buy new sun roof or weld it?

[itsthatguyagain]

well the weather strip on the glass of my sunroof (s13, pop up style) is worn/ripping and is no longer able to seal proper. i would like to fix/replace it before fall and rain starts comming in. i searched and from whats showing up, the only way to replace the weather stip is to replace the whole sun roof glass. unless i can find a used sun roof with good cond. weather strip, a new one cost about 500-600 so i was wondering if its cheaper to get a sheet of metal, bend it to the correct curve of roof and weld it? for those of u who had done it, how much did it cost? what kind of metal was used? did u reinforced the roof? i dont know how to weld so i'd have to pay sumone to weld it too. possibly will need sumone to bend the sheet of metal, i dont have the right tools unless a hammer, slightly curved dolly and maybe heat gun would do it

[OutToWinPAHC]

I have seen them welded shut but using metal from a partout car.

[itsthatguyagain]

ah! totaly forgot about that. lol. might just be doing that method instead, buy a roof, cut the demension out, pay sumone to weld it, and get new inner roof trim/lining without sun roof hole. DONE!! probably the best chioce.
thanks outtowinpahc

[bbiksey007]

I've never heard anything about replacing the whole sun roof glass. Thats just ridiculous! You can buy the weather strip from courtesyparts.com Item # 73872-01M05. However that part seems like it is getting harder to find, courtesyparts is often sold out of them. However you can try ebay cause you'll see a couple on there every so often.. You may have to play the waiting game lol

[Metal Angel]

Go down to your local auto glass shop. Usually they can reseal windows and sunroofs and it will be more cost effective and wont look like crap. I think you would have to pay a custom body shop to put metal where your glass is now and it would probably cost 500 bucks... and you would still have to worry about finding matching non-sunroof upholstery, which is going to be hard and expensive. (if your interior is not gutted anyway)

I don't remember his name... but some guy on here who rallies a hatch welded sheet metal across his sunroof and it looked like crap, which was fine because it was a beat up rally car... but if you want your car to look nice, you need it to be done by a body shop. Or just take the easy route and do my first suggestion of having your autoglass shop reseal it.

[Fbomb19]

If you want a base model go out and buy one. If it came with a sun roof from factory why not just replace it? Not trying to be a wise a** or nothing but ive seen this done and its just not worth the hassle. Nor will it look perfect. THats just my opinion. Might save you alot of trouble and work if your just replace it.

[zenkistic]

instead of welding, can't you just use silicone epoxy glue to seal the strip and have the sunroof permanently closed? if you cut and weld then you have to smooth it and probably put bondo, prime, paint.... doesn't sound cheap to me.

[itsthatguyagain]

I've never heard anything about replacing the whole sun roof glass. Thats just ridiculous! You can buy the weather strip from courtesyparts.com Item # 73872-01M05. However that part seems like it is getting harder to find, courtesyparts is often sold out of them. However you can try ebay cause you'll see a couple on there every so often.. You may have to play the waiting game lol

i have already checked courtesyparts and the FSM and the only weather strip it lables is the one under the sun roof not the one on the edge of the glass

Go down to your local auto glass shop. Usually they can reseal windows and sunroofs and it will be more cost effective and wont look like crap. I think you would have to pay a custom body shop to put metal where your glass is now and it would probably cost 500 bucks... and you would still have to worry about finding matching non-sunroof upholstery, which is going to be hard and expensive. (if your interior is not gutted anyway)

I don't remember his name... but some guy on here who rallies a hatch welded sheet metal across his sunroof and it looked like crap, which was fine because it was a beat up rally car... but if you want your car to look nice, you need it to be done by a body shop. Or just take the easy route and do my first suggestion of having your autoglass shop reseal it

yea i think i might just try this, and ask if they are able to reseal or renew that peice. but if i can get a roof, i already have the right curve so thers no need to bend the metel, all i need to do is just use metal-sheers to cut the size of the sun roof in the correct location, pay sumone to weld it and just grind/smooth the weld. and for upholstery i can just buy one off an LE, bend cut the parts of roof that isnt need anmore? (maybe thats a bad idea. lol)

If you want a base model go out and buy one. If it came with a sun roof from factory why not just replace it? Not trying to be a wise a** or nothing but ive seen this done and its just not worth the hassle. Nor will it look perfect. THats just my opinion. Might save you alot of trouble and work if your just replace it

well i dont have 500-600 to pull out my a** at the moment. lol. full time student working part time here......i would have gotten a base model but there wasnt any selling in good condition at the time i bought my 240. maybe i'll just save sum more and pray that it dont rain by october.

instead of welding, can't you just use silicone epoxy glue to seal the strip and have the sunroof permanently closed? if you cut and weld then you have to smooth it and probably put bondo, prime, paint.... doesn't sound cheap to me.

maybe that will be a last resort if i still want a sunroof. and keep my money. lol.

[alms24sebring]

Cant you just buy a used one from someone parting out a car?? I mean that sounds like a way better solution than deforming the car, knowing its ganna look like ish. Makes the car t5hat much harder to sell.

My friend just got one for like $125 last week. Unfortunately it was broken when it got here. dam UPS

[OM3GA]

The best thing to do would be to replace the entire roof, i have seen it done numerous times. There are marks from the factory under the trim that show where they weld it together. Definitely would be the best permanent solution.

[bbiksey007]

No thats not true. The item number I list IS the part number for the weather stip on the sunroof glass I guarantee it! Here I'll make it easier for you. Ebay has one listed same part number I showed you. This is the weather stip located on the top of the sunroof glass that goes around the edge, it'll be $65. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/240SX-SU ... 35b47ea034

[alms24sebring]

^ that sound like its alot easier. I just see disaster with trynna cut and weld a freakin roof.

[itsthatguyagain]

Cant you just buy a used one from someone parting out a car?? I mean that sounds like a way better solution than deforming the car, knowing its ganna look like ish. Makes the car t5hat much harder to sell.

My friend just got one for like $125 last week. Unfortunately it was broken when it got here. dam UPS

i would but afraid sumthing like that might happen. lol

The best thing to do would be to replace the entire roof, i have seen it done numerous times. There are marks from the factory under the trim that show where they weld it together. Definitely would be the best permanent solution.

yes i would go this rout if i am going to replace it permanently

No thats not true. The item number I list IS the part number for the weather stip on the sunroof glass I guarantee it! Here I'll make it easier for you. Ebay has one listed same part number I showed you. This is the weather stip located on the top of the sunroof glass that goes around the edge, it'll be $65. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/240SX-SU ... 35b47ea034

ooh! thanks for clearing that up! i searched on courtesy parts and there wasnt a pic. so i couldnt tell if it was that one or not. probably order that instead.