Permanent Sunroof Removal Update
#1
SSDD
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Permanent Sunroof Removal Update
Here are a few pics of my new non-sunroof RX7. I welded the sunroof panel in minus its bracing to fill hole and a headliner from a non-sunroof car. It will still needs more work before the car gets painted in a few months.
#5
SSDD
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks! I did it to get additional headroom for when I wear a helmet while at track days. It was allot of work but now my helmet does not hit the roof. The panel is pretty light with the bracing removed. The headliner is from a S4 and required a little trimming to fit.
#6
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: London, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In the last picture it shows what looks like a beam going from the front of the sunroof to the back of the sunroof. Is that how a factory non-sunroof car looks or is that something you added?
I'm envious, it is very nice. How much extra head room do you think you created?
I'm envious, it is very nice. How much extra head room do you think you created?
Trending Topics
#13
Buildup Thread Encourager
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not meaning to hijack your thread, but:
Is it possible to switch from a non sunroof to a simple manual sunroof (no electric opening)? The metal plate covering my roof is leaky and rusty.
Is it possible to switch from a non sunroof to a simple manual sunroof (no electric opening)? The metal plate covering my roof is leaky and rusty.
#14
Chad Carson
iTrader: (29)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: South of Nashville TN. USA
Posts: 7,010
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Snrub
In the last picture it shows what looks like a beam going from the front of the sunroof to the back of the sunroof. Is that how a factory non-sunroof car looks or is that something you added?
#16
Rotary Enthusiast
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Very nice job man.... that's an awesome idea, how much work/time/money went into it?
Thinking maybe I should start looking for a solid roof lining... if not to have, to sell since I have a feeling they'll go up in price. lol
Syncro: you can have some places install an aftermarket sunroof/moonroof... they cut a hole in the roof and weld it in. If you do it to a GTUs though you might wake up one night to RX-7 owners defacing your house! ;p heh jk.
--Gary
Thinking maybe I should start looking for a solid roof lining... if not to have, to sell since I have a feeling they'll go up in price. lol
Syncro: you can have some places install an aftermarket sunroof/moonroof... they cut a hole in the roof and weld it in. If you do it to a GTUs though you might wake up one night to RX-7 owners defacing your house! ;p heh jk.
--Gary
#17
SSDD
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The headliner is pretty easy to swap but, I had to trim the sides to get it to fit (S4 headliner in a S5). The rollbar is a Autopower race rollbar with a harness bar, and cross bar that are removable. The materials to do it are under $100 not including the tools and the paint job the car will get (rattle can right now). It probably took 25 hrs or so since I just started doing bodywork. If you don’t have a welder, welding blanket, saws all/jigsaw, grinder, and sander it would cost a lot more.
Thanks for all of the positive feedback.
Thanks for all of the positive feedback.
#18
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: London, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've been thinking about this a fair bit lately. Presumably there is a bar in the roof of the non-sunroof cars where the headline bulges out, correct? Did you bother to put it in? Does anyone know if it is easily possible to put it in?
I recently had the car painted, so I don't really want to be doing body work on the roof. If I do the work it will never look right. Any ideas on how I could have the panel solidly in place, but also fill the seam between the room and the pannel at the top to avoild water accumulation/rust?
Also, any ideas as to where one could get a new headliner? (non-used) Victoria British doesn't seem to have them. I'm aware that Mazda probably has them.
I recently had the car painted, so I don't really want to be doing body work on the roof. If I do the work it will never look right. Any ideas on how I could have the panel solidly in place, but also fill the seam between the room and the pannel at the top to avoild water accumulation/rust?
Also, any ideas as to where one could get a new headliner? (non-used) Victoria British doesn't seem to have them. I'm aware that Mazda probably has them.
#19
Rotary Enthusiast
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Snrub
I recently had the car painted, so I don't really want to be doing body work on the roof. If I do the work it will never look right. Any ideas on how I could have the panel solidly in place, but also fill the seam between the room and the pannel at the top to avoild water accumulation/rust?
--Gary
#20
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
Originally Posted by 37FC3S
That beam is just the shape of the headliner.
There is normally a metal bar that runs the length of the roof under that "beam" and helps prevent the roof from caving in, in the event of an accident.
#21
SSDD
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I made relief cuts at the corners of the panel and then flattened the edges. The panel fills the opening once it the edges are flattened. The edges of the opening provide enough support unless you press pretty hard. I bought the headliner from a dismantler because I could not find you elsewhere.
#22
Rotary Enthusiast
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm wondering... does this mean the A pilar and B pillars in sunroof cars are re-enforced/heavier? Or does it just mean we're more screwed in a rollover? lol
Either way, roll cages are good.... rollbars are okay too. =)
--Gary
Either way, roll cages are good.... rollbars are okay too. =)
--Gary
#23
SSDD
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would think the beam on non-sunroof cars is only there to add strength to the roof but would not help in a rollover. The "A" & "B" pillars are probably the same and that is what would be the part of the roof that would protect you in a rollover. This is just my opinion since I am not a engineer.
#24
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
Originally Posted by 37FC3S
I would think the beam on non-sunroof cars is only there to add strength to the roof but would not help in a rollover. The "A" & "B" pillars are probably the same and that is what would be the part of the roof that would protect you in a rollover. This is just my opinion since I am not a engineer.
I would be skeptical of 37FC3Ss method of flattening the right angles of metal (if I understood his post to say) without adding the support beam. From his description he just made the passengers compartment part of the crumple zone (if I understand him correctly).
Of course I would have just gone to the junkyard and cut the roof off of a coupe w/o a sunroof and welded the whole roof in, instead of trying to fill the sunroof hole, but to each their own.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jeff20B
1st Generation Specific (1979-1985)
73
09-16-18 07:16 PM
risingsunroof82
1st Generation Specific (1979-1985)
8
09-07-15 01:11 PM