Help sunroof swap

[VR4nothing]

Yeah, there are shops that specialize in aftermarket sunroof installs, I would take it there. You are compromising your car's structural integrity by cutting into your roof. Cars that come with sunroofs stock have additional reinforcement around that area to compensate for it, it's not like they simply cut a rectangular hole in the roof and drop the sunroof in.

[KissMeRT]

The question is:
how would YOU do this swap/transplant, and not if?

My answer: :

After removing the trim and windshield and using a cutting wheel on my angle grinder, I would cut the 92 roof's circumference - pillar to pillar as close as possible to the welds under the trim. Then, I would cut the welds at the windshield header to A pillars and leaving the rear rail in place, cut along the rear welds. I would then do the same with the 93. There is no support framework to the plain roof where I'd be cutting. I would then weld in it's place the 92 factory stamped roof made for the sunroof. It is much more rigid than the "skin" which was there before, so if anything the roof should be stonger.

What's your's?


Isn't there someone here who knows about replacing damaged roofs, etc.? Someone who can tell me why my approach would or would not work?

reference:



And hey, flyboy, what's an "electroc roonroof" anyway?

[KissMeRT]

Very itchy bump!

[mywetdream]

well my buddie has a 1994 r/t tt car...with no sunroof..i have a 1994 r/t tt with a sun roof...he can put in the 99 dome lights..and everything works..i can not..i have extra bracing where does not...

[mywetdream]

Originally Posted by KissMeRT

I personally would not call DustinP's targa "totalled", especially since he ended up selling it for over $15k.


reference:

i have seen dustinp's car in person..it still needed a lot of work when he sold it..not to metion the pass side sail panel did not line up with the roof...

[KissMeRT]

Yeah, that job could have been done better. As you said the alignment was not good. Still, that didn't seem to bother the new owner.
But I'm not cutting the sails on this one.... and any underlaying support on the sun-roof would be dealt with accordingly. I just really don't see a problem. I am paying less than the glass itself would cost for the whole assembly. The most it will "cost" me is the time cutting up the donor roof. I can always sell the glass panel to get my money back. I just want that big sunroof in my killer red Stealth and I'm too independent to let someone else do MY car.

Hey, Ryan, Remember me?

Originally Posted by mywetdream

thanks..and will most deft ..give ya a call in the next few days....ryan .......colorado

I still have not done the R/T. How did your 120k go?

[mywetdream]

Originally Posted by KissMeRT

Yeah, that job could have been done better. As you said the alignment was not good. Still, that didn't seem to bother the new owner.
But I'm not cutting the sails on this one.... and any underlaying support on the sun-roof would be dealt with accordingly. I just really don't see a problem. I am paying less than the glass itself would cost for the whole assembly. The most it will "cost" me is the time cutting up the donor roof. I can always sell the glass panel to get my money back. I just want that big sunroof in my killer red Stealth and I'm too independent to let someone else do MY car.

Hey, Ryan, Remember me?




I still have not done the R/T. How did your 120k go?

all and all..if you feel comfortable doing this project..then go for...i would love to see progess pics as you go....if you can do it..then go for it

[speedy25]

I did the same thing on a crashed Mazda. I cut the replacement at the pillars and cut off the old roof in the same spot and welded the new one on. I did work pretty slick.

-SP

[1992redvr-4]

My cars acutally in the shop right now having this done, I have a 1992 vr-4 and I got the complete top off a 92 stealth. The shop is just replacing the skin and all inner roof supports, not the pillars. R&R calls for 16.5 hours is what I was told, but its gonna cost me about $700 to have it put in. Some may say its not worth it, but I had a few dents in my roof that would be pretty hard to fix, So I just decided to have th sunroof skin put on.

[91STT]

Here's a summary of what I would do.
Remove all the trim pieces around the roof. Once they are all off you will notice spotwelds around the perimeter. Drill them out and remove the skin. Do the same with your donor roof. Line up the new roof on the car and rosette weld the skin in place.
I should mention to remove the glass to make it easier to handle. Replace glass after all the welding has been completed.