who takes it off for whatever reason.

It's good to remove all the door seal glue, it's pretty common practice for folks to just keep added new glue, and the wrong kind, over old glue, and after a few generations of this it's as mess.

The RTV all over the roof is factory AND a recall notice about fixing roof leaks. Another place that for some reason everyone things "lots is good" and they pour it on, although with RTV a seal is a seal and more thickness doesn't really help much.

Ok, so I should get rid of the glue on the roof? Use as many layers of double side tape to re-affix foam piece to car roof to get it to sit right then spray glue foam piece to T-panel? Do you have any tips on how to remove slight creases from the T-panel?

[Denverdelorean]

Ok, so I should get rid of the glue on the roof? Use as many layers of double side tape to re-affix foam piece to car roof to get it to sit right then spray glue foam piece to T-panel? Do you have any tips on how to remove slight creases from the T-panel?

Don't use a wire wheel on any of the stainless unless it is a stainless wire wheel. I learned this the hard way. I am still having to sand out rust that forms on particles of the wire wheel. Use a sanding flap wheel instead.