Bonding the top and bottom together

[simpleton7016]

I have ripped my terra tiger down to the shell and plan a full restoration. The only thing left to do is pull the top off of it. Are there any tricks? Also, when I go to put it back on, what compound is recommended for bonding the two pieces (top and bottom) together?

Thanks in advance for any "tricks of the trade" you might have to offer.

[farmtoybuilder]

Getting top off is worst then working on all other stuff on it (to me) After drilling out all rivets and removing them and molding, we use heavy thin knife and work all around body seams to loosen it. If no one used fiberglass on it. We just use silicone sealer when putting them back together. If you fiberglassed or sprayed gel coat on it, you would have to cut body apart If you or next person ever needed to remove it again.

Your cheating! But taking top off does make it easier to work on. One were totally redoing now we still have top on! And we have everything out of it.

Jeff

[simpleton7016]

Thanks Jeff...sounds like a real PIA....maybe I will look closer to see if I can't live with it as is....but my other one will absolutely have to come off to repair some fiberglass. I will take pictures....

[simpleton7016]

I am going to take it off this weekend. Is there any trick to getting the trim off around the outside of the seam? Also, do you only use the silicone sealer to bond them back together? Meaning, you don't replace the rivets?

[coosaridgerider]

You do have to put the rivets back in the body,The caulking just water seals the top and bottom.I highly recommend a caulking called NP1,You can get it at a roofing supply co or a fastener supply co.This caulking is way better than any silicone.You do have to put new rivets back in it,You might have to go 1 size larger on the rivets if you drill them out.