Leaky roof
 

Top installed between '61 - '63, fabric is in real good shape but leaks anytime I wash the car.
Any ideas on how to stop the leaking short of removing the top fabric and starting over?
I'm thinking the welting has shrunk over the years, and needs to be replaced, but doing so I would never get the top tight again, I could pull the old welting and replace it inch by inch in one piece, would that work?
Any ideas would be welcomed.
Thanks in advance.

Re: Leaky roof
 

Should be able to remove welting. gently pull nails and reinstall new,the roof fabric should hold its shape in place. Try a small section!

Re: Leaky roof
 

Hi 31,

FWIW:

If contemplating using a sealant, (calking), in conjunction with your Model A roof repair work, make sure the sealant has printed on the outside that it meets Federal Specification, (FS) TT-S-230-C ............... "if" you want an "adhesive" sealant that is not only waterproof, expands and contracts with thermal expansion, and is also UV resistant.

If "anybody" recommends any type of calking, (sealant), that does not meet this above Federal Specification, buy it with a few extra boxes of Kleenex Tissues to put in your Model A ..... you will need the Kleenex not "if" ..... but "when" these other so-called indoor bathroom and wet area cheap sealants loose adhesion, dry out, crack, and leak after a couple of years.

Re: Leaky roof
 

Use black 100% silicone. Works for me.

Re: Leaky roof
 

The roof on one of my tudors used to leak. I leave it out in the rain a few times a year for the wood to swell. Hasn't leaked in years now. So my solution was to do nothing, and it worked. :) Jeff

Re: Leaky roof
 

I agree, if you don't want to change the whole thing out, and replacing the welt is 1/2 the job, then seal it.

Re: Leaky roof
 

If you repair it with yuk pucky you are dealing with a crap shoot. Your chances of getting it 100% water tight are slim. Let's say you luck out and seal it then all of a sudden the 56 year old top material begins to crack. You have gained zero. It looks like the body is due for some new paint. I would completely remove the top and do it right way. Even if you are not interested in a complete body restoration job by replacing the roof you will at least stay dry.

Re: Leaky roof
 

My guess is the top material as well as the welt have both shrunk. Like my pappy taught me.....there ain't no mechanics in dem cans. Post #3 is correct. Some sort of elastomeric is in order.

Re: Leaky roof
 

Looks like a job for Flex Seal.

Re: Leaky roof
 

Just stop washing it.

I just love patina,,no washing.

Re: Leaky roof
 

I never wash my antique cars with a hose or bucket of water.
I dust them off, and if need be I will use a damp cloth.

Re: Leaky roof
 

I use black seam sealer, available at body suppy shops.

Re: Leaky roof
 

Yep, that would be my choice.:)

Re: Leaky roof
 

I have used a Sashco 10004 Big Stretch Caulk Black available at ACE Hardware stores, and Amazon.

Comes in a tube $7.99 water clean up, 4 hour cure time.

I have used it to seal at the edges of the front windshield when you have water working around the glass seal and on the top. I apply the caulk and then use a wet sponge to work the sealant into the crack and wipe off any excess. Allow 4 hours to dry.

Stays soft and elastic over time for a years-long, lasting seal.
Easy to smooth and clean-up with water.

http://www.sashco.com/products/big-stretch/

Re: Leaky roof
 

1st off...thank you all for your replies.
Have to keep washing it , as I am doing body work, sanding, wet sanding, priming, wet sanding, priming, wet sanding...you get the picture.
The welting and top fabric look to be in good to very good condition.
A new top kit will run me about $130. Chump change really.
Think I'll take some of the suggestions here and try this first.
Re-seat all the nails/tacks in the welting and use the seam sealer, applied with a small 3ml syringe (My son uses these on aircraft, have lots of them) and seal around both sides of the welting, the syringe has a nice small tip, if I take my time I should be able to get under and between the welting and the top fabric without making a mess.
If it works great, if it does not, I will rip the top off and spend the $130 for the new top.
And thanks for the "seam sealer" advice, never heard of it and never used it before, I'll be sure to buy the best.

Re: Leaky roof
 

Burner,

I have an original, un-restored 31 town sedan as yours. It had the original top fabric but did leak around the mouldings. I used 3M adhesive sealant #5200 black. Your leak is coming in from the sides of the steel mouldings as mine did, so I used the 3M sealant and pushed it in under that steel moulding on both sides with a thin cardboard all the way around the top. Judging from your pictures, your leak is more on the fabric side of your moulding. Also, look closely at the center of your moulding, it has a rubber insert that covers the nail heads. See if there are any cracks in the rubber or openings that would allow water to come through. If so, then use the sealant on those places. After you use the sealant, use mineral spirits for clean up. Try your water test in a couple of days and see what happens. This procedure solved my problems for twenty years until something fell on my top and put a hole in the fabric then I had to put on a new top. Your top mouldings are original and if not rusted badly you can re-use them if you have to put on a new top. The rubber insert is available new. When installing a new top, I always use the 3M sealant. Never use any silicon products against metal!!!!

Re: Leaky roof
 

I taped the seam neatly and used windshield urethane . Used a gloved finger to tool it and carefully untaped it . Just remember to do it carefully because it is some messy stuff . Looks great and No more leaks .

Re: Leaky roof
 

Good

Re: Leaky roof
 

I used the Flex-Seal to seal a couple windshield washer bags on classic corvettes. I would think it would work on a roof. Mask off the area real good.

Re: Leaky roof
 

While there is a lot of good discussion going on here, keep in mind that this is a four year old thread.

I would love to know how burner31 made out fixing that leak.