Delete sunroof?

Topic: Delete sunroof? (Read 3340 times) previous topic - next topic

Delete sunroof?

April 28, 2008, 07:23:37 AM

Anyone got any pics of the roof skin around a sunroof on an 87-88 Bird? Does it have a serious and re-inforcing or just a cutout?
I may have found a body within an hour or so from me, but it has a sunroof. May be time to learn the fine art of English wheeling and make a patch....
But this is something I've never done or seen done....
But I love a challenge....

Delete sunroof?

Reply #1 – April 28, 2008, 08:07:16 AM

It's real difficult to patch a roof, and never see it. most Pros would never touch that.
The only way to fix it and never see it, is replacing the whole roof skin.
Remember there's a lot of flex and no body lines for reinforcement on a roof. just 1 huge sheet of metal

The only way I could see getting away with it is, find another roof section to get your patch from and mabe bond it with adhesive using backing strips. You'll still have to do a lot of filling when your done though. and you can usually see a bond line after a few years. and you'll probably still see the patch when the sun hits it

Whats wrong with a sunroof?

Delete sunroof?

Reply #2 – April 28, 2008, 09:04:46 AM

My helmet hits it.

Delete sunroof?

Reply #3 – April 28, 2008, 05:01:59 PM

I had a 87 T-Bird that I ran endures here on long island years ago and I just took a piece of sheet metal and riveted it on at the time. My track rules stated it had to be taken out and covered w/metal

Delete sunroof?

Reply #4 – April 28, 2008, 05:45:53 PM

Quote from: Prototype Services;216121

My helmet hits it.

LOL
I didn't see that one coming.
Is it for drag, show, or both

Delete sunroof?

Reply #5 – April 28, 2008, 07:27:59 PM

Roadrace.
Although I might take it to some cruise nights, and it needs to be somewhat streetable.
I have a slightly detuned Nextel Cup motor in my garage and a 5speed for it.

Delete sunroof?

Reply #6 – April 28, 2008, 07:35:52 PM

The roof structure is different between sunroof and non-sunroof cars. Non-sunroof cars have a series of "ribs" supporting the structure, including one that goes right across where the sunroof would be (which is why aftermarket sunroofs in these cars are a bad idea - they have to cut one of the "ribs"). I would imagine the moonroof cars have the same ribs, but in different locations to allow for the opening.

You'd be better off replacing the entire roof. I believe gunkel04 did so with his gunmetal grey T-Bird (only it was for the opposite - he installed a moonroof-equipped roof)

Delete sunroof?

Reply #7 – April 28, 2008, 07:52:20 PM

You can do what Innes did, you make a panel to fit the of the
sunroof. weld the panel to some tubing or whatever will make the panel flush with the roof. Also make it almost the exact size so you can seam seal it and it should still look like a sunroof but not be one.
You can also paint it gray or black as if it was a tinted window.
That would be the best way to fill the space without warping and filling and repainting the roof.
If your real fancy about it. you could make it in a way that you could take it out if you wanted. and use weatherstripping to seal it. or lock it and hinge it in as a steel roof vent that will still open.

There I go making it a project. LOL

Delete sunroof?

Reply #8 – April 28, 2008, 10:46:17 PM

I wondered about any ribbing/structure underneath.

I have been looking for 5 years for a 87-88 T-bird around the Atlanta area. Even the JYs don't seem to have them, just parts and the bodies get crushed. So no roofs to be found to replace this one. I'm not sure I will go look at this one, haven't heard a price, but I wanted to know more about the structure. Since the car would get a full cage, i'm not worried about strength, but I would want the paint to be nice and not see the welded-in patch.
I'll have to think about this more, maybe go see the car.

Delete sunroof?

Reply #9 – April 28, 2008, 11:57:54 PM

Here's the tear apart view of a sunroof, there's a bit of a cross-section view there

I couldn't find a cross section of the roof with a sunroof
here's a Mark with a moon roof. the roof braces may be like this

Delete sunroof?

Reply #10 – April 29, 2008, 12:24:11 AM

Thanks, that helps a lot to see what I am up against.

......

Delete sunroof?

Reply #11 – April 29, 2008, 12:28:28 AM

I think its do-able

Delete sunroof?

Reply #12 – April 29, 2008, 12:49:27 AM

The sun roof cars have a dropped bracing and headliner for the window clearance and yes there is a serious around the inside of the opening... Also there is a water drain pan and hoses that reduces the head room... Only way you'll gain the clearance is some serious hacking or repl the roof... Being tall in the body, my head hits in a sun roof car unless I have the seat fully lowered in the back... Just barely have room for my helmet in my non SR TC...

OK Ford calls them Moon Roofs, no matter the last thing I want on my Bird is a hole in the roof... Followed by ETAC and leather,
luckily in '97 Birds in general were fairly easy to find...

EDIT...Those diagrams are for a flip up roof.... The electric sliding "Moon Roof" is a whole different animal... Those were first avail in late '86...

Delete sunroof?

Reply #13 – April 29, 2008, 02:23:52 AM

Either way, I would want to hack the off and patch-in a sheet-steel skin. I'm tall waisted too, and had to make a custom mount for my racing seat to get it low enough for my helmet to clear without any sunroof.
So I either keep looking or have more stuff to prep. My gut instinct is to run, but I want to get a car built. But that is a huge patch to weld and not have the roof warp, plus trying to 'wheel the right compound curves into the patch.....
I'm buttstuff enough to know I wouldn't be happy unless it's right, so....

Delete sunroof?

Reply #14 – April 29, 2008, 06:38:25 AM

i have seen cars with sheets of CF bonded to the skin. looked ok, but they didnt have huge roof structure eatin up headroom like the tbird.
if you want it to look perfect, like it never had a sunroof.....get one w/o. the last chop top i did we sectioned the roof itself, and even using a TIG and hammering all the welds, it still took more filler than i liked to get it flat again.
if you cant find a complete skin, skip it, no matter how badly you want to start buildin. you just wont be happy with the results otherwise.

Quote from: TurboCoupe50;216263

...the last thing I want on my Bird is a hole in the roof... Followed by ETAC and leather...

yes, yes, and yes.