I made the mistake of sitting in an R1 at a car show yesterday and I couldn't believe how much more headroom I had. I have my 94 just about done. It's LS2 swapped, registered, inspected, and going in for an alignment tomorrow. It just needs paint. I'm only 5'11 and the lack of headroom kind of bugs me. I even modified the floor boards to drop the seat down some. Still the R1 probably had about 2 finger widths more room.

I found some old threads on people talking about the swap but I couldn't confirm if anyone has ever done it. Maybe the parts aren't even available anymore. But it sounded like it was around $170ish for the skin and beam. Then I'd have to track down a headliner. I read something about the visor areas being different too. I'd feel more comfortable going forward with it if I could track down someone who's done it.



pics of my floorboard

 

Yes it has been done. GoodfellaFD3S knows the owner who did it. I can't remember off the top of my head who it was. Been done a couple times.

 

There's not a lot to the job, but it will require a VERY competent body shop to do it right. They will need to cut off the old skin, weld the new skin on, and blend the seams well so it's spotless.

I am not sure if there is some more internal bracing that is different, the parts diagrams would probably be able to tell you.

The headliner, rear view mirrors, and dome light are different. Obviously the non-sunroof dome light doesn't have the switch, but the mounting MAY be different.

Dale

 

I know Chips Motorsports in Detroit has a car in the shop right now that just had this done.

 

why don't you just take out the sunroof mechanism, weld the sunroof, then put in an base/R1 headliner (or leave it out for even more room)

 

I found an old thread where someone asked about that and they said the visor mounting portion was different. So the non sunroof headliner wouldn't fit nicely up front. This is supposed to be a nice weekend car. I don't want to have it gutted like a track car or have a sunroof plug glued in place.

 

All that stuff including the roof skin is available from Mazda.

 

The skin and reinforcement bar can be had for under $200. Shipping may raise total outlay a little. Get in touch with Ray Crowe and he will get all that you need to do the conversion.

 

Ray is awesome. But you're actually better off buying local because of the shipping. I needed a hood insulator (the underside piece) and Ray actually told me to buy local to save on the shipping. You don't have to eat shipping from Mazda > Local Dealership... but you DO have to eat from Ray > your door.

 

I had it done. Looks fantastic.

The skin itself is cheap. My body shop did it right, but welding it in an using structural adhesive, blending paint. I had them buy it right from Mazda, because they usually have accounts for parts and don't get ripped on shipping like you or I would.

P

 

That's a good idea with the shipping. Do you know exactly what parts to order?

Obviously 1 and 2, and the headliner itself. I think I need 3 left/right as well. All the other 4,5,6 numbers show "with" or "without" sunroof on any trademotion site, but the prices are the same so I think they would both tie to the same part#.

 

This crazy guy did it:
https://www.rx7club.com/build-thread...1088763/page8/
post #191 it starts.

 

You only need part #1 (the skin), and the center bar that bolts in (although I don't have it).

The rest of the framing is the same. I haven't installed the headliner or lights/visors yet. There is a welded tab with a couple studs on it on the outer frame that you probably want to cut off, and they could be dangerous if uncovered, or possibly interfere with installing the non-sunroof headliner.

I love it—it saved a bunch of weight up high, and looks cleaner. Mine is a track car and it always bothered me that it had all that weight up there. I never had an issue with head clearance, but found I never opened the roof anyway.

 

I have did it myself. It is not easy. The roof skin gets pinched between the upper quarter panels and the frame of the roof then welded. I can provide pictures.

 

I had a shop weld in a new roof and with paint was something like 2.4k.

Good price or not.. whatever. Turned out fine.

 

I'm glad to hear others have done this. I sort of felt frivolous doing it but I absolutely love the result.