Sunroof welding

[JasonNagra]

Did a search on a few forums, and couldn't really find anything. I got a 91 SE hatch so it has a sunroof. This car is primarily track (gutted, sound dampening gone, weight reduction crap) car, and I HATE the sunroof. When I drive it, it always creaks and I also hate the way it looks from outside. For a while now I have been planning on painting the roof black on my S13, and I thought if I could remove the sunroof by having the hole welded shut it would look better. What I'm wondering is, is it even possible to do this without spending an arm and a leg? I just need it welded in there, I can prep for paint myself. I also wonder will doing this increase the rigidity of the chassis at all? I would be willing to do it and spend more if it actually did help to stiffen up the chassis, whereas if it were merley cosmetic I would be inclined to spend less. Thanks for the input guy/gals.

[sykikchimp]

you could weld in a peice of metal, but it won't help rigidity. You could weld a brace to the ceiling across the opening that would still only marginally increase the vehicles chassis stiffness.

If it's a track whore, why not just get a cage for more rigidity, and safety then remove all the sunroof hardware, and rivet a peice of sheet metal over the sunroof opening? Thats what Ive seen plenty of guys do when preping cars for IT racing.

[JasonNagra]

Well the roll bar (additional points will be added to make it a cage when the car is FULL on track whore) is already scheduled to go in. I geuss whatever stiffening I will be getting from the bar/cage will supercede that of filling the sunroof hole.

How much do you think it would cost to have someone weld in a piece of sheet metal? What type of material would be ideal to use? Just sheet metal or something? It would be nice to smooth out the top of the car and then have it painted black. I think it would look nice.

[solo mission]

if its the stock "flip up" sunroof, i wouldn't worry too much.

you see, the assembly is not as heavy as a power sunroof setup, which adversely affects the cars center of gravity. the stock flip-up type has a negligible affect.

regarding stifness, it really doesn't have much affect. kind of like punching a window in a building, the forces go around the opening.

if you REALLY want to close it shut, go to the junkyard, and SAWZALL a non-sunroof roof off a junk 240SX and have a body shop weld in the appropriate size panel from the roof.

that way, the contour will be correct.

[[email protected]]

hey jason,

as far as your sunroof goes, i wouldn't worry too much about it.
i know how u feel, i'd rather not have a sunroof in my coupe too.
anyhow you have this options
1. you can remove the glass part and buy an aluminum and rivet it - seal in between.

2 carbon fiber and rivet it also put seal in between to protect from rain or water going in.

3. lexan glass and paint from inside and rivet and seal it.

4. welding is not gonna work because your roof will wave due to heat. you have to make rib to make it stiff.

those where my options on how i would have covered mine. but i just put a glass instead.. easier. i'd leave it like that if i were u.

but race cars that have sunroof usually cover it with aluminum or carbon fiber and rivets.

hope that helps!

[hurleyboi514]

yah, i need to do this as well for helmet clearance, haha!! im probbaly gonna cut around it and rivet on a sheet of aluminum. shouldnt be hard... go to a track event sometime, your bound to see it done.

[JasonNagra]

Thanks guys appreciate all the help! Driftheaven we need to go to Buttonwillow again!

[king_johnthegreat]

How about getting some of that tinted smoke color acrylic plexiglass, and siliconing a small bead around the perimeter. You trim the thing to be just an inch oversize by every respect, and drill small holes for little stainless steel nuts/bolts. You would loose a ton of weight, no more creaking, and so long as you drill the holes just oversize, and do not overtighten the nuts, you wouldn't have any trouble with cracking. It would be cheap, if you used a piece of 3/8", or 1/4". Just my two cents- you could do it yourself, and not have to touch paint or anything.
John