OEM Roof Racks ? and Roof Rack Hole Sealant Suggestions

[hygge]

First, I did some searching on the forum and I couldn't find a thread that was solely devoted to OEM Roof Racks for FJ62s. My truck is a 1989 that has lived its life in Northern California. I saw in one post that Toyota did not have an OEM roof racks. Which leads me to believe that someone in the past put on this gross roof rack.


I want to get the truck's roof into better working condition. There are a few holes from an old CB radio and an old hole from when someone had a cell phone antenna attached. I figure if I am going to patch these up I should patch up and dismantle the old roof rack (which seems flimsy).


Anyway, I will eventually get a better roof rack that is more useful when the budget and wife are okay with me "investing" more money into the rig.

Question 1. If this roof rack is OEM (not saying it is), would it have any value? If its garbage, than okay, tossing it.

Question 2 : I've heard horror stories about welding and burning the headliner. I can't weld, so thats not going to be an issue.

What is everyone's favorite sealant to patch up the holes from all the metal screws? I've seen people mention silicone, marine silicone and JB Weld. Preference? Am I missing a silver bullet ?

Thanks

 

[87CRUSR]

You are on the right track to take off that less than practical rack.

 

[SUMMIT CRUISERS]

Lots of info about this in the 80's section. Here's one thread: Body Filler to Seal Roof Rack Holes?
Check out the post #6 and the links if you want to paint.

 

[roadstr6]

Don't use silicone. Try to find some sort of urethane sealant. Silicone contains acid that is not good on metal. What I have done in the past is to use stainless steel screws with rubber washers under them to seal the hole. Then seal around the screws with urethane for extra protection. Looks like Fido's rectum but works great for a semi-long term fix.

 

[red66toy]

I found some little rubber plugs at the hardware store and used 3M marine adhesive 5200. That stuff is not going anywhere and really seals. Polyurethane formula.

One day I’ll have the holes welded shut.

 

[hygge]

Awesome replies everyone.

Sounds like a potential Fathers Day gift project to myself.

It will be nice to see the truck with out this garbage hanging on the roof.

Will post pics once it’s done.

 

[86aggie]

I'd use these, with SS bolts

McMaster-Carr

You should be able to find them locally. McMaster ships very quickly if you can't.

 

[hygge]

Last night I took off the old s***ty racks. It was both pain and happiness simultaneously. First, happy that I don't have an old non-functional roof rack. But painful, when I saw the effects of the old holes. Most of this is surface rust, however one of the plugs that I found up there ( maybe for an old cellphone antenna mount or CB Radio?) is pretty big. Some of the middle of the roof rack holes have not so friendly rust a bit beyond surface. Trying to find the best solution for these ( sanding, cleaning and then POR, Rustoleum?).

Any ideas on best way to fill the big hole? Its about 1" in diameter, so the sealant is not really the best option here. The PO seemed to just have a black plastic plug, but the rubber is degrading and the hole shows signs of rust.

Also, at the mounting holes for the rack, there were plastic inserts for the bolts to mount to. Guessing the best route to try and get these out is pliers.

Thoughts?

Thanks !!

 

[hygge]

Spent some time with a wire brush, 80 grit sand paper and a wire wheel to clean up the rust on the roof from all the old holes.

After I felt that I had cleaned all the rust off, I used a metal cleaner to get the surface ready for some rustoleum. I decided to use a clear enamel so it would not be as noticeable.

Two coats of rustoleum on the screw holes and I started to apply marine adhesives 3M. It took some finesse, since some of the holes were quite large and the viscosity of the marine polyurethane needed to set a little bit before I could get the entire hole covered.

I plan on putting an additional coat of polyurethane to fill up the sagging that is happening in the holes later tonight.

Glad I did this, since there was quite a bit of condensation on the roof this morning. I can sleep better knowing that the water is not leaking into my headliner!

 

[Elbert]

OH yes! this is one of the biggest screw-ups of a dealer installed option. I too have to deal with the impact of the crappy roof rack.

Ive not done anything with mine just yet, other than temp seal with some silicone type material. I've through about sanding the holes down....spray bombing some primer and potentially having the roof "line-x-ed"... but not sure thats a great solution.

I'm aware that were are a couple 3M products made for or can be used for sealing holes(silicone type stuff in a tube). OF course the best solution would be to have the roof welded/patched, but I doubt I'll get to that.

 

[FJ60Cam]

I put a dab of JB Weld over the screw holes (after cleaning the paint) almost 15 years ago. I touched them up again about 5 years ago. So far, it hasn’t leaked, and I don’t have any rust spreading. The JB flowed and settled into a nice clean rounded dome, too. Not noticeable unless you climb up to inspect.

 

[Ian Crawford]

Aw man, I like the look of the factory rack!

 

[Elbert]

the factory rack is just a bomb waiting to surprise you with untold agony once that thing comes off the roof. If you have one the you best get up on the roof and look at all the mount points, see all the wonderful screws going through the roof. Notice post # 9 above pics. Just a really poor design and install...I'm in the same boat. I may get to be good friends with JBweld after I spend some time with a scuff pad and some spray bomb primer. Its likely I may also remove my headlinner since my truck the headlinner is not in great shape. I forgot about JBweld..thats a good suggestion. Even if the rack is there and it looks ok physically...that does not mean you dont' have issues with what you can't see underneath the rack....

 

[MoaByte]

Wish I'd found this tread before I gooped silicone and plastic plugs in the holes. It did work to seal the roof however. Getting rid of the dealer installed luggage rack was like removing a metal sliver. Feels instantly better when it's gone.

 

[hygge]

It was an easy process to take the terrible old rack off.

I highly recommend it. I'd say all in it was a 3 hour process . Well worth stopping rust.

It will look ugly for a while, but soon enough I will figure out new paint or weld it.