Hardtop drip rail install, with caulk underneath?

[65SATisfaction]

Hey,
When I pulled the stainless drip rails off my '65 Satellite, there was some semi-hardened goop (Like Mortite, if anyone remembers that stuff) in the cavity underneath. This is a vinyl top car and the stainless rails are ready to go back on.

The new vinyl top is on tight with a "termination bar" riveted along the edge of the material that will be hidden under the stainless drip rails. It seems to me I don't need the goop in there to keep anything water tight. So do I need the goop? Maybe is was for anti-rattle purposes? It's a big cavity and would take several pounds of goop if I put it in.

Anyone with experience?
Thanks,
-Art

 

[dave5237]

I had glue or adhesive under my vinyl but no goop under the drip rail molding. Hmmm.

 

[BigFlo]

Aren't there two pieces of metal that come together in the drip rail? Is that the sealer the factory used to seal those two pieces?

Question for you - what did you use to remove the drip rail and how did you do it? I may need to do that soon and I don't want to mangle these pieces.

 

[65SATisfaction]

BigFlo - Glad to share removal technique.

You know the trim is divided between the rear section that goes down the C-pillar and the one section above the door glass? The rear section is easy to figure out - it's all screws. The one down low in back is a nut you have to unscrew from the inside.

The one above the door glass: There are two clips behind this piece. They each have two barbs that grab the steel body underneath. You have to gently push a flat screwdriver down between the roof and the trim, slide it along the trim until you find where the two clips are. Use the screwdriver to find each barb, then like a lever, push the screwdriver's handle towards the roof so the flat end pushes the barb off the steel edge it's holding onto. I'll take some pics and post here in a few.