Sunroof question

[InFaMoUsBOOST]

Hey everyone. I have a 1998 GSX that i am currently building as a strict drag/maybe street car. It has been quite a journey thus far. My car is in grave need of a paint job. I'd like to do it as clean as possible. I'm removing the engine and most of the interior pieces to ensure that all visible area's will be a clean crisp silver. I'd like to modify a few things as well and i'd like your opinion. I'd like to shave to the antenna. My sunroof has fallen victim to the infamous bad sealant problem so it does leak quite a bit. I do not plan to use it after i've "completed" my project. I've searched around and have not found anyone that has done it but i'd like to delete my sunroof. I think it'd be as easy as removing the sunroof/assembly and cutting the roof and welding a non-sunroof roof on. Has anyone seen anyone else make this modification? i'm sure i won't be saving much weight and i'm not doing it for aesthetics. I just feel that i don't need this function and i'd like to remove all not needed parts/features. Your input would be greatly appreciated. thanks*

p.s. the hood came with the car. definitely not my style. it'll surely be replaced with a stock unit. hahaha

 

[eboy0]

Well welding a plug would work, but what would you do from the interior side?

 

[InFaMoUsBOOST]

either no headliner or use a non/sunroof model headliner

 

[Locke]

i'm sure i won't be saving much weight and i'm not doing it for aesthetics. I just feel that i don't need this function and i'd like to remove all not needed parts/features.

That is a bit of work for no real benefit.

You can replace the roof, or plug it, as mentioned. If you are not equipped to do body work, any local reputable body shop should be able to handle it.

 

[Defiant]

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=165686

 

[InFaMoUsBOOST]

if only they made it for our cars...thanks for the replies gentlemen...i'm actually a UTI-certified technician but i won't be painting the car myself. i'll probably do all the prep work and part removal. i've never painted before and i'd like to leave that to a professional. i'm all about function and i really don't need a sunroof. i don't even like the way it looks. does anyone have any pics of one that was deleted? does anyone make a carbon fiber headliner for our cars? thanks*

 

[jtmcinder]

I replaced my sunroof with a piece of polycarbonate from Lowes. It only saved about 20# (albeit from the best place to dump weight), but it gave me more than an inch of additional headroom, since the bracket for the sunroof hangs down. I would only do this if (a) you need the headroom, for a helmet, for example, or (b) your existing sunroof leaks.

Here's another issue to keep in mind. The torsional stiffness of the 2G unibody stinks. I already have cracks in my plug from the twisting when autocrossing. Plan and build carefully or have a bodyshop weld in a metal plug. And before you suggest something like strut-tower braces: I already have them and they do nothing for the twisting between the A- and B-pillars. Only a cage would solve that problem.

- Jtoby

 

[InFaMoUsBOOST]

awesome...i really appreciate that...i had actually always planned on having metal welded in place and i will be installing a cage prior to paint.