Roof bolts gasket gunk ❓ (Page 1/1)
Wichita APR 24, 10:31 PM
Question about what is the black sealant that was originally used for the Fiero roof bolts? I recently removed the rear clip to really rust protect the frame rails and etc. I have the rear clip back on and ready to roof panel back in place.

What I haven't seen or read on any of the tutorials on re-install is what others have done to the roof bolts as if nothing was done to them. There must have been a purpose for GM to stop some sealant on them. Maybe a thin rubber washer is was others have done or they reapplied what I think is butyl rubber sealant, but I'm not sure. Seeking help from the pros on here. 🙂

Pic of a couple of the roof bolts for example.


[This message has been edited by Wichita (edited 04-24-2022).]

skywurz APR 24, 10:40 PM
I used black RTV
WonderBoy APR 25, 02:49 AM
Not a 'pro' but I believe it's this stuff:

Butyl Tape

Advance Auto and AutoZone sometimes has it in stock (Metro Moulded Parts Ribbon Sealer). I used 3M.

When I put my roof piece back on I also put a little 'donut' of the stuff.

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Curtis

1987 Pontiac Fiero GT:
<Drives like a Go-Kart, handles like a roller coaster>

[This message has been edited by WonderBoy (edited 04-25-2022).]

theogre APR 25, 04:07 AM

quote
Originally posted by WonderBoy:
Not a 'pro' but I believe it's this stuff: Butyl Tape

Advance Auto and AutoZone sometimes has it in stock (Metro Moulded Parts Ribbon Sealer). I used 3M.

When I put my roof piece back on I also put a little 'donut' of the stuff.

Is likely close if not the same.

While most OEM don't use it for Windshields, can find it on other things because sticks to most things and very flexible.
I believe is "illegal" for this for windshields in FMVSS and related rule books and similar reasons Rubber "gaskets" holding windshields until early 70's. Doesn't hold enough in a crash.

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

olejoedad APR 25, 07:11 AM
Black RTV on the bolts works well.
skywurz APR 25, 11:54 AM

quote
Originally posted by WonderBoy:

Not a 'pro' but I believe it's this stuff:

Butyl Tape

Advance Auto and AutoZone sometimes has it in stock (Metro Moulded Parts Ribbon Sealer). I used 3M.

When I put my roof piece back on I also put a little 'donut' of the stuff.



The roof is held on with Butyl Tape down the pillars and across the roof above the windshield. However i do not think that's what was used on these bolts because all of the ones i have encountered are a hard dry most of the time brittle rubber. Maybe brittle is not the world.. easily separated from itself and surfaces in chunks.

[This message has been edited by skywurz (edited 04-25-2022).]

Wichita APR 25, 03:04 PM

quote
Originally posted by skywurz:


The roof is held on with Butyl Tape down the pillars and across the roof above the windshield. However i do not think that's what was used on these bolts because all of the ones i have encountered are a hard dry most of the time brittle rubber. Maybe brittle is not the world.. easily separated from itself and surfaces in chunks.




Correct!

I didn't remove the roof. Only raised it a few inches in the rear as to get enough clearance to remove the rear clip.

The ribbon sealer that the rear clip goes on was actually in very good shape. This Fiero I have is actually quite in good shape overall, with very little surface rust. Not even the sail panel pillars had any rust what so ever and the sail panel foam was still good, pliable and soft. It's been garaged its whole life.

The only thing I really did was really clean and mineral spirited as best I can all the frame rails inside and out. (used a dryer vent brush on a drill with various bush attachments) to get inside the frame rails. Then I sprayed Eastwood internal frame coating, and also on the outside as well. I still need to do a bit of inside the engine bay on the back firewall where the battery tray was (dissimilar metals caused it to eat a way). I have it smoothed out and treated. Just don't know if I will patch by welding a plate over it or just fill it with epoxy and move on.

But, now I will bolt back the roof and rear clip back down. Just want to make sure I applied the correct sealant to the bolts/washers when I reattach them.


Many thanks for the black RTV, that seems to be what others have used.