'86 Cab top seal

[Autoban]

I have a little water coming in at the corners of the windshield ('86 Cab). I will replace the seal on top of the windshield, but today I also noticed that the seal attached to the front of the top (resting on the windshield) seems to be cut short at the ends (picture). Is it normal to stop 1.5" from the corner? Mine does on both sides.

[WPOZZZ]

Your seal should extend to the end of the roof.

[Bob Kontak]

Looks like your top has been changed from original. The tops have vinyl. That looks like a canvas?

Also the front and rear lip of the tops extend over the seal. Yours looks short. Not bad - just a little different.

If you do get a new seal, talk to Dan Pechtel about the correct retro-fit seal.

However, you may just want to back into a seal to fill that last inch or so on each side if the mods to your top will not mate to a factory seal.

[Autoban]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Looks like your top has been changed from original. The tops have vinyl. That looks like a canvas?

I thought all tops on Carreras are canvas. The top was replaced a couple of years ago by the PO and is in excellent shape. I had planed to order the windshield frame seal and the front top seal from our host. I know the windshield frame seal will be from a 964 and needs to be modified. Thanks for your input.

[aj88cab]

The tops are canvas. As you noted there are two seals, the main frame seal and the top outer seal. As WPOZZZ noted the top seal is short, maybe damaged and trimmed at one time, or just shrinkage from exposure to the sun. In any case you'll need to replace it as well or you will continue to have leaks...ask me how I know

[Bob Kontak]

Crikey - I was thinking targa. Doh.

The windshield frame seal is not easy to trim. If you have someone that knows how to do it that would be different. Otherwise consider the retro-fit unit.

Edit - Man, just looked at the PET diagram. The Targa top does not have the top seal like the Cab. Sorry - I should not have responded at all - the Cab is outside my knowledge base.

[Autoban]

Andrew, I am afraid you are right, there will always be some water coming in somewhere, but the more of the known areas of leakage I can fix the better it is. I'll order the parts today and will see how it works. I did read the article (on this site) on how to modify the 964 seal to fit my '86 windshield. Sounds like a nice project for a rainy day.

Bob, no problem. I don't know much detail about Targas either.

Juergen

[donagain1]

Juergen, it may not be the seal(s) on the windshield frame... unless you see obvious hardening of, or physical trauma to the rubber. It's a 3-piece seal on my '85 (and yours should be the same). If the rubber appears to still have its original profile, stands up proud, has pliability to it with no damage to the raised "fin", and there's a good bonding of weatherstrip adhesive to the frame, it's probably okay. On the other hand, as noted by other posters, the strip that's on the top bow itself is indeed too short, should extend to the edge of the stayfast top on both sides, and may NOT be your culprit. There's a contoured rubber "cap" on the leading edge of the horizontal window seal that are on the side of the folding top frame (the top of the window rolls up into it... see photo). The end caps get mashed into the sides of the windshield frame when the latches are closed. If there's a gap there because of a deteriorated end cap, you'll get leakage in the same exact area your getting now. I'd investigate that as well.

[Autoban]

This is how it looks on my car. The larger formed rubber seal looks a little different. The seal along the front of the top looks like it was trimmed with a knife and should have gone at least as long as the formed rubber piece or maybe a little into the canvas piece. Maybe about to where the stitches are close to the rain gutter. I guess I will have to try it out.

[WPOZZZ]

My cab had a tear like that and it would drip inside the car when it rained.

[donagain1]

I'm thinking that the canvas piece doesn't belong there, actually. It appears to be rolled up and over the rubber trim (belongs beneath it, and thus providing a direct path for water entry.

[Autoban]

Thats a thought. I see that your Cab is only. One year older than mine,but there seems to be a difference in the seals for the top.

Juergen

[donagain1]

Apologies, Juergen! A trip to our host's pages on body seals show that there IS a difference between seals for an '85 and an '86. Mea culpa. That said, in my humble opinion I still cannot help but feel that the canvas which rolls over the rubber at the leading edge of your side seal is the pathway for your water entry... when rubber smooshes against metal, it seals water leakage.

[1982911SCTarga]

Hi, Juergen. I sent you a PM.

Brian