80 series rust/paint bubbling at windshield

[Zatara]

I've found a 92 LC that is gorgeous with only one flaw, paint bubbling which looks like rust on the outside, drivers side along the windshield.
There is no other rust that I can find anywhere so my guess is this is due to water leaking in and staying there. Bad windshield gasket maybe ?
Anyone have this issue and if so, whats it take to repair it ?

 

[Klierslc]

Windshield gasket is likely, but more likely is sunroof drains clogged. If it is just the windshield gasket, you should be able to pull the wind screen and rustproof it and reinstall. However, I would not buy it without determining the extent of the rust--Maybe pull off the trim on the A pillar to see how far back it goes.

Also, if you pour water on the sunroof on that side, the water should drain out the rockers just behind the front wheel well. This will determine the state of your sunroof drains. If they do not drain well, check behind the dead pedal (one 10mm bolt) for rust in the floorboard.

A good body shop will be able to fix it one way or the other, but it should be a good deal to take that risk unless you can check it thoroughly first. Make sure when they reinstall the wind screen that they glue both sides of the gasket.

 

[NorCalLC]

You will sometimes hear sloshing water around the door areas/ front lower fender and that will also usually mean your sunroof drains are clogged. After you do the water trick up top of your sunroof, you can take thin guage wire like you find in a roll at Home Depot for tying rebar and cut a section about 5' -6' long and run it slowly down the sunroof drain holes.

If they are cloged you may have to work the wire back and forth a bit and then you should hear and see water and gunk come out those lower drain holes. After that run clean water thru it for a bit. It usually works like a charm

Some people on MUD have said it's a common problem on the 80s.

 

[redthies]

Plugged sunroof drains are a common problem. Some people use weed whacker line to free them up, as it is a bit thicker and less prone to messing up the drain tube. I think what you are describing is likely due to a poorly done windshield replacement. I had a similar problem with my 96. Pictures would help, of course. It may just take a bit of sand paper and touch up paint to put right.

 

[Wheelingnoob]

I had that on both upper corners of my 80 windshield, I pulled the windshield and seal then cleaned it all up and repainted the roof. The rust was caused by a poorly uninstalled seal. They used a knife and damaged the paint then did not seal the new gasket in and water sat there rusting it away.

All fixed now and looks good as new.

 

[FJR Colorado]

I've found a 92 LC that is gorgeous with only one flaw, paint bubbling which looks like rust on the outside, drivers side along the windshield.
There is no other rust that I can find anywhere so my guess is this is due to water leaking in and staying there. Bad windshield gasket maybe ?
Anyone have this issue and if so, whats it take to repair it ?

Proceed with a great deal of caution...

Kind of a long story but I ended up having a poorly installed windshield on my T-100. The gasket was botched. Here in CO we go through a lot of glass so I sealed it as best I could and figured it would get all better again next time I replaced it...

Well, as fate would have it the glass did not need replacing (finally a windshield that does not break in 6 months and the install sucks; can't win sometimes!). Water began to collect and rust formed. I was too swamped to deal with it but finally knew it needed work before it got too cancerous. I figured it would be no huge deal to repair, but boy was I wrong....

The first 3 shops I brought it to would not even touch it. Then one said they would pop it out if I wanted to but they may not ever be able to get a new windshield in. I now had an otherwise perfectly great truck that was basically totaled due to a strange confluence of events.

Finally, I found a shop that said they had a new product and technique to solve these sorts of dilemmas. Some sort of epoxy-like compound to fix edges of metal. The cost would be $1300 (including new glass) but they were confident it would work.

So I went ahead... but after they ripped out the glass they called and said "bad news; we suggest you replace the cab if you are serious"... and the work would cost far more than the value of the truck....

I said no. Just do the best you can with the "miracle goo" you said you had. Well, they did the work and it really came out great. Looks as good as new. It was still a silly amount to spend on this truck but since it has saved my life twice, and I love that old beast, and I had recently invested in new tires/painted the wheels/replaced the exhaust, and the cost of a good Tundra to replace it was far more, I am glad I did it...

But I would not go near a vehicle with a similar condition. And I would NEVER let a poorly installed windshield go for very long again. Lesson learned. I hope you gain from my mistakes...