Sunroof sheetmetal work

[Piet]

Hello all,
I'm vaguely thinking about making a replica fabric sunroof for my '68 model, as the tin roof has quite a few bits of bog in it. I thought taking all the bog out and the requisite shrinking would be a very hard job to do well, whereas cutting out the centre pressing and raising the edges, then spotwelding in a stiffener lip, might be a lot easier.

However to do this I would really need to get a much better understanding of the structural details of the lip section and its attachment, also the retainers for the headlining, on cars fitted with the original sunroof.

Would anyone possibly be able to oblige with some nice close up photos and maybe some dimensions (section widths, metal thickness etc????)?

If I do get enough info anad decide to go ahead I'll keep you all posted.

Cheers,

Piet

 

[Pavel]

Hi Piet there in far Australia
I spent heaps of times to think out, how to made a replica of original R4 sunroof. It´s very onerous task in home conditions. Did you see in the catalogue, how much parts you need? You should buy lot of special small parts - fixing bolts with plastic heads, front handle, elastic fixative cords and their lugs, etc. They are mostly hard to findly. Than you should made and spotweld formed sunroof welt, cross member and its lining, etc. ... only problems. I think, there are two ways only:
1. Buy an old rusty R4 with the original sunroof and implant it to your car or
2. implante the sunroof from Twingo as Jeff4 http://jeffr4.weebly.com/twingo-dakje.html
I took lot of detail snaps of the original sunroof and I can send it to you, but the pdf file is quite big, so I can´t put it as attachement (8 M). So tell me your e-mail address please.

Greetings from sunny winter Prague
Pavel

 

[jeffr4]

Hello Piet,

next to the page on my website, ( I used the inner aluminum frame for making the exact opening) here also some pictures form our belgium R4 friends :
http://www.4l-belgium.be/4L-belgium_(Nl)/Fotos/Pages/Plaatsing_van_een_open-air.html
Greeting from Holland, tody a cloudy one, but with good temperature.(11 deg C )
Jeffrey

 

[angel]

Hi Piet. I can take measurements and photos from the factory sunroof on my Jogging, just make me a list of what dimensions are you missing.

 

[Piet]

Thanks very much for all your replies guys.

I think if I did go ahead, I would try to emulate the original roof- which means I might well not go ahead!

Cheers

Piet

 

[SeaKayaker]

If you are after a practical full length sunroof, then why not use a twingo phase 1 folding sunroof. simple to fit, readily available, and not expensive....