sunroof?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

kennyhammond · 01-12-2011, 04:52 PM

i am wandering how to replace the sunroof (actualy take the thing out) and put the roof as one piece...

Big Port Jimmy 6 · 01-12-2011, 06:57 PM

New Roof, or a new cab. Some pics would help us make a better guess. Jay

80SPORT · 01-12-2011, 09:16 PM

Change the roof inner and outer as one piece;cut it at the front pillars and at the Factory seam at the rear....

kennyhammond · 01-12-2011, 11:12 PM

how hard would it be to take the sunroof out and just take some 20 guage sheet metal and wire feed weld it in place?? there is a spot on behind the seat were some kid cut a hole through the cab and first part of the bed to make a speaker box... thaught of doing the samething just welding it in and then bondoing around the seams... any input?

DetroitDan · 01-13-2011, 01:39 AM

I had a POS sunroof in my 69 Camaro, resto shop told me to change the roof. He said he could weld in a plate, but no matter how carful you do it you'll see it thru the paint, like on a warm day when the metal expands. If you do decide to weld it, just spot weld and move all over the place, to keep from heating the metal too much. It will take a million little spot welds, if you try to just straight weld it the metal will shrink and distort and you'll end up replacing the roof. You can fill it in if you just want it gone, but if you want a show truck, or even a really nice looking DD, you're going to want to either change the roof or the whole cab. Personally I'd change the cab. I've done a couple and it isn't that hard, but I know I could screw up a roof.
Does this sunroof leak. like every one I've ever had? Another otpion would be to replace the sunroof with a new one, and pretend you like sunroofs and wanted it there on purpose.
Man I hate sunroofs! Whose stupid idea was it to wreck the roofs of millions of vehicles? What a dumb fad.

Greenlee · 01-13-2011, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DetroitDan

Man I hate sunroofs! Whose stupid idea was it to wreck the roofs of millions of vehicles? What a dumb fad.

I kind of hate to admit it now, but I did it back in the day. I had an 81' chevy stepside in high school that I put a sun roof in, and then I put one in an 83' GMC that I had. I had both trucks in the 80's and thought it was a pretty cool mod back then. I never had a problem with them leaking.

87 V20 Scottsdale · 01-13-2011, 04:20 PM

I've got one in my V20, it was there when I bought it. It never leaked, but I sealed it up with clear silicone so that it wouldn't have the chance. Like alot of you guys, I hate them. They have got to be the dumbest mod anybody has ever thought of for a pickup truck. I plan on doing a cab swap at some point, if I can ever get around to it.

S10Fan · 01-13-2011, 04:24 PM

OK OK, I admit it, I did it to a new truck in 1976. Grabbed a jig saw and cut a hole in the roof then screwed in a sun roof. Hey it was the 70's, that stuff was cool back then, groovy man.

I posted pictures on here a while back, thread title was, "That 70's Truck".

Confession is good for the sole.

SS Delux · 01-13-2011, 01:50 AM

Ive never seen one of these truck with a sunroof, any pics ?

ChevySean79 · 01-13-2011, 02:30 AM

Man I hate sunroofs! Whose stupid idea was it to wreck the roofs of millions of vehicles? What a dumb fad. Well said Dan it just wrecks a truck, i would cut the roof off and weld another one on i did quite a few times before on customers cars its not as bad as looks. Whatever you do i would not weld a patch in no matter how good you are it will always pop threw the body work. But since your in texas it might be easier just to find another cab out here in NY u gotta fix what you got if u find a cab that doesnt have a sunroof most likely it will have more rot than the one you originally started with lol

kennyhammond · 01-13-2011, 06:35 AM

yeah that is the bad thing this thing doesent have any rust or anything to this cab it is lile new other than this horrible sunroof lol... i wont have pics till monday but it is 2 small pop up windows side by side.. it doesnt look horrible but sort of gay.. lol thaught about leaving it in and makeing a new fad lol

76stepsidechevy · 01-13-2011, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyhammond

yeah that is the bad thing this thing doesent have any rust or anything to this cab it is lile new other than this horrible sunroof lol... i wont have pics till monday but it is 2 small pop up windows side by side.. it doesnt look horrible but sort of gay.. lol thaught about leaving it in and makeing a new fad lol

Sounds like the same one my truck has in it. I think im just going to buy a new one and replace it since it does drip every now and then. I wouldn't have done it but I don't really mind it.

*78 Chevyrado* · 01-13-2011, 10:07 AM

Get one of these out of the junkyard.

Roof

kennyhammond · 01-13-2011, 11:25 AM

yeah the bad thing is i am in texas and local pick up is not in my budget that far away... lol but deff a good idea iam sort of leaning toward leaving it in and just bondoing around the seams out side and inside and calling it good... seems like its more trouble takeing it out

motornut · 01-13-2011, 11:47 AM

i bought a 78 burb with one and used about a tube of roof patch/sealer like for vents etc
the PO kid cut up into the curve of the roof lol
got one pic here you can just make it out
And i covered the inside of it with black mactac/sticky paper(white on the back)
Putting a sunroof in a car/truck with tinted windows defeats the tint lol

kennyhammond · 01-13-2011, 02:44 PM

does anyone know what the sunroofs that retract in the roof are called and how hard are they to install

S10Fan · 01-13-2011, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyhammond

does anyone know what the sunroofs that retract in the roof are called and how hard are they to install

Retractable sunroof.

Probably not enough room for one in a pickup.

kennyhammond · 01-13-2011, 09:22 PM

hw hard do yall think it would be to weld up... sort of scared to try and mess alot of things up

S10Fan · 01-13-2011, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyhammond

hw hard do yall think it would be to weld up... sort of scared to try and mess alot of things up

If you're not experienced with that type of metal work I'd leave it alone. Having a competent shop close it up isn't going to be cheap either.

kennyhammond · 01-13-2011, 09:30 PM

i have a mig welder i dont see it would be that hard it is the kind that is 2 small windows sie by side...

S10Fan · 01-13-2011, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyhammond

i have a mig welder i dont see it would be that hard it is the kind that is 2 small windows sie by side...

The biggest problem is warping the roof with all the required welding. You could end up with a huge mess. The roof isn't flat, getting the contour right is a big undertaking. If it's just a project/beater truck, go for it, you'll be better educated for the next one.

**N2TRUX** · 01-13-2011, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyhammond

i have a mig welder i dont see it would be that hard it is the kind that is 2 small windows sie by side...

It's one of those deals "if you have to ask, you probably shouldn't". Welding the roof skin with out massive warping is going to be "very" hard to accomplish. With an TIG maybe easier, with a MIG not so much.

If it were me I would either hire a professional, or replace it with a more modern low profile version.

motornut · 01-14-2011, 10:05 AM

get caught in a flood/accident ....look at it as another way out
and yes i've put them in cars,and i am considering it in the jimmy

4pilgrim4 · 01-14-2011, 11:49 AM

I have one in my 78 K10 and also in my 83 K15.

Love 'em and in rainy western Washington no less!

Just like anything else, they require a little maintenance. Every couple of years I pull the glass and replace the seals with less than $10 worth of weather stripping from Home Depot. The rubber quality is not as good as the original stripping, but it does the job for a year or so and is easy to renew.

dabels23 · 01-14-2011, 12:57 PM

I had a buddy weld one up with a mig, it was just a mud truck, but he would do one spot weld and go work in the yard,watch tv, do anything to keep himself from doing another one til very thing cooled. It took him about a week to finish welding it. It didn't warp, but he didn't get the contour just right either, it looked like a fat chick had sat on his roof. LOL

01-12-2011, 04:52 PM	#1
kennyhammond Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 256	sunroof?? i am wandering how to replace the sunroof (actualy take the thing out) and put the roof as one piece...

01-12-2011, 06:57 PM	#2
Big Port Jimmy 6 Addicted to Rust Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Abbeville SC Posts: 1,030	Re: sunroof?? New Roof, or a new cab. Some pics would help us make a better guess. Jay __________________ Current trucks: (48 GMC100 320 inliner) Gone (48 Suburban in pieces) Sold 87 GMC CCSB 5.3 4l60E Daily Driver ECTA National record holder XO/PP We never really grow up, we just learn how to act in public.

01-12-2011, 09:16 PM	#3
80SPORT Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: red deer alberta Posts: 777	Re: sunroof?? Change the roof inner and outer as one piece;cut it at the front pillars and at the Factory seam at the rear.... Attached Images

01-12-2011, 11:12 PM	#4
kennyhammond Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 256	Re: sunroof?? how hard would it be to take the sunroof out and just take some 20 guage sheet metal and wire feed weld it in place?? there is a spot on behind the seat were some kid cut a hole through the cab and first part of the bed to make a speaker box... thaught of doing the samething just welding it in and then bondoing around the seams... any input?

01-13-2011, 01:39 AM	#5
DetroitDan Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Epping, NH Posts: 605	Re: sunroof?? I had a POS sunroof in my 69 Camaro, resto shop told me to change the roof. He said he could weld in a plate, but no matter how carful you do it you'll see it thru the paint, like on a warm day when the metal expands. If you do decide to weld it, just spot weld and move all over the place, to keep from heating the metal too much. It will take a million little spot welds, if you try to just straight weld it the metal will shrink and distort and you'll end up replacing the roof. You can fill it in if you just want it gone, but if you want a show truck, or even a really nice looking DD, you're going to want to either change the roof or the whole cab. Personally I'd change the cab. I've done a couple and it isn't that hard, but I know I could screw up a roof. Does this sunroof leak. like every one I've ever had? Another otpion would be to replace the sunroof with a new one, and pretend you like sunroofs and wanted it there on purpose. Man I hate sunroofs! Whose stupid idea was it to wreck the roofs of millions of vehicles? What a dumb fad. __________________ 1982 Chevy K30 CCLB fleetside. Formerly a cab and chassis, now a fleetside dually with the rear wheels tucked underneath. 454/th400/np205/C14/D60, 6/4 inch LIFT, not drop.

01-13-2011, 04:20 PM	#7
87 V20 Scottsdale Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Georgetown, KY Posts: 183	Re: sunroof?? I've got one in my V20, it was there when I bought it. It never leaked, but I sealed it up with clear silicone so that it wouldn't have the chance. Like alot of you guys, I hate them. They have got to be the dumbest mod anybody has ever thought of for a pickup truck. I plan on doing a cab swap at some point, if I can ever get around to it. __________________ Andrew 1987 V20 Scottsdale 383 TBI, SM465, NP208, 14FF, 4.10 1988 C1500 Scottsdale 305, 700R4, 3.08 1986 K30 Custom Deluxe 6.2, SM465, NP205, 14FF, 4.10

01-13-2011, 04:24 PM	#8
S10Fan Old Heap Driver Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Newport News, Va Posts: 2,642	Re: sunroof?? OK OK, I admit it, I did it to a new truck in 1976. Grabbed a jig saw and cut a hole in the roof then screwed in a sun roof. Hey it was the 70's, that stuff was cool back then, groovy man. I posted pictures on here a while back, thread title was, "That 70's Truck". Confession is good for the sole. __________________ _____________________________ Bryan '99 Silverado 1500, 4.3, 5-speed, reg cab, short bed '50 Chevy 2DR Hard Top, 350/350, M2 Front End, 3:08 gear, cruiser. '40 F**d Sedan, all Chevy power, Heidt's front end, TCI rear, nice driver.

01-13-2011, 01:50 AM	#9
SS Delux Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: windsor Posts: 290	Re: sunroof?? Ive never seen one of these truck with a sunroof, any pics ?

01-13-2011, 02:30 AM	#10
ChevySean79 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Lindenhurst NY Posts: 295	Re: sunroof?? Man I hate sunroofs! Whose stupid idea was it to wreck the roofs of millions of vehicles? What a dumb fad. Well said Dan it just wrecks a truck, i would cut the roof off and weld another one on i did quite a few times before on customers cars its not as bad as looks. Whatever you do i would not weld a patch in no matter how good you are it will always pop threw the body work. But since your in texas it might be easier just to find another cab out here in NY u gotta fix what you got if u find a cab that doesnt have a sunroof most likely it will have more rot than the one you originally started with lol

01-13-2011, 06:35 AM	#11
kennyhammond Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 256	Re: sunroof?? yeah that is the bad thing this thing doesent have any rust or anything to this cab it is lile new other than this horrible sunroof lol... i wont have pics till monday but it is 2 small pop up windows side by side.. it doesnt look horrible but sort of gay.. lol thaught about leaving it in and makeing a new fad lol

01-13-2011, 10:07 AM	#13
78 Chevyrado Account Suspended Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Unnapreciative, Trollville Posts: 2,079	Re: sunroof?? Get one of these out of the junkyard. Roof

01-13-2011, 11:25 AM	#14
kennyhammond Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 256	Re: sunroof?? yeah the bad thing is i am in texas and local pick up is not in my budget that far away... lol but deff a good idea iam sort of leaning toward leaving it in and just bondoing around the seams out side and inside and calling it good... seems like its more trouble takeing it out

01-13-2011, 11:47 AM	#15
motornut 78K & 79C Jimmys Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ottawa Ont CANADA Posts: 7,901	Re: sunroof?? i bought a 78 burb with one and used about a tube of roof patch/sealer like for vents etc the PO kid cut up into the curve of the roof lol got one pic here you can just make it out And i covered the inside of it with black mactac/sticky paper(white on the back) Putting a sunroof in a car/truck with tinted windows defeats the tint lol Attached Images __________________ John 1978 GMCJimmy4X4-350/203 1979 GMCJimmy4X2-305/350

01-13-2011, 02:44 PM	#16
kennyhammond Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 256	Re: sunroof?? does anyone know what the sunroofs that retract in the roof are called and how hard are they to install

01-13-2011, 09:22 PM	#18
kennyhammond Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 256	Re: sunroof?? hw hard do yall think it would be to weld up... sort of scared to try and mess alot of things up



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01-13-2011, 09:30 PM	#20
kennyhammond Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 256	Re: sunroof?? i have a mig welder i dont see it would be that hard it is the kind that is 2 small windows sie by side...

01-14-2011, 10:05 AM	#23
motornut 78K & 79C Jimmys Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ottawa Ont CANADA Posts: 7,901	Re: sunroof?? get caught in a flood/accident ....look at it as another way out and yes i've put them in cars,and i am considering it in the jimmy __________________ John 1978 GMCJimmy4X4-350/203 1979 GMCJimmy4X2-305/350

01-14-2011, 11:49 AM	#24
4pilgrim4 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Silverdale, WA Posts: 59	Re: sunroof?? I have one in my 78 K10 and also in my 83 K15. Love 'em and in rainy western Washington no less! Just like anything else, they require a little maintenance. Every couple of years I pull the glass and replace the seals with less than $10 worth of weather stripping from Home Depot. The rubber quality is not as good as the original stripping, but it does the job for a year or so and is easy to renew.

01-14-2011, 12:57 PM	#25
dabels23 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Eudora, KS Posts: 131	Re: sunroof?? I had a buddy weld one up with a mig, it was just a mud truck, but he would do one spot weld and go work in the yard,watch tv, do anything to keep himself from doing another one til very thing cooled. It took him about a week to finish welding it. It didn't warp, but he didn't get the contour just right either, it looked like a fat chick had sat on his roof. LOL

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