Sunroof delete?

[CharlieBronson]

For those that did a sunroof delete...which path did you take? Retain glass and seal up? Weld shut?
Looking for suggestions/examples on how to do this as mine is a mess -held together with jb weld and zip ties.

 

[Joe Fast]

I am very interested in any sunroof-related solutions. Has anyone ever replaced the factory cassette with an aftermarket pop-up unit?

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I can't think of a single truck on here that's fully deleted the factory sunroof.

 

[MountaineerLC]

Mine is sealed with silicon caulking and the switches disconnected. The seal between the glass and the gasket has failed and honestly fixing it just isn't that important to me.

 

[suprarx7nut]

I can't really tell what's been done to it, but I expect just fixing the sunroof would be less work than stripping it all out, welding it, doing body work, prime, paint, etc...

Not to mention you're going to lose significant value selling it. The crowd of people that want to buy a welded shut sunroof on a 100 is a lot smaller than the overall 100 buying crowd, unless the truck is generally just trashed all over.

 

[97 AZ LC]

I can't really tell what's been done to it, but I expect just fixing the sunroof would be less work than stripping it all out, welding it, doing body work, prime, paint, etc...

Not to mention you're going to lose significant value selling it. The crowd of people that want to buy a welded shut sunroof on a 100 is a lot smaller than the overall 100 buying crowd, unless the truck is generally just trashed all over.

I don't think so. Minimalist are crazy. They'll pay anything for minimalism.

 

[jLB]

I can't really tell what's been done to it, but I expect just fixing the sunroof would be less work than stripping it all out, welding it, doing body work, prime, paint, etc...

Not to mention you're going to lose significant value selling it. The crowd of people that want to buy a welded shut sunroof on a 100 is a lot smaller than the overall 100 buying crowd, unless the truck is generally just trashed all over.

Not to mention, a proper “no sunroof” headliner is about as rare as hen’s teeth here in the US.

 

[joshAUST]

I'd be tempted to apply something you can remove easily, to try to seal it up.
At a guess, something like MOLYKOTE 55 O-Ring Grease or similar.
It is meant to slightly swell existing o-rings and other rubber seals.
It doesn't seem to really dry or set. So could be worth coating the existing rubbers, and if that fails, perhaps flooding, within reason, around the top of the sunroof, any entry point, and water shouldn't get in.

I've never used it for this application, so its worth doing some research first - .i.e check its safe for paint, etc, but it could be a good way of sealing up a leaking sunroof without making it irreversible.

I have a slight leak with my sunroof on my new 105.
The controls to open it or tilt it do absolutely nothing - not sure yet if its the fuse, the motor, or what.
Ideally I'd like to open it, clean the whole mechanism, clean the drain pipes, and lubricate all the rubbers, but finding the time isn't happening at the moment.
As its a tiny leak, I might try the Molykote path one day first.

 

[3_puppies]

Flex Seal?

 

[boombapslappy]

Flex Seal?

Doesn't work. I tried. Not for more than a few weeks, anyway. YMMV, but I'm going to have to clean it off and go a different route.

For what it's worth, I would see it as a plus if I were shopping for another 100 and the seller had removed everything and welded in metal. Even with the original interior. Just keep the slide closed.

 

[87warrior]

The only sun roof delete I have seen here is on this ute conversion: 100 Series Ute Conversion - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/100-series-ute-conversion.1237218/post-13582281

I sealed my rusted and stuck sunroof with Eternabond RV roof tape.

 

[FrankieJoe14]

Honestly guys, I have had gorilla brand black duct tape sealing my minorly leaky sunroof closed for close to 4 years now. I've replaced it once.

It was one of those temporary but now permanent fixes. It works fine even if it is a little ghetto.

I think you are overthinking it.

 

[boombapslappy]

Work harder, not smarter. Or, something like that.

 

[Pinestreet]

I know nothing about welding but I'd be willing to help if you need it. On Youtube Chrisfix did one on a BMW using a sunroof delete panel that inserted into the opening and used sealant around the perimeter.

18:35 mark

 

[MongooseGA]

For what it's worth, I would see it as a plus if I were shopping for another 100 and the seller had removed everything and welded in metal. Even with the original interior. Just keep the slide closed.

Really?

As far as I've ever been aware, sunroof deleted and sunroof-free vehicles are desirable because of the additional headroom afforded by not having the assembly in the ceiling.

A functional sunroof has a use/ purpose, too.

Your suggestion would have neither benefit of either setup.

Maybe the simplicity of not having the extra mechanicals? Sure. But then, if you're going through the effort of welding a panel in and doing the body work, why not just like, fix the sunroof?

If I were a shopper and came across this in a truck, I'd be more concerned about whatever residual issues exist stemming from a bad sunroof. Obviously this would exist in any vehicle, but it wouldn't be a good look that the problem was so bad the PO decided to weld it in to fix. Red flags, IMO.

 

[MountaineerLC]

Honestly guys, I have had gorilla brand black duct tape sealing my minorly leaky sunroof closed for close to 4 years now. I've replaced it once.

It was one of those temporary but now permanent fixes. It works fine even if it is a little ghetto.

I think you are overthinking it.

I did this for years on my old LR Disco. Worked like a champ, it was just ghetto looking and the adhesive made a mess.

I've also heard the suggestion of using vinyl wrap to seal the sunroof. Not sure how well that would actually work, but there is another option.

Strangely, this thread has somewhat inspired me to actually fix my sunroof. I think all it needs is a new seal.

 

[Hu1k]

I’ve read about a few 80 series doing welded panels. I think there’s a thread on here showing pictures of the process but I can’t seem to find it.

I considered doing mine before spraying my truck in bed liner since I could just seal it up and spray over for a nice seamless finish. But cost and other maintenance got in the way. With my welding skills getting better every year, I’ll probably do it eventually.

 

[Pinestreet]

I can't really tell what's been done to it, but I expect just fixing the sunroof would be less work than stripping it all out, welding it, doing body work, prime, paint, etc...

Not to mention you're going to lose significant value selling it. The crowd of people that want to buy a welded shut sunroof on a 100 is a lot smaller than the overall 100 buying crowd, unless the truck is generally just trashed all over.

I'm also thinking of welding one of my 100s. I see it as a plus. Do you think it's a 10% de-value or maybe a higher percentage? So that would mean I'm "losing" upwards of several hundred dollars over my years of ownership? Plus the only thing that I get out of it is the truck that "I" want and getting to be the ONLY one on this site to do it (according to the moderator).

 

[Hu1k]

I'm also thinking of welding one of my 100s. I see it as a plus. Do you think it's a 10% de-value or maybe a higher percentage? So that would mean I'm "losing" upwards of several hundred dollars over my years of ownership? Plus the only thing that I get out of it is the truck that "I" want and getting to be the ONLY one on this site to do it (according to the moderator).

If the sunroof doesn’t work, isn’t the value lost already? Sure someone could pay to have it fixed but I doubt anyone ever would. If you market the vehicle to the right person during resale I think the buyer would understand it’s actually an upgrade especially if it doesn’t leak. Just my two cents.

 

[TexLexican]

I'd be tempted to apply something you can remove easily, to try to seal it up.
At a guess, something like MOLYKOTE 55 O-Ring Grease or similar.
It is meant to slightly swell existing o-rings and other rubber seals.
It doesn't seem to really dry or set. So could be worth coating the existing rubbers, and if that fails, perhaps flooding, within reason, around the top of the sunroof, any entry point, and water shouldn't get in.

I've never used it for this application, so its worth doing some research first - .i.e check its safe for paint, etc, but it could be a good way of sealing up a leaking sunroof without making it irreversible.

I have a slight leak with my sunroof on my new 105.
The controls to open it or tilt it do absolutely nothing - not sure yet if its the fuse, the motor, or what.
Ideally I'd like to open it, clean the whole mechanism, clean the drain pipes, and lubricate all the rubbers, but finding the time isn't happening at the moment.
As its a tiny leak, I might try the Molykote path one day first.

Walmart sells a rubber reconditioning spray for RVs. I tried to hit every rubber bushing along with the sunroof seal as a preventative measure.