Want to make sunroof water proof

[toxdoc]

My plan is to disable my sunroof on my ‘94 then seal the gaps around the edges so it’s water tight. I don’t care to have it open anymore. The previous owner(s) put window adhesive and silicone in the cracks which was messy and not effective.

How have you all sealed your sunroof edges? Looking for something that is water tight and looks clean.

I don’t want to take down the head liner to repair the sunroof. I also don’t want to completely delete the sun roof in case I want to repair it later.

 

[Kernal]

That looks rough, did you try something like a 3M eraser wheel to get the rest off?

You mentioned "window adhesive" was used by the PO but I don't see the usual black adhesive/sealant that needs to be cut to remove.
You could use 3M Window Weld Urethane but you would have to cut it out when you decided to start using the sunroof again and doing that you would for sure end up cutting the rubber gasket and gouging the paint around the opening.

Might be better to determine why it's leaking and fix that, start first with a used sunroof glass assembly in better condition??

 

[jpoole]

My sunroof was in similar shape when I got my 80 but the goop on top was some silicone derivative and came off pretty easily. I took my time and over the course of months was able to get the seal cleaned back up and luckily the rubber was in good shape below the crap.

When the sunroof was cleaned back up I then made sure that the body surfaces that the seal parks against were clean/smooth and then I added the strip of rubber from a bike inner tube to the sunroof seal (search the forum for more on that) and haven't had leaky sunroof issues since (9 years). I also added a few washers to shim-up the sunroof park height a bit which compensated for some sagging that came from two worn out rubber rollers in the mechanism.

Making sure that the drain lines flow freely, drains at the sills are clear and that the drain pan is intact also are all necessary.

A few times a year I lube the sunroof rubber with a silicone based lubricant. This helps preserve the seal and also minimizes the squeaking caused by sunroof movement up and down on small bumps (the worn our rubber rollers allow a tiny amt of vertical movement of the glass).

 

[Devils Paw 80]

You could use 3M Window Weld Urethane but you would have to cut it out when you decided to start using the sunroof again and doing that you would for sure end up cutting the rubber gasket and gouging the paint around the opening...

I will try that product, thanks. My sunroof was yanked out by a bear while PO had it and there's no way it will ever be used again. I've tried roof patch gunk, yet still have a leak in one corner where there's a significant gap.

 

[sjpitts]

I think someone once suggested a big sheet of magnetic material-- probably vinyl.

 

[BTLSHP]

There are a comments elsewhere about the 70 Series sunroof mechanism is a fit for the 80. Look at page 2 of the following thread:

Windshield - Am I being BS'd?

1994 Landcruiser 80 Series 245k miles, garaged until 2017 with a persistent leak at the windshield. Sunroof is mostly used to test the sunroof drains now and then. Bit of a story, short version is neighbor noticed a spot of rust on the windshield frame. He is the former owner of a body shop...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[TheBussman]

it is possible to seal it up nice and neat with clear silicone and masking tape so that it looks stock/unnoticeable and then unplug the switch. i bought my 80 looking like yours, one day it will have sheet metal installed in place of the glass.

 

[reklund5]

FWIW- it wasn't watertight when it was new. There is a drip tray/gutter and drain tubes for a reason....

Most of the time leakage is from clogged/kinked drain tubes, debris in the drip tray, or a windshield gasket. I'd rule that out before I tried to glue it shut.