hmmm i have a predicament.

[THEMkris]

okay.. so i picked up a s14 and i noticed the paint on the roof was cracking. at first i thought it was just a bad paint job but then i peeked underneath the headliner and i see that there used to be a sunroof. so i called the guy i bought it from and he said someone put an aftermarket sunroof on his car and so he filled the hole.

so im like fuck, non-roof car to an aftermarket sunroof, then plugged very CHEAPLY with cracking paint and probably body filler.

so my question now, is what the hell do i do? i kinda want a sunroof but i dont know how to go about that. i was thinking of just finding another scrap s14 with a sunroof and cut off the roof (if i have to, then i'll use a s14 without a sunroof) and replacing my roof with it. is that a smart thing to do? otherwise do i have any other options? and not just getting another car. OR IS MY CAR LIKE, TOTALLY FUCKED?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v40/duckeee/DSCN2853.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v40/duckeee/DSCN2854.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v40/duckeee/DSCN2855.jpg

[yurisfriendevan]

lol ok, well you can repair the cracking filler or you can watch for a sunroof s14 in the j-yard. get the roof cut off make sure you get all the wiring, preferably un-cut. then drill out all the spot welds that hold the roof on your car, do the same to the doner panel and reattach/ weld it back on and paint the roof again...

adding a sunroof probably wouldnt be much fun because they have different braces that go across the roof so the motor and rails have a place to attach to. probably more money and work than its worth.

i say repair it or just go to fiber images in palmdale and have them make you a carbon roof skin and cover the damage.

and no its not fucked. its just sheet metal.

[racepar1]

Only do a carbon roof skin if you are going with a cage.

[yurisfriendevan]

they also do carbon roof skins that attach to the original sheet metal on the car...

[THEMkris]

but wasnt the cracking due to flexing? im assuming whoever did the roof didnt reinforce the roof very well or not at all if that.

[yurisfriendevan]

mmm well the roof is kind of like a protective skin. its not very strong to begin with. there are multiple reasons the roof can be cracking. 1 is flexing probably not the case but a possibility. 2 is that the filler is to thick which often causes fillers to crack. 3 there may be to much hardener in the mixture of the filler. 4 contaminants in the filler or on the metal 5.. 6.. 7.. the list goes on. if its that big of a deal, which i know it looks really bad from an owners stand point, take it to a shop and have it repaired.

but if you have time post pictures of what the repair looks like with the headliner out. that way we can kinda tell what your working with.

[THEMkris]

i'll get pictures as soon as i can

[fliprayzin240sx]

How about having a body shop weld in sheet metal and cover the filler crap or better yet, just cover the whole opening...

[projectRDM]

It's flexing because they cut out the internal bracing when the old roof was put in.
Buy the sunroof you want, aftermarket (OE will require the entire skin as well as all the bracing, sides, and headliner) and cut it in. Then add bracing after the roof is installed. Or, buy the OE roof skin from the dealer and weld/seam it in.

[illvialuver]

the welding sheet metal idea sounds the simplest and the cheapest

[THEMkris]

they did weld a piece of sheet metal in. projectRDM is right, they cut out the internal bracing.

can anyone clarify to what a roof skin is?

[THEMkris]

would this be it? 730 Roof Panel & Fitting :: Body(Front,Roof & Floor) :: Genuine Nissan Parts :: 240SX (S14) 1995-1998 :: CourtesyParts.com (http://www.courtesyparts.com/240sx-s14-1995-1998/genuine-nissan-parts/bodyfrontroof-floor/730-roof-panel-fitting/-c-3690_3691_3803_3817.html)

[projectRDM]

would this be it? 730 Roof Panel & Fitting :: Body(Front,Roof & Floor) :: Genuine Nissan Parts :: 240SX (S14) 1995-1998 :: CourtesyParts.com (http://www.courtesyparts.com/240sx-s14-1995-1998/genuine-nissan-parts/bodyfrontroof-floor/730-roof-panel-fitting/-c-3690_3691_3803_3817.html)

Bingo. message length