Sunroof Delete
 

Does anyone make something so that I can just get rid of my sunroof, I have tried 2 different sunroofs and am tired of getting old shit. Plus, if I could just get a panel that went into the opening where the sunroof was it would be a pretty good weight savings at the highest point of the car.

I am looking for something made of CF or aluminum preferably.

sounds like a good idea. I would think it would be cool if the top was like the FB. where it completly pops out manually.

Have a body shop weld a non-sunroof roof onto your car.

if you can get some sheet metal cut, use the sunroof as a template, maybe just a lil bit bigger so it will meet up, then spot weld it in places then body filler

I really don't hate that Idea, the only problem would be to make sure it doesn't leak as the stock piece had weatherstripping as well as a system of drains.


As far as getting a piece of sheet metal and making that slightly larger, well that gives me an idea. I could use the existing panel as a form and lay fiberglass over it.

Thanks for the input guys.

Oh, idea!! Leave the whole sunroof assembly in, cover just the top of the sunroof with vaseline or some other nonstick substance then jay the fiberglass over top of it so it has some support to get the shape right. After it dries take the sunroof out from inside and it should come right off of the fiberglass. Then just put your headliner back in and you would never know.

/\ thats a pretty good idea if your good with fiberglass i would do that.

I apologize for a thread high jack, but has anyone ever done a manual slide sunroof.

I know older cars had them where you had to twist a handle to unlock it and then you could slide it back to a rear position and had to lock it in there. I like the sunroof, I just friggin despise the crappy old motors.

Thanks

Wouldn't the fiberglass be higher than the roof then?

If you're going to do it, weld in a panel, or just add some strips between the sunroof panel and roof and weld it right in place. Please do not use fiberglass. For one reason, the dissimilar materials will eventually seperate. For another, since you'll be no doubt removing the slider assembly afterwards you're going to lose a bit of strength there (although the bracing on the roof is fairly adequate given the existing hole) and this will accelerate the crackign you'll experience if nothing else.

just weld very slowly and let the panel fully cool after each weld otherwise you're going to end up with a massively warped panel.

So wait...let me get this straight...

The original poster wants to remove his sunroof from the equation because he refuses to get to the core of the problem and fix it properly? Come on!

Pull the sunroof out of the car. Find a write-up (And God knows there's many!) and REBUILD THE SUNROOF ASSEMBLY! It isn't worth it to me to delete the sunroof because it's broken. I've dealt with a broken sunroof in one form or another before and yes, it sucks. Giving the panel a push to open sucks, helping it slide forward to close sucks, having broken slider arms sucks, weak motors suck.

So fix it! Jesus Christ....

It shouldnt be noticebly higher, it would reach out further than the sunroof square, then smooth in with the rest of the roof, so it would be seamless. And a heck of a lot lighter car as a result

He also says hes lookin for the weight saving too

^^ ok I see what you mean now.

As far as rebuilding it is concerned, that wouldn't be a problem. But I would rather spend that time making something custom that would have a positive influence on both handling and acceleration.

I think I'm going to make a removable panel , out of fiberglass using the original sunroof as a form.

If I get some time this weekend, I'll get started on it and document the whole thing.

Oh get on with it! The assembly doesn't weigh that much! God I think the panel weighs more... Go get a Carbon Fiber sunroof panel and fix your assembly and motor.

The panel alone weighs just over 10lbs.
I will weigh it to be sure but I'm willing to bet the whole assembly weighs near 30lbs.

The panel I make should weigh in at 5 to 8 lbs

That's a significant weight savings especially when you consider it is at the very highest point of the car.

Also I would like to get the experience with fiberglass.

If it comes out shitty then there is always plan "B", which is to just shut up and fix the sunroof.

You know if everyone had your attitude now one would make aftermarket performance parts. Hes tryin to improve on a dated sunroof and possibly a good amount of weight saving. No one would ever have anything custom and everyones car would be exactly the same.

Exterior panel with interior piece is hair under 6lbs

Yes, the entire assembly is about 30.

By the time you're done smoothing out the FG with filler, plan on 10-13lbs. You wouldn't need as much (hardley any) filler if you welded it shut as you'd only be filling the minor imperfections left after grinding the welds down.

To each his own though.....

why not just lay sheet metal like 16-14 gauge over the hole, then trace from inside. use shears to cut the shape leaving a little room to shrink the metal or stretch it. once cut lay the template over the old roof assy to get proper curvature, after you fit it nice use magnets to hold in position while it's tig welded. grind down the welds( tig welding will leave less to grind) and use a little body filler to fill in the gaps. easy!

Oh yeah, welding is easy anyone can do it lol, i cant weld for shit, this is the exact opposite of easy lol. And correct me if im wrong but out of all the ideas wouldnt mine be the lightest?? I always follow the K.I.S.S. method (keep it simple stupid!)

Well, save for actually doing it and weighing either.........you're method would be heavier. Reason being FG is rough, at least in finished body work standards, and the amount of filler you'd need to smooth out that mess over the entire roof would outweigh the weight savings of using FG in the first place.

Regardless, either welding or fiberglassing the difference between the two weight wise is going to be less then the weight of the sunroof track assembly, so you save anyways.

And fiberglassing the roof IMHO is nowhere even close to the simplest method. The simplest would be welding the existing sunroof skin in the hole. Why you would produce something to go in the hole when you have an item that alraedy fits it is beyond me.

OK enough BS.
The factory sunroof panel has a slight curve to fit the roof. A flat piece of sheet metal will not work unless you plan on using alot of bondo to round off the roof.The best method is using the stock sunroof panel. Remove all of the tracks and motor from the panel.
Then position the original outer sunroof panel in the correct place. Oh don't forget to remove the weather stripping. You then will have to weld a few metal tabs from the panel to the surrounding roof flange.One in each corner should be fine so you can bend the tabs enough to properly adjust the panel for a flush mount before permantly welding it in.do not use bondo to fill in the crack around the panel. It will crack very soon down the line. You will also have to make a strong/very stiff brace to run from under the rear connecting to the panel then front of the roof to keep it in place and to avoid damage or cracks in the work. the best way is to cut strips of sheet metal that fit in the gaps and first spot weld them in to fill the 1\4 in gap around the panel.This will ensure a stiff and sturdy attackment around to avoid flexing and cracking. Bondo will crack. Take your time to avoid excessive heat transfer and warping of the steel.
And after all this BS I wrote why not just buy a GTUs with no roof like me?
https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1222294696

Im not talking about making a piece to fit in the whole, im talkin about just puting a layer of fg in the roof, covering the hole, and its a lot more simple for those of us who cant weld or people without access to a welder, or welding machine.

Cause cars are expensive

both CLASSICAUTO and JUN POWER were right!!!

people you need to stop been cheap, why do something were its gonna bite you in the ass a couple days later ...HEEELLLLO fiberglass to subtitute a sheet of metal...whatttt you already have s piece of metal ...duh the oem metal panel

1- you are going to spend 3 times as much in fiberglass and resin

2- a avg welder will weld something as simple as this for about 50 bucks- hello resin is already 35 bux for a big can you still have to buy mat, bondo, sand paper.....
3- the body will twist no matter what creating cracks all over the roof

4- theres more but why continue if theres always someone who thinks the wrong way is always right




My suggestion, get the oem sunroof metal, get a dreme cut the rounded edge on a couple of spots then have a welder tig it then once its in place from underneathe get a hammer and a piece of solid metal and work the whole sunroof until its flat, then get your welder and have him weld it shut