can anyone lead me to a thorough thread on sealing the trunk? i want to hit all the top areas that might cause water leaks. thanks!

What is a 'top area'? Sometimes water comes through the attachment screws for the wing.

I don't know what they're properly called, but it can leak around those "D" shaped plastic inserts located at either end at the top of a GT's trunk.

quote Originally posted by Gall757: What is a 'top area'? Sometimes water comes through the attachment screws for the wing.

This ^ ^ ^

just looking for a general to do list . i replaced the trunk gasket yet i still get water now and then without driving it. just leaks in somewhere. i figured if i hit all the typical problem spots that folks have found that i'd have it solved. thanks

well I think you have the list. It sounds crazy, but enough water can wick through those wing stand fasteners to make the entire bottom of the trunk wet after a normal rain. The other spot is the filler plates on each end of the trunk. You should be able to figure it out based on where the water is.

to fix: back off the screws a bit and put some silicone caulk under the head and re-tighten.

[This message has been edited by Gall757 (edited 11-09-2015).]

quote Originally posted by Gall757: The other spot is the filler plates on each end of the trunk.

Whatever they're called, that's what I was referring to earlier.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: I don't know what they're properly called, but it can leak around those "D" shaped plastic inserts located at either end at the top of a GT's trunk.

Silicone sealer will not be as effective as what the factory used due to vibration.

The factory used a form of body putty called Strip Sealer, Strip Caulk or more commonly known as Dum Dum.

quote Originally posted by Thunderstruck GT: Silicone sealer will not be as effective as what the factory used due to vibration. The factory used a form of body putty called Strip Sealer, Strip Caulk or more commonly known as Dum Dum.

Dum Dum!! I haven't seen that stuff since the 1980s! Can you still buy it?

quote Originally posted by Gall757: Dum Dum!! I haven't seen that stuff since the 1980s! Can you still buy it?

Absolutely.

quote Originally posted by Gall757: Dum Dum!!

Reminds me of O/T.

so,,, what you're saying is the smart thing to do is use dum dum . where can i get,,, dum dum? where should i apply it?

Although Dum Dum is probably the correct stuff from the factory, you would have to buy much more than you need, and there are many household caulks that will do the job. I applied silicone bathroom caulk to my leaky deck lid screws many years ago and it is fine. Auto paint supply stores may have the Dum Dum.

[This message has been edited by Gall757 (edited 11-10-2015).]

I put a dab of this around the wingstand studs before installing. No leaks there.

------------------
My World of Wheels Winners (Click on links below)

3.4L Supercharged 87 GT and Super Duty 4 Indy #163

+1 on the black silicone, I used it to glue the gaskets and stands down and then went all around the gaskets with it. Not an '88, but same problem.

Speaking of that problem, are you certain it's coming from the top? I put old floor mats over things in the trunk. This definitely showed that it was coming from the wingstand attachment points, but the main reason my carpet was wet was the lack of trunk. You should probably take the carpet out and see what's going on down there. My trunk stayed dry last winter, but that was largely due to extensive patching of large holes in the trunk itself.

yup . i have some of the black silicone. i'll take the plastic corner things appart and seal there. i'll also check out the wing stand for leaks.
i modified the trunk to get the exhaust on the sc 3800 the way i wanted it and heat shielded and insulated from underneath. no carpet in there yet. i'll slice up the old carpet and install once i'm sure there are no leaks from top. i sealed with urethane construction adhesive all joints below. i fiiled with water to test for leaks and siphoned/shopvaced out to be sure. it's got to be leaking from top somewhere. thanks

Good luck on the temporary fix.

quote Originally posted by Thunderstruck GT: Good luck on the temporary fix.

Keep in mind the original fix has already proven itself to be temporary.

quote Originally posted by Gall757: Keep in mind the original fix has already proven itself to be temporary.

Has it?

You are assuming the car was never disassembled.

not confidence inspiring. termparary is not what i had in mind.

quote Originally posted by tomsablon: yup . i have some of the black silicone. i'll take the plastic corner things appart and seal there. i'll also check out the wing stand for leaks. i modified the trunk to get the exhaust on the sc 3800 the way i wanted it and heat shielded and insulated from underneath. no carpet in there yet. i'll slice up the old carpet and install once i'm sure there are no leaks from top. i sealed with urethane construction adhesive all joints below. i fiiled with water to test for leaks and siphoned/shopvaced out to be sure. it's got to be leaking from top somewhere. thanks

Obviously not the problem I was having. It sure does seem to be coming from the top. However. Mine had some holes that I left. Making things watertight is usually not a good idea because some water inevitably gets in. With nowhere for water or moisture to go it causes rust or mildew. Most things have pretty good sized drain holes. Maybe that's what you need.