Yummybud924

I got my manual sunroof clamps from a rennlist member today so I removed my old sunroof removed the header panel from the roof of the car removed everythng but the rail guides, then I attached the sunroof clamps to my runroof and I noticed they can't close because my sunroof header does not have space for manual sunroof clamps to close. So I just cut the cardboard an reglued the vinyl and they can close now.....

so now I got to install the sunroof and the clamps don't really have anything to clamps onto... those rail guides are too far down and the clamps can't even get to them.

also with my electric parts installed and now with the manual parts I can see that when I put the sunroof on the middle of the rear of the sunroof is sticking out when I close the sunroof but this could be because the rear clamps are not tightly closed.

I'll try and post a picture later but I don't know what to do now, I basicly threw out my electric roof parts, they were broken anyways.

Yummybud924

oh yeah my car is an 85.5, so maybe the manual conversion only works on early cars.

Kurt R

85.5 had the early sunroof. The sunroof changed in mid 86.
Check this thread:
Manual Sunroof Conversion

Sid's site is linked in that thread, he has a short write up as to how to do it.

fezz

i did not have to relieve the header panel very much at all to get my levers to snug down - not really tightened down all the way. but, i could have revieved the panel more if i had to.

there are two sides of the clamps as i recall, with one side having a slightly longer tounge. that should definately clamp into the slots in the roof. keep the plastic liner, just remove the guide.

should work real neat.

fezz

you have it. i couldn't find the link.

KuHL 951

I have an early 86 I converted and mine clamp down great. I just rotate the latch under the header panel opening, no cut or relief needed. The SR panel doe's prevent them from laying perfectly flat when closed though. Personally I never look at the headliner anyway.

Yummybud924

what I cut out was on the sunroof itself. there was definately not enough room for the handles on the clamps to come down when you clamp them. when I pushed the handles down they would though the sunroof header panel so it had to be cut out enough for them too fit.

okay now I figured out one thing, the seal on the sunroof itself is too thick and that's why it's hard for it to be pushed down. so I need to replace it with the early seal?

another thing, I got the clamps to lock down on the rail.....but it looks like they won't last very long, the clamp on the sunroof is touching the rail only l9iike 1mm and it is putting a lot of clamping force on it. another thing i noticed is that they clamp is touching the 1 mm of the rail on in some points so it must be putting a lot of pressure at that point on the plastic guide.....

KuHL 951

Did yours look like this this? I didn't do any trimming at all on either piece. Mine definitely clamps more than 1mm on the old guide area. Mine haven't broken in 3 years so far. Are you using a manual sunroof panel also or just the manual latches?

Yummybud924

and to make it more clear, I cut the header panel on the sunroof itself not the roof. if I didn't cut a chunk out the handles had no space to close down.

Yummybud924

I'm using just the manual latches. yeah it's weird, for some reason the long part of the clamp clamps onto the plastic guide only 1mm. I guess i'll have to just leave it like this. I will need to replace both of my seals though and I'm not sure which seal is correct for my 85.5 .

both seals on my runroof are also cut at some point when installed, which doesn't make sense to me. do the new seals come cut like that?

my sunroof seal seems way too thick right now , that's probably why the electric roof broke and it's leaking like crazy, I a;sp have a huge pool of water in my car right now.

Yummybud924

here are some pics, it's weird how they are barely touching the plastic guide.

KuHL 951

It has to be your seals keeping your SR from closing all the way. Yes both the seals are cut in one place. Pull the rubber seal on the panel and see how well the roof sits. The early/late seals have a different profile.

Yummybud924

so for an 85.5 do I need an early seal? and if they are both cut is it going to be water tight?

also from my first picture you can see that the clamp is barely touching the plastic guide that it is clamping onto, it's at most a 1mm contact.

User 41221

You don't need the plastic guide in there, it goes against the metal lip itself. If you follow Sid's write up, it should work flawlessly. Thats what I did on two cars (one '86 and one '87) and I had no problems.

Regards,

Yummybud924

are you sure you don't need the plastic guide? If I take the plastic guides off, It will not clamp as tight as it does now.

I'll try it tomorrow.