Re: CAUTION on sunroof, some questions

[ChuckKuecker <ckuecker@mcs.net>]

At 07:00 12/30/97 +0000, you wrote:
>Hey, folks!
>
>Those of you thinking about sunroof transplants should be aware that 
>you'll seriously compromise the integrity of a unit-body car.  At 
>best, you'll soon have more squeaks and rattles than you can keep up 
>with; it will eventually leak, too.  At worst, you'll ruin the car's 
>stability and handling.  If you do decide to go ahead with the 
>transplant, at least weld some extra bracing both in the roof and 
>under the car.  I know this because it happened to me, not in a 
>Scirocco, but another car I had years ago (OK, it *was* a Mustang).
>

<snip>

>
>Carlee

Good advice! If you want a sunroof, the way to go is to get the WHOLE roof
clip, and graft in the sunroof portion including all factory sheet metal.

As far as underbody bracing, the VW does nothing special here on a sunroof
vehicle. The brunt of the body stress is carried by the edges of the roof
and the pillars, not the center section. The Mustang you refer to must have
had cutting done in one of these high stress areas, and repaired badly. Even
Fords should not lose much structural integrity because of a hole in the roof...

Convertibles, now - that is another story. Without underbody bracing to
replace the cantilever bracing of the roof, the car becomes a limp rag, and
can buckle in the middle under hard driving.

Chuck Kuecker

ckuecker@mcs.net

'83 Scirocco (Katy's car now)
'58 Ghia Convert
'75 Bug
'67 Bug
'63 Bug (*still* for sale)
'91 Vanagon


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