T-TOP sheet metal repair?

[Nasty]

Now that the car runs, I am starting to work on body issues. I figured start at the top and work my way down-so the t-top project begins. I needed to get a idea of what I am going up against-just seals or additional work.

I yanked the dry rotted seals from the t-tops in questionable areas, and found the passenger front sheet metal under the seals rotted through at the top of the a-pillar. Its about the size of a nickel or so. SO IT LOOKS LIKE ADDITIONAL WORK .

The retaining strips for the most part are ok, and could be reused (although I mangled them a little getting them off ). I was thinking of trying to patch the hole and POR 15 everything rusting (no real rust to speak of elsewhere in the t-top except that corner), but not to confident you can patch it.

The friendly search engine here and at the "other" site did not produce much. Two comments was to replace the roof as a whole. Seems extreme. One of the two comments mentioned putting a hard top on it-being the cost of the weatherstrip that still need to get done-that may not be a bad idea if it could be done. If I need a roof, labor and paint to go hard top...that surely would be cheaper than a roof, labor, paint AND weatherstrips.

Anyhow, anyone ever fix a hole in the body sheet metal under the weatherstrip at the top of the passenger a-pillar before? If so, I am open to ideas. Has anyone ever replaced their roof before and/or converter from a t-top roof to a hard top?

For now, its tape and plastic until I get it fixed as the weatherstrip is ripped out to access it. Its never driven in the rain regardless, just cover it during the rain.

Al

[firebird_1252]

gbodyparts.com makes a real nice stainless piece

[Nasty]

I believe they are the retaining strips that hold the weatherstrips in place, not the sheet metal. They do look nice, if my retainer is a little bent from removal...if I need to replace it I would choose the G-Body one though.