Need info from the blazer crowd please!

[Rokcrln]

Ok guys what I need is info on how well the top seals to the door glass. What have you done to make it better or what have you found that works? I am in the designing stages of a show built Blazer that will see plenty of road use after a year or so on the tour. When that day comes I don't want to be wishing I had done somthing different due to wind noise or water leaks. I feel this is part of the reason they went to the half top in late 75. Any input and or pic's would be great!

Kevin
LFD inc.

[onetonk5]

top/front corner of glass and top leaks pretty bad as does back rounded corner of door glass.

[red71cheyenne]

I haven't run mine in the rain, but I always thought the window rubber was a little too thin. Maybe if you could get some wider/thicker channel and put that on the top, it might make a better seal?

[bouncytruck]

They really don't seal up well, and I haven't got anywhere near the mechanical skills you do, so I haven't figured out a way to make them seal. Good body mounts help, but the top will sit slightly different on the truck each time you take it off and put it back on. If you can figure a sure way to align the top exactly, you could probably get it to seal properly each time you replace it.

[Rokcrln]

So it sounds like in the best case it is only so so. I am debating doing somthing with truck doors to get a good seal and this will be on a 2WD that wil not see much topless time if any so it still would look just fine. I am not going for the roadster look even know I live in Ca I burn way to fast and like A/C.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[raggedjim]

I think a good fiberglass guy could make a channel on the top that held the regular truck window channel felt so that when the the window is rolled up it fits in the channel.

Or possibly the old 57 chevy hardtop style flap down trim that pops into place when the door is shut.

There are 2 ideas I could NEVER make work, but someone like you...

Rg

[cstanley]

exterior door/window caulk from lowe's?
that's what was keeping water our of mine when i got it.
who knows, i might put some back on when i replace it in a few weeks... once a year isn't too bad to apply it, right?

[Rokcrln]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

I think a good fiberglass guy could make a channel on the top that held the regular truck window channel felt so that when the the window is rolled up it fits in the channel.

Or possibly the old 57 chevy hardtop style flap down trim that pops into place when the door is shut.

There are 2 ideas I could NEVER make work, but someone like you...

Rg

Only problem I see with the felt in the top is you would need to leave your window down a crack to shut/open the door. Our old Mini Cooper had a feature that teh windows would lower a 1/4" to alow this to work then once the door was shut it would pop back up. Worked real well. I want to check out a few euro cars to see how thewy are done but I don't think I could afford the rubbers to make it all happen

While caulking would and does work great I don't think the judges would look to kindly on it

If I use the full dorr top I would be able to make it very smooth with the rest of teh top. But I like the look of teh Blazer topless with stock doors so who knows!

Kevin
LFD inc.

[bouncytruck]

My buddy's Boxster has the same feature that lowers the window slightly when you pull the door handle. Works well and hardly noticable. I've seen the same thing on a few other cars that don't have door glass frames.

[raggedjim]

OK, I've crawled out of the box... How about making a removable truck door surround? take it off when you're topless and put them on before you put the top on?

Or maybe completely removeable windows like the old 1949 Dodge Wayfarer Roadsters?

I'm on a roll...

Rg

[Musclerodz]

kevin, you and I are thinking the same thing but I am wanting to do it with a one off soft top. More "convertible" like. I have plans on using a single wall top as a header bow.

Mike

[Rokcrln]

Originally Posted by Musclerodz

kevin, you and I are thinking the same thing but I am wanting to do it with a one off soft top. More "convertible" like. I have plans on using a single wall top as a header bow.

Mike

Yes mine wil be a one off top as well but a full (steel or alum) hard top. If you are thinking about using full doors for better seal then use the top off a truck and cut it down for the soft top to fasten to.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[jaros44sr]

Maybe you could cut a better fitting window glass, it's flat. Pin the hardtop in several locations, like Bouncy said. My factory hartop on my TR-6 is of the same design, and I drove thru the winter, traction stank in the snow...

I plan to build mine outta wood like the Morgans

[onetonk5]

Soft top leaked much worse than hard top. Its all design issues that have cause leaks...also cause people to LOOK when top is off. I dont see a sealed blazer/stock(good) look in my future. Hopefully top will be well massaged/painted and left to sit while I cruise/Park undercover!

[Angelse68cal]

Hey Kev you should Check into the New Volkswagen convertibles the window pops down when open and the when you close it it snugs up. This would look slick with a set of power windows.

[Musclerodz]

Originally Posted by Rokcrln

Yes mine wil be a one off top as well but a full (steel or alum) hard top. If you are thinking about using full doors for better seal then use the top off a truck and cut it down for the soft top to fasten to.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Thought about that but I don't want to have the doors impeding my view when the top is down. So many choices

[ClassicJimmy]

I've been preping a door for my Jimmy & as I work on it I have ideas rolling thru my head. One of the original ideas was to have a one-piece door window - get rid of the wing window. Everyone on the board said there hasn't been a way to do it, because there is no support for the window. Seems to me that there are a lot of convertibles out there with one piece door windows & don't have these issues. I think with the seals & using the available technology from today's convertibles, someone might be able to kill two birds with one stone. I personally haven't started the research, but that was the direction I was going. Good luck & I'm subscribed! I'll be sure to post anything I can come up with too.

[LUV2XCLR8]

Interested in where this thread is going

[Rokcrln]

Originally Posted by LUV2XCLR8

Interested in where this thread is going

Right now it is going right here! I am just asking so I can figure out what direction to go with my 2WD when I get started on it. But as of Wensday that will be put off a bit longer I just picked up a clean 63 SWB that is going to get a quick build done in the near future as a joint project with another board fabricator

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[arcticspade]

I saw a guy make a truck-convertible at a show. He did the “felt option” on the seal to the top and a different weather-strip at the back that had a channel in it to drain the water to the rear and down. He went with the power windows and set the relay in them to do the same thing (where they slightly role down when you open the door). The top was like a half cab old k-5, kind of… similar at least. Granted his was a pure show truck and the top that he modified was only on half the time (at most) and who knows about day to day functionality. He said he originally made the relay so it went all the way down because he wanted the felt channel at the rear of the glass as well; he tried it for a while but forgot to wait for the window to roll all the way down once, he swung the door open, and ended up with the door glass on the ground and in his lap.

[arcticspade]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

OK, I've crawled out of the box... How about making a removable truck door surround? take it off when you're topless and put them on before you put the top on?

Or maybe completely removeable windows like the old 1949 Dodge Wayfarer Roadsters?

I'm on a roll...

Rg

I'd buy it! Best of both worlds.