I'll be looking at a 86gt vert manual in the next few days but I have no idea what to check for as far as the top is concerned. I've had an 86gt hatch (auto), 97gt coupe (manual) and now a 05 V-6 manual (which feels as strong if not stronger than the other two). BTW, it's listed as stock w/162k miles. I'll take pics and get more info whenever I see the car and post them. Thanks in advance for any help.
Possible 86gt vert purchase, what to check for?
- Thread starter HISS GT
- Start date
we used to have a checklist on here but i dont know where it is. Crawl under the car and look for rust and rot on the floor panels and especially where the floor is welded to the body itself..
ryan218
In just 10 years, I'll be old enough to drive!!!!
check the bottom of the doors, lip of the trunk lid the rear 1/4's, floor boards ect...just give the car a good once over..
torque boxes also check thoose. Check for tranny leaks, tears in roof, oil leaks.. Take it on a good long test drive and make sure you beat the piss out of it..
run the top up and down a few times look to see if it binds at all or is smooth. The seals will look worn if they are. If you can get your hand on the pump. Its behind the rear seat between the top of the rear shocks. you should be able to get to it from the back pretty easily. Check for hydraulic fluid around the pump and along the lines. My last two verts leaked at the pump. Not a real big deal but it might have made a mess under your rear seat and carpet.
RUN IT THROUGH A CARWASH!
No joke, put some high pressure water on it!
The seals on the rear quarter windows, 'vertical weatherstrip' I think they are called crack and deform easily and leak on the panels to the side of the rear seat. Mine are so deformed that there is about a 1/8 gap now between the drivers side front window and this seal
I have the seals, but I have no idea how to change it!
With the top down and the windows up, open and close the doors several times. Do the windows fit nicely inside the little grooves in the rubber on the top or does it catch/pinch it?
There is some adjustment in the windows inside the doors to get it to do this properly but imho this is a little tricky and I would advise you to make sure it seals right the before you buy it.
How about the seals on the A-Pillars? Mine are old and kind of cracky but they still seal well.
A good upholstery guy told me that these seals are long-life parts and will seal well despite being kind of cracky but the biggest problems that are HARD to lick have to do with the adjustment of them.
Oh,
almost forgot, pull up the trunk carpeting and look for leak evidence, smell for mildew as
a failing top will let water into the trunk. A warped cardboard spare tire cover, especially with water stains will help alert you to this.
No joke, put some high pressure water on it!
The seals on the rear quarter windows, 'vertical weatherstrip' I think they are called crack and deform easily and leak on the panels to the side of the rear seat. Mine are so deformed that there is about a 1/8 gap now between the drivers side front window and this seal
I have the seals, but I have no idea how to change it!
With the top down and the windows up, open and close the doors several times. Do the windows fit nicely inside the little grooves in the rubber on the top or does it catch/pinch it?
There is some adjustment in the windows inside the doors to get it to do this properly but imho this is a little tricky and I would advise you to make sure it seals right the before you buy it.
How about the seals on the A-Pillars? Mine are old and kind of cracky but they still seal well.
A good upholstery guy told me that these seals are long-life parts and will seal well despite being kind of cracky but the biggest problems that are HARD to lick have to do with the adjustment of them.
Oh,
almost forgot, pull up the trunk carpeting and look for leak evidence, smell for mildew as
a failing top will let water into the trunk. A warped cardboard spare tire cover, especially with water stains will help alert you to this.
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