wws944 Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Starting a new thread to separate this from the never-ending mythical green convertible thread...To recap: On convertibles, there is a wide piece of black tape between the tonneau cover and the edge of the door. It can get nicked over time, so would be nice to replace it with something identical."anyone): Do you know if this 'tape' (though it seems a bit thicker than typical tape) is replaceable? One of mine has a nick in it, so body color shows through."944I have replaced that tape on two cars. It is pretty easy. Getting all of the old tape off is the hard part. The human fingernail is the tool of choice. As soon as you put the top back up it will get nicked again. The "B" pillar rests on that point and when the car flexes the B pillar will mess up that tape again. At least when you reinstall the tape you can do a better job of positioning it than the factory did. FWIW Nothing is perfect. What brand/style of tape did you use? It has a glossy surface to it. Can't be something as simple as (really wide) electrical tape, can it?Also, what about templates to cut the tape to the exact size before installation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest steveskyhawk Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 My pinstripe guy provided the material. Dont know where it came from. It comes in a large self adhesive sheet. A template is made from the car's old one prior to removal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCReatta Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 My guess is that it's probably the same material that they make vinyl letters out of. You know, the kind they stick on cars, and signs and stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Like the black tape on the gearshift, a sign shop will have material that will work. The original tape is about as thick as black electrical tape, not sure where you can find an identical product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest blue72beetle Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 (edited) I was just thinking about this the other day. I always thought it was paint.And after looking at the new "History of Reatta" pictures that were posted, has anyone noticed that none of the early/prototype convertibles have this black tape? I noticed it when watching this Motorweek video on the 1990 vert. And they even said that it was a prototype they were testing.MW 1990: Buick Reatta Convertible Road Test (better quality) - YouTubeAlso interesting that the 'prototype test car' had power releases, like a 91.Edit: Barney pointed out the same thing. I guess I should have finished reading that thread first. Edited September 22, 2011 by blue72beetle (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tempest6cyl Posted September 28, 2011 Share Posted September 28, 2011 Black rubber will cause discoloration of paint over time. You may notice discolored tiles in a new car showroom and often the car is parked on carpet squares. The black tap prevents the discoloration of the paint on top of the quarter panel where the rear rail seal rests on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEMO Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Then what about the bottom fo the top where the rubber gasket seals to the back of the car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEMO Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 OR the trunk lid touching the gasket? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 I had some "static cling" strips made for Reattas after needing to polish that area every time I put the top down. I noticed that the Corvette people has these strips, so I tracked down a vendor and had some made.I have a couple remaining, the problem, the company sold and additional ones may not be available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Kingsley Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 (edited) The Distributor through whom I buy the EZ-On convertible tops that I sell is perhaps the largest single importer of auto upholstery material of all types in the U. S. He is giving me an array of material which he thinks might be appropriate as well as an upgrade to the OE tape on the gear shift selector board. He is most knowledeable about all aspects of convertible materials and I will gladly talk with him tomorrow and if he has any input on this subject I will post it. Edited September 29, 2011 by Kingsley Typo (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCReatta Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 I had some "static cling" strips made for Reattas after needing to polish that area every time I put the top down. I noticed that the Corvette people has these strips, so I tracked down a vendor and had some made.I have a couple remaining, the problem, the company sold and additional ones may not be available.How much do you want for one or two? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Saw a roll the last time I was in an Advance Auto Parts store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tempest6cyl Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 Then what about the bottom fo the top where the rubber gasket seals to the back of the car?The topstack rear rail seal was molded latex rubber while the 5-bow seal was an extrusion of a different type of rubber. The staining was more of an issue with the latex. The bigger concern with 5-bow seals was abraiding the painted tonneau surface. Corvettes at the time had a clear mylar tape on the tonneau to prevent that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEMO Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 You forgot about the trunk lid ,and the doors have rubber gaskets too. How do you know that this is a different type of rubber? You removed it and tested these compounds? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEMO Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 You trying to say that the weather stripping on the convertible top is made of different materials depending on there location of the car? Where is this information comming from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Kingsley Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 If I can get any Reattta convertible door window weather stripping, in any condition, I will make a strong effort to replicate them. I know the traditional suppliers have declined to do so but, as in the situation of my sun visor clips, I approach replication in a different light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tempest6cyl Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 You trying to say that the weather stripping on the convertible top is made of different materials depending on there location of the car? Where is this information comming from?Yes, the Reatta topstack seals are made differently than most of the other seals. If you took one of the side rail seals and cut it open you'll see it's 'spongy' foam inside a rubber skin. They are molded latex. Once the outside skin is broken they deteriorate fairly quickly. Decklid and door seals are usually a constant section and are extrusions. If I recall right, they were a type of EPDM. Latex seals tended to seal better than some of the other rubbers available at the time but, you do trade off some durability. Alittle help sealing is a good thing on a convertible. For tooling, latex seals require molds for each one while extrusion dies are cheap in comparison. In the mid-80's latex seals were not uncommon. The door glass seals on my 85 GN are latex.Where did I learn this ? From the Reatta topstack engineer that was responsible for their development. How do I know what he told me is true ? Because while he was working on the topstack, I was the engineer responsible for the sheetmetal. We tended to talk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEMO Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 I would find the facts first.I was told by an expert ? Every word spoken must be the truth. Someones saying something is not a fact. I would not take it for the truth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reattatude Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 I would find the facts first.I was told by an expert ? Every word spoken must be the truth. Someones saying something is not a fact. I would not take it for the truth.Come on, youre really from Missouri aintcha?What he said sounded very knowledgeable it was good enough for me - Heck I even understood about half of it! Looks like this thread is alreadly going the way of the mysticgreen 91 thread. God help us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest blue72beetle Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 FWIW, I don't believe a single word anyone on here says.I never believed Reatta convertibles existed until I bought one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCReatta Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 FWIW, I don't believe a single word anyone on here says.I never believed Reatta convertibles existed until I bought one.LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Any idea how to remove a 'vert top seal intact ? Do not care what the repop is made of so long as it works and is black. What is the current material of choice ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wws944 Posted October 1, 2011 Author Share Posted October 1, 2011 Actually I never believed there were Reatta coupes until I saw Kits car in person. ;-)Tempest6cyl: Do you happen to recall what kind of weather proof rubber sheet/tape you guys used between the tonneau cover and the door? I'd imagine it would have been die cut and had a Peel 'N Stick backing for easy installation on the assembly line. Maybe something from 3M? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 We have a large 3M development site locally and over the years have met several people that work there.A few years back I addressed the black tape with a retiree with connections. I even provided the GM part numbers but they could find no reference to the part, from 3M but some sub-contractor could have made them from 3M stock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wws944 Posted October 1, 2011 Author Share Posted October 1, 2011 (edited) Certainly someone from ASC or GM had the dies to cut the pieces from stock sheets or tape. The real question is what kind of stock they used. It would then be easy to make a template of the existing part and make a couple for personal use.Stuff like this always makes me wonder what happened to the original dies and molds? In GM's version of Area 51 or Warehouse 13 (thanks Padgett for the reference )? Or destroyed? You'd think they would keep 'one of everything' to provide service parts for a while. Edited October 1, 2011 by wws944 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tempest6cyl Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Tempest6cyl: Do you happen to recall what kind of weather proof rubber sheet/tape you guys used between the tonneau cover and the door? I'd imagine it would have been die cut and had a Peel 'N Stick backing for easy installation on the assembly line. Maybe something from 3M?Sorry I don't remember the specific material name. I do remember it being a thin vinyl sheet material like used for the wide racing stripes or similar graphics on cars. There wasn't anything special about other than it was meant for application over painted surfaces. It was used to form a barrier between the seal and the quarter panel. It was die cut and I'm sure it had adhesive on the back. It wasn't on the early prototypes you've seen in photos because the issue showed up in testing. If I was trying to replace one today, I'd head for someplace that does vehicle 'wrapping' or auto graphics. They might have a black wrap material. If you don't like the original black color, vehicle wrap may come in clear. That would also be an option for the 5-bow seal area to avoid the issue Barney mentioned awhile back. While the Corvette had a clear mylar protection strip under the seal, the Reatta program chose not to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 With todays technology, any sign maker could make parts from a good pattern.They scan the master, and do a mirror image for the other side. I believe the original part was there to prevent scratching of the paint.We have all seen Reatta convertibles with this part damaged by the top not clearing the body when folded, hence, the original part was robust (thicker) to survive the rubbing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Kingsley Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 FWIW - while killing time today going through Ebay, found a material which might, just might be of some help. Has a black matte finish.I have inquired further as to its properties and whether or not it would harm the paint underneath. Quite a long shot but will get back on this post if it appears to have any merit.It comes in a variety of fairly large sizes such as 24"by 30" for example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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