rotary everything!

iTrader: (1)

i found a thread a while ago about a couple ppl that blocked off their sunroof.

im interested i either blocking mine off or maybe i can find an s4 shell(preferably 86) with no sunroof.

the thread i saw before had a plastic type insert rivited on it think. also, i think its main purpose was to stop the leaky sunroof hassle however, i was thinking more of a block off of a semi-thick heavier metal to eliminate the structural weakness that the sunroof poses.

is there anywhere in model or vin numbers that would signify that its a non-sunroof model that anyone knows of. any help in this would be appreciated.

also...im not a welder(yet), so i dont know much about fusing metals together. any block off suggestions would also be helpful and appreciated.

thanks again guys.

jerd_hambone

Just use the stock sunroof and weld around it. Unless it's glass.

rotary everything!

iTrader: (1)

unfortunetly, the kid i bought the car from put an aftermarket glass flip-up type sunroof on there. not only does it leak but i definitely cant weld that.

jerd_hambone

If you pay for shipping, I'll trade you my metal one for it =]

Spirit-RE

iTrader: (25)

Pics!

What you are describing could possibly be a rare dealer option.



Why do you want to delete your sunroof? Non sunroof models are hard to find.

jerd_hambone

AH SHUSH! Hahaha

My 89 GTU was a hardtop.

SirCygnus

iTrader: (1)

dude, you can get hundreds for that sunroof. its hella rare.

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

nope, only thing the vin tells you is the year and turbo or not. it says other stuff, like its a mazda, and made in hiroshima japan, but we already knew that....

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

It's not the specific roof for the car though.It was installed by a "whiz kid"!.it even leaks!..who wants a roof that leaks??!!
.OP.I had a 88 S4 that had no Sunroof.When I got my 1986 Rx7 I thought that the sunroof was an option!

rotary everything!

iTrader: (1)

yeah, i can get pics of it tomorrow. i seriously doubt its worth hundreds....

im not sure but, i dont think it was a dealer option. whoever put it on there didnt do it professionally. i see some bonding type culk in there around the corners...looks very unprofessional. but who knows. i think if it was done better it wouldnt leak. btw it only leaks a drop or two every hour or so, but thats enough to be annoying.

thanks for the offer of your metal roof but ill bet its going to be pretty hefty shipping cost because of the weight. i think ill pass.

thanks for the info, i didnt imagine that kind of info would be within the vin, just thought id ask in case.

i have an 86 base model so i would assume that the sunroof that came with it originally wouldve been a flip up type anyway, idk for sure though. no power anything...gota love it!

i wonder...has anyone seen a 86 base model w no sunroof? i hear about 87 and 88 s4's with no sunroof.

im interested in doing a sunroof delete because i dont want the structural weak point.

thanks for all the responses guys, ill get that pic up here tomorrow...may sell if i can get the hole blocked after its out...sounds like a couple of you are interested. thanx guys.

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

In my observation:the sunroof skeleton is part of a structural 'add on' if you look at it on the car,on the inside
It spans between the outer edges of each side and is held in at key points.
I never did take the roof liner out of the NON sunroof car though,so I can't say for sure if it had more reinforcing to prevent the roof from twisting under load or stress.

jerd_hambone

I had a no sunroof car, and it didn't feel like there was much extra support there. If there is, it's very thin.

Spirit-RE

iTrader: (25)

I'll give you $25+shipping for that glass sunroof!

The sunroof is nothing more of a disadvantage than added weight. The sunroof-less models are just thin metal for the roof, absolutely nothing structural. Yes, I have a non-sunroof FC at home.

rotary everything!

iTrader: (1)

so sunroof or no sunroof, doesnt matter, same strength. ok so, i might as well just fix the leak.

as far as weight goes. i dont think there was ever a motor or rails for a power roof, at least i cant find evidence of those things. so with the glass one i have, i think it would serve as a weight reduction with out sacrificing strength. correct?

i cant sell it yet. have to get whatever i replace it with, if i decide to, first. its still rainy season here.

rotary everything!

iTrader: (1)

not sure if i attached the pics correctly...lets see if this worked.

rotary everything!

iTrader: (1)

ok cool, it worked. sorry they're a little dark. cell phones

fire0wl

does the interior have the stock opening? That looks to be a different shape than the stock sunroof. you possibly could have already had a non sunroof rx, but your boy ruined that for you.

rotary everything!

iTrader: (1)

it looks as if there may have been a stock sunroof but, maybe the flip up type to begin with. im not sure though as ive not seen, in detail, the motorized slide back style. i wouldnt imagine that the high school kid i bought the car from wouldve paid someone to cut a hole in the roof of what used to be a non-sunroof model and then put a flip up roof in there. could be wrong though.

its dark from the pics i took(with my cell phone), but i can see a groove all along a big rubber seal that goes around the hole on the inside. thats what makes me think maybe it was a slide style at first and then got replaced with a flip style later. but like i said, i dont see evidence of motor or controls to activate it.

if anyone knows where the motor or controls are normally in an 86 base with the slide style roof, i can probably look to see if i can find evidence if there ever were those components.

thanks everybody.

jerd_hambone

The controls are on the dome lights/rearview mirror.

And as far as I know, there was never a stock popup roof.

nxtlevelmazda6

iTrader: (1)

Where in Southern Oregon do you live? I could help you out with your car if you are not too far away.

bac22

That's an after market roof that was put into an original solid roof S4. I did a similar thing on an 88 S4 a long long time ago.

rotary everything!

iTrader: (1)

alright guys, still cant find control components... so it sounds as if bac22 is right.

thanks for answering all my questions you guys.

i guess since i figured out what i needed to, id assume this threads probably dead.

thanks again guys.

jar2

If I finally figure out how to upload pictures I can give you mine. I have the rare glass sunroof. The clip doesn't work anymore but I'm in the process of looking for a new one to replace it with.

rotary everything!

iTrader: (1)

i just figured out how to upload pics the other day....

down at the bottom of the page where you can post a quick reply, hit the 'go advanced' button.

write your message or what not

scroll down beyond the smiley options and click the 'manage attachments' button

choose the file from you computer and hit upload, then submit the message...

that should do it.