Hard Top Fitment at Winshield

[cleszkie]

For as long as I've owned my Blazer, my hard top has never seemed to fit quite right at the winshield frame. In particular, when sitting inside, the top does not come down all the way flush with the visor brackets where it bolts down. there has always been a 1/4 inch gap when I tighten the bolts. I never try to fully crank down on the bolts because the fiberglass begins to pull down at the caged nuts and I don't want to crack it. I have though that the aftermarket weatherstripping at the ends of the windshield frame (held on with 3 screws) was too thick, but have not tried laying the top on without it to check fitment. Has any else had this issue? Is it normal? If not, what could be the cause (thick weatherstrip, body mount shimming, etc)? Thanks.

[truckster]

Mine doesn't seem to sit down quite all the way either. I don't have any leaks, but I do hear some wind, although that may also be just the way the wind works its way over the gap. I've also replaced the rubber at the end caps.

[Tom Vogel]

How did it fit before the new rubber?

[truckster]

It's always seemed to be a little difficult to get the front edge to pull down to the windshield header. It doesn't leak, and there's not a big gap, but it takes some work to get it on and tight. Once it's on, I don't seem to have any problems.

The main thing about the end rubber (and drip deflectors) is that they keep most of the water out of my lap.

[cleszkie]

Tom -

I have had the same set of repop weatherstripping on the Blazer for the last 20 years. So I can't tell you how it fit before.

My next step is to remove the weatherstripping all together just to see if it is indeed what is keep the top from fully seating at that location. Who knows, maybe it won't be any better.

[4oldcars]

I am just now experiancing my first time putting the top on. It had no weatherstripping when I got it. I bought all new stripping. I have it on but there are holes the size of my finger at each front corner so I have evidently done something wrong - - just haven't figured out what.

[truckster]

Originally Posted by 4oldcars

I am just now experiancing my first time putting the top on. It had no weatherstripping when I got it. I bought all new stripping. I have it on but there are holes the size of my finger at each front corner so I have evidently done something wrong - - just haven't figured out what.

I need to put my top on this Saturday. I can take pics of the weatherstripping before I do if it will help you out.

[4oldcars]

That would be great - - - Thanx! I have not been able to find any pictures anywhere so I'm just kinda playin trail and error.

[Tom Vogel]

[QUOTE

My next step is to remove the weatherstripping all together just to see if it is indeed what is keep the top from fully seating at that location. Who knows, maybe it won't be any better.[/QUOTE]

Hmmm.... That's interesting. They are smoothing and painting mine now and I've got new weatherstripping to put on. It fit great when they here prepping the body... Now you've got me concerned.
Let us know what you find. BTW, Is it a single wall or double?
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[cleszkie]

Tom -

Mine is a double wall. I will let you know how it goes without the rubber. If it ends up that my problem is caused by rubber that is too thick, or too firm to compress to the desired thickness, I will do one of two things - 1) find NOS rubber, or 2) shave down repop rubber until it is the desired thickness with angle grinder and flap disc. The screws that secure the rubber to the widshield frame ends are counter-sunk a fair amount in the rubber, so there is a lot of "meat" to work with there.

[truckster]

I posted the pics on another thread started by 4oldcars that's titled Top rubber seals. I didn't want to post pics twice so I don't hog server space and bandwidth.