I have an 84SE... The roof of mine has some damage and it's a bit buckled in, somewhat. So I'm searching for a new roof with a sunroof, to replace it. Mine currently does not have a sunroof.
Is this a very difficult job to do and do I need to take the windshield out? any thoughts? Thanks!
No, you don't need to remove the windshield, although removing the old roof around the A pillars will probably result in the panel breaking apart there. You'll have to remove the headliner to get to the nuts that hold the rear edge of the roof to the metal structure of the car. I believe there are two additional nuts in the front corners of the roof as well near the sunvisors. Then, you'll need to remove the black plastic vent trim at the base of the windshield to get to the screws that hold the lower front part of the windshield frame to the car. The only other thing holding the roof panel to the car is butyl adhesive... the stuff they used to use to hold windshields in place. That's what's going to give you the worst problem. It has to be hot/warm for it to "give". It's used all down the underside of the A pillars and around the top of the windshield on the underside of the panel. Luckily you'll get some experience removing the top you don't want and can apply that knowledge to get the roof you do want off the donor car. Good luck!
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09:17 PM
jasonn674 Member
Posts: 77 From: Rochester, NY Registered: Aug 2010
Where is the roof buckled? Is it where the sunroof will be anyhow? If so just cut it to fit the sunroof. Even non sunroof cars have the opening for it already there.
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08:22 AM
Rodrv6 Member
Posts: 1910 From: Ball Ground, Ga. Registered: Nov 1999
Where is the roof buckled? Is it where the sunroof will be anyhow? If so just cut it to fit the sunroof. Even non sunroof cars have the opening for it already there.
Well, you'd have a hole, but none of the channel that supports the weather seals or the sunroof clips---sunroof roofs have that molded into them.
------------------ Rod Schneider, Woodstock, Ga. "You can't have too many toys!" 1988 Fiero GT 1985 Porsche 944 1966 Porsche 911 Van's RV-6 airplane-under construction
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09:20 AM
82-T/A [At Work] Member
Posts: 24967 From: Florida USA Registered: Aug 2002
Well, you'd have a hole, but none of the channel that supports the weather seals or the sunroof clips---sunroof roofs have that molded into them.
I seem to recall that the 84s didn't have any drain holes anyway. The only thing he would need to do would be to rivet the weather strip brackets into the metal part of the roof panel. You can buy those brackets and the rivets from the Fiero Store.
The roof you would probably be better served by getting from a junkyard. Trying to ship one of those panels would be expensive just because of it's size.
I seem to recall that the 84s didn't have any drain holes anyway. The only thing he would need to do would be to rivet the weather strip brackets into the metal part of the roof panel. You can buy those brackets and the rivets from the Fiero Store.
The roof you would probably be better served by getting from a junkyard. Trying to ship one of those panels would be expensive just because of it's size.
The weather strip brackets on the sunroof cars are mounted to the plastic roof panel, not on the metal part. 84's do have the drain channels in the chassis. The only part of the sunroof that mounts to the metal chassis is the interior latch handle--everything else mounts to the plastic roof panel. ------------------ Rod Schneider, Woodstock, Ga. "You can't have too many toys!" 1988 Fiero GT 1985 Porsche 944 1966 Porsche 911 Van's RV-6 airplane-under construction
[This message has been edited by Rodrv6 (edited 12-24-2010).]
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01:11 PM
rcp builders Member
Posts: 736 From: north port, Fl. Registered: Apr 2007
So I'm searching for a new roof with a sunroof, to replace it. Mine currently does not have a sunroof.
quote
Originally posted byRodrv6: We may be drifting a little off topic since he didn't mention wanting a sunroof, but the weather strip brackets on the sunroof cars are mounted to the plastic roof panel, not on the metal part. 84's do have the drain channels in the chassis. The only part of the sunroof that mounts to the metal chassis is the interior latch handle--everything else mounts to the plastic roof panel.
Rodrv6 I think you need to re-read his post
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02:09 PM
josef644 Member
Posts: 6939 From: Dickinson, Texas USA Registered: Nov 2006
when i did a factory sunroof in my nonsunroof 84 i cut the roof off a sunroof car. I cut across the plastic ( fiberglass ) roof about 3 inchs back from the windshield. From drip rail to drip rail. unbolted all the bolts except the front ones. prided up the back part and removed the part i wanted. did not have to mess with the glass or glue. I took the part and placed it ontop off MY car and lined it up with the back part of the roof and made a mark along the front so i could cut my car to match. Than I removed the part from my car, than replaced it with the sunroof part.Than i glassed the new roof to the front part of my roof. sand and paint. glassing and sanding and painting the roof 3 inchs AWAY from the windsheild is easy. repairing the "A" piller fiberglass is not.
