deleting the sunroof?

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Nov 4, 2002 | 12:50 PM

DaveW

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From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK

deleting the sunroof?

Are there any racers out there that have completely removed their sunroof - and want to share some tips?

After the pleasant perceived performance increase in the 5spd due to having the interior removed I'm thinking of making this a bit more permanent and stripping the car further. And anyway who needs a sunroof in Scotland! Ha!

My main questions are whether the double roof skin can be removed and what to do with the remaining hole? Fit a blanking panel or weld it?

Just thinking aloud.
DaveW

Nov 4, 2002 | 01:04 PM

PorKen

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A fixed piece of (plexi)glass would be interesting.

Nov 4, 2002 | 01:38 PM

WallyP

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From: Ball Ground, GA

Easiest way to do it right would be to find a wrecked non-sunroof car and replace the entire roof panel.

Nov 4, 2002 | 02:11 PM

dr bob

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This discussion came up at a 928 International get-together a couple years ago. Mark Anderson mentioned that the easiest/cheapest way turned out to be a new factory roof panel sans sunroof hardware. This is from a guy who has perhaps the world's largest supply of recycled body parts available. Part of the logic for using a new panel is that you doa lot of damage removing an old roof, especially where you have to cut out a lot of welds. The new panel has no removal damage, and is much easier to get installed correctly.

Jim Bailey, in a separate post, talked about the structure that's part of the sunroof installation. Not a good idea to sacrifice the roof strength by trying to cut a couple pounds of steel support out of the sunroof-equipped roof. Without removing all the mechanism, the difference in weight between a plexi or fiberglass panel vs. the original steel is negligible.

So my vote, based on the expert opinions shared above, is to order a non-sunroof panel and use it to replace your existing roof completely. Sand, prime, paint to match of course!

<img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

Nov 4, 2002 | 03:06 PM

DaveW

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From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Thanks guys. This straightforward solution of fitting a new panel just never occurred to me! duh...

I will check out a few prices and add it to the list. The car is due for a lot of bodywork some time early next year, depending on what other repairs get in the way, so I may do it then if I decide to follow this lightening route.

Thanks again.
DaveW

Nov 4, 2002 | 06:04 PM

Randy V

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I had the same idea Dave, but I got a bit carried away <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" /> :

Nov 4, 2002 | 06:14 PM

DaveW

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From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Randy, if you tried that round here you would end up with the worlds only mobile hot tub! <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" /> <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />

Cheers
DaveW

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Nov 4, 2002 | 06:51 PM

DaveW

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From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Shawn, sorry about all the rain but I guess you didn't want to be outside anyway! And that's very likley to have been me in Char Grilled! - My neck of the woods, I do the airport run at least once a week and i've not seen any other blue early style cars around here ( a few reds, whites and greens though). Cool! <img src="graemlins/r.gif" border="0" alt="[king]" />

DaveW

Nov 5, 2002 | 04:41 PM

#10

DaveW

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From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK

One last thing before putting this topic back to sleep in it's ringbinder...

I've been checking out the parts lists on the PET for a non-sunroof roof panel and I was wondering if anyone out there familiar with the sheet metal knows whether the roof frame panels need replaced as part of this job or if the origionals remain intact and in place?

Thanks again, and goodnight.
DaveW <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Nov 7, 2002 | 02:35 AM

#11

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I have thought about removing some weight by making that panel plexiglass or something like it, and then removing the motors and gears. Nice light-letting-in panel, and you can just move it back by hand when you need to.

I live in San Diego, and I still don't use that mail slot very much.