Hey folks, we went to take the roof down over the weekend and noticed something that I distinctly do not like... the part of the roof by the back of the car that has weatherstripping and sits on the tonneau area of the car... when we went to lift it to store the roof, we heard a strange kind of "sticky" noise, and immediately noticed there is a black line of the weatherstripping now on the tonneau area where the roof seals to the car... anyone else had this before? I'll try to post a pic later.

Wondering, is this bad? How do we go about cleaning this up now, to avoid damaging the paint? My wife suggested "Goo Gone", which has some petroleum base to it, but I don't know if that's going to damage the finish....

Man, I hope we're not wearing out that weatherstripping somehow.. I have no clue how this happened.. never noticed it before. But, it has been VERY hot up here the last 2 weeks, so maybe that has something to do with it...

ANY feedback appreciated here. Thanks kindly.

You might try a little light oil, such as air tool oil and rub it with a cotton cloth, don't use synthetics as they can scratch the finish. Old baby blankets and the old syle cloth diapers work great. I use cotton to rub down my guitars and the finish looks great.

Thanks C3, that's what we'll try. Man, I'm worried I've done something here and am about to wreck that weatherstripping on the roof. [:o]

Well, I got some lo-res pictures of the situation. Sorry about the lack of quality.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/TopSpeed50/Corvette/14-08-06_1557.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/TopSpeed50/Corvette/14-08-06_1558.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/TopSpeed50/Corvette/14-08-06_1559.jpg

Anyways, I also found this on Eckler's today, and I going to order one of these.
1986-96 Convertible Top Black Deck Lid Protector (http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?pf%5Fid=26609&dept%5Fid=1399)

Just thought I'd post an update, just in case anyone else runs into this.

We tried one of the clear vinyl deck lid protectors a few years back and it left an outline almost like it had fused with the clear coat. Maybe they have improved them since we tried one.

A product that I use for all my vehicles is "Nu Finish". It cleans without abrasives and will even restore finish from oxydation. I can get it at my local hardware store.

ORIGINAL: KYTiger

We tried one of the clear vinyl deck lid protectors a few years back and it left an outline almost like it had fused with the clear coat. Maybe they have improved them since we tried one.

[sm=headbang.gif]
Oh sweet Lord!! Never thought of THAT! Jeez, I think I will scrap this idea for now... thanks for the headsup on that one. Did you guys have the same issue with the residue from the weatherstripping I have here, or did you use that as a precaution?

ORIGINAL: C3 Starship

A product that I use for all my vehicles is "Nu Finish". It cleans without abrasives and will even restore finish from oxydation. I can get it at my local hardware store.

*nods* We can get that up here, too. Maybe this is what I'll do then, is just clean it up whenever it shows up again.. had the roof down for a bit yesterday, and it didn't "stick" as I was putting it down like it did over the weekend. I am baffled as to if this is a common thing, or just a one-time thing that happened to me.

TopSpeed, I have a 93 convertible and have noticed a similar line where the gasket sits. I haven't looked at it very closely but I would assume it is created from the gasket rubbing on the deck. My guess is, it is the nature of the beast and can be removed, but will reappear. Good luck.

I was just wondering, is there a removable hard top available for your Vette? I think you would still have the weather stripping prob, I was just wondering. ( This could be a determining factor for what year Vette I find for my wife. She doesn't like the look of Rag-tops.)

ORIGINAL: 93C44FUN

TopSpeed, I have a 93 convertible and have noticed a similar line where the gasket sits. I haven't looked at it very closely but I would assume it is created from the gasket rubbing on the deck. My guess is, it is the nature of the beast and can be removed, but will reappear. Good luck.

You have NO IDEA how much I appreciate your feedback. I was starting to worry I had done something here to cause this, but now that I have seen your post here, I feel a LOT better my friend. Means the world to me.

I suspect you are right with it returning. I guess, so long as I now know it just wasn't me, or something I did, I am OK with all this....

Thanks kindly for taking the time to post!

ORIGINAL: C3 Starship

I was just wondering, is there a removable hard top available for your Vette? I think you would still have the weather stripping prob, I was just wondering. ( This could be a determining factor for what year Vette I find for my wife. She doesn't like the look of Rag-tops.)

Yessir, there sure is! As a matter of fact, I believe a hardtop shell from 84-93? would work on this generation. They seem to be rather universal. I have seriously been thinking about this for next year... gotta get the climate control fixed first, that's priority for us. But next year, yeh, I am going to look into the clamshell hardtop for sure. I think you can get one fairly reasonably priced.

I was just thinking, after looking at your pics again, I know there is a product (the name escapes me at the moment) that is a weather stripping conditioner. This might help to keep down on the friction of the weather stripping on the paint. ( kinda shootin' in the dark here, but I know this is a prob with a lot of rag and removeable hard tops )

Thanks my friend! I'll check into that.. I haven't had time yet to try and clean it up... been working too many hours here. I'm planning on doing something about this this weekend. Also, believe it or not, I am very relieved to hear you say "but I know this is a prob with a lot of rag and removeable hard tops" as now I know it's not just me. Thanks for taking the time, my friend, you rock good sir. :)

ORIGINAL: C3 Starship

I was just thinking, after looking at your pics again, I know there is a product (the name escapes me at the moment) that is a weather stripping conditioner. This might help to keep down on the friction of the weather stripping on the paint. ( kinda shootin' in the dark here, but I know this is a prob with a lot of rag and removeable hard tops )

*ding, ding* Are you perhaps referring to dielectric grease? I have seen mention of this previously and it sounds like it may be the same thing!! [8D]

No, this is excusively a weather stripping conditioner. If I can remember the name i'll pass it along. (probably come to me about 2:30 in the a.m.)

ORIGINAL: C3 Starship

No, this is excusively a weather stripping conditioner. If I can remember the name i'll pass it along. (probably come to me about 2:30 in the a.m.)

I should give you my phone number, so you can call. :D:D:D

Seriously, bro, if you do remember, I'd appreciate it. The dielectric grease stuff, they say to keep it away from paint, and seein's how this particular part of the roof RESTS on the paint, I am beyond nervous to try it. Probably won't, in this case, to be honest.

Whoa !!!, NO, NO, NO !!! Don't do that!!! Got my mind really scramblin' now!!!
I'm goin' to hav'ta hit the "books" on this one. As soon as i find it, I'll let you know.

( Do you reeeaaallly want a call at 2:30 in the morn??? :D:D:D)
My wife would, hang, me if I solicited a call at that time!!!

ROFL!!!! Hey, bro, we're friends for sure, but yeh, the 2:30 am phone call??... Might elect to find an alternate method of communicatin'!!! :D

You crack me up, good sir.

Don't hurt yourself trying to remember that my friend. I think I've got enough info now to try and tackle this problem this weekend, but if you DO think of it, I'd appreciate it.

Well, I finally got around to takin' a close look at this issue and fixed it up last night. I just used car wash soap and had to scrub some to get it off, but it's gone now. There is a faint line there still, but our paint ain't perfect anyways on the car so I am not worried about it. I guess I find it royally wierd that this happened... it hasn't occured since that first time.... I don't know if it was a heat issue from the ambient air temperature up here, or what the heck happened... I'll keep my eyes on it closely now.

No one else with a drop top has seen this ever before? How about you folks way down south where it's very warm most of the time?

SPEED I USE GOO BE GONE ON MY VETTE TO GET ALL KIND OF CRAP OFF WORKS GOOD.



GOO BE GONE.
ACE HARDWARE SELLS IT.

WILL NOT HURT THE PAINT
YOU CAN ALSO GO TO YOUR PAINT SHOP AND GET A CLAY BAR.
IT WILL ALSO TAKE CRAP OF YOU PAINT TO WITH OUT HURTING THE FINISH:D

ORIGINAL: corvette king

SPEED I USE GOO BE GONE ON MY VETTE TO GET ALL KIND OF CRAP OFF WORKS GOOD.



GOO BE GONE.
ACE HARDWARE SELLS IT.

WILL NOT HURT THE PAINT
YOU CAN ALSO GO TO YOUR PAINT SHOP AND GET A CLAY BAR.
IT WILL ALSO TAKE CRAP OF YOU PAINT TO WITH OUT HURTING THE FINISH:D

Thanks for posting, my friend!! Yeh, we have a product called Goo Gone up here, sounds mighty similar to the one you mentioned. I definately used it for cleaning up my problems with the velcro on the headliner of our roof... worked great!!! I'll probably resort to this next time (if it happens again) this issue comes up. Never thought of the clay bar, though!! THAT'S a fantastic idea, even just to have one around for those "lil' things" that sometimes come up! Thanks for taking the time to post, I really appreciate that, bro.

ORIGINAL: TopSpeed


ORIGINAL: corvette king

SPEED I USE GOO BE GONE ON MY VETTE TO GET ALL KIND OF CRAP OFF WORKS GOOD.



GOO BE GONE.
ACE HARDWARE SELLS IT.

WILL NOT HURT THE PAINT
YOU CAN ALSO GO TO YOUR PAINT SHOP AND GET A CLAY BAR.
IT WILL ALSO TAKE CRAP OF YOU PAINT TO WITH OUT HURTING THE FINISH:D

Thanks for posting, my friend!! Yeh, we have a product called Goo Gone up here, sounds mighty similar to the one you mentioned. I definately used it for cleaning up my problems with the velcro on the headliner of our roof... worked great!!! I'll probably resort to this next time (if it happens again) this issue comes up. Never thought of the clay bar, though!! THAT'S a fantastic idea, even just to have one around for those "lil' things" that sometimes come up! Thanks for taking the time to post, I really appreciate that, bro.
NO PROBLEMO,:D:D:D:DI HAVE A CLAY BAR IT TAKES EVERY THING OF ..BUT THE PAINT... GO BUY ONE!

;)10-4, dude, I sure as heck will. That's a brilliant idea, and I'm embarassed for not thinking of it myself. This is why these forums rock!!! I really appreciate your help and support there, king. :)

HEAR IT IS TS:D

http://www.meguiars.com/estore/

ORIGINAL: corvette king

HEAR IT IS TS:D

http://www.meguiars.com/estore/

Dude... you rock so much, bro. THANKS!!!! I'll be orderin' that puppy on payday! *hi5's king*

YOU ARE VERY WELCOME SCOTT:D