who has sealed their sunroof?

[leonard_nemoy]

I always thought it would be cool to remove the sunroof and weld a slightly raised cap around the hole. Then you could leave the sliding cover up and mount flashlights, handguns, or other small items on the roof above your head and under the sliding cover.

 

[BILT4ME]

I always thought it would be cool to remove the sunroof and weld a slightly raised cap around the hole. Then you could leave the sliding cover up and mount flashlights, handguns, or other small items on the roof above your head and under the sliding cover.

I think it would be even better to mount a turret up there and have it on remote control with a camera that would play on the screen on the head unit down below.

 

[leonard_nemoy]

I think it would be even better to mount a turret up there and have it on remote control with a camera that would play on the screen on the head unit down below.

I would want a paintball gun on mine. Then I could go find some Sierra Club members to harass lol.

 

[BILT4ME]

I would want a paintball gun on mine. Then I could go find some Sierra Club members to harass lol.

That wouldn't be fair....shooting them while they're hugging their trees over there.

(didja see that? I used three versions of homonyms....and I'm not talking about the Subaru kind.)

 

[TWILLY]

I'm a tree hugger.

 

[80t0ylc]

I recently pulled my RTT and Yak bars off after 5+ yrs. One good thing about the RTT being up there was that it kept 99% of the moisture off the sunroof. Plus I have the Toyota lexan sunroof fairing, so moisture exposure was kept to a minimum. Also, shaded from the sun's rays. The roof of my 80 was filthy as was the outside of the sunroof. But after washing the dirt & debri off, the seal looks good and sunroof has full function. Inside channels and drain tubes are clear as they were when RTT was installed. I'll appreciate not having the wind noise and driving with it open. I'd hate to seal it up, but agree that it's an affordable and feasable option, when the RTT goes back on. Or if one has a full length roof rack. What I find amazing, though is I had a 1976 Mercury Capri II with a sunroof for 10 years, that I did absolutely no maintenance on the sunroof and had zero mechanical or leakage problems. Car did not have A/C so it was used a lot. It was hand crank and was metal, not clear, so it did not need a sunshade. But it had the same functions as ours - popped up in the back or fully open. And it was almost always parked outside in some pretty severe climates - North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Utah. Actually was my favorite rig, until I got my 80.

 

[nemoblackdog]

I'm thinking of sealing mine. Mine has two problems: 1) it won't open (no motor sounds at all) and 2) it leaks.

I know to do it right, I should drop the headliner, and take things apart to the point where I know there isn't any trapped moisture before deciding to seal it up for good. The easy way out would be to just seal it up. I'll probably do the former as otherwise I'll always wonder if I have a ticking rust bomb (even though the likelihood is less here in arid Colorado).

I don't think I'll try to repair the sunroof motor and/or seals, so a (semi) permanent polyurethane or similar sealant seems a good way to go. That said, if the motor repair is trivial once I do get it apart, I may rethink my plan...

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Inspired by this thread and the lake of water sloshing around my 2nd row Husky floor mat I sealed mine up yesterday. Looking forward to dry days ahead!!

 

[mwhit13]

I always thought it would be cool to remove the sunroof and weld a slightly raised cap around the hole. Then you could leave the sliding cover up and mount flashlights, handguns, or other small items on the roof above your head and under the sliding cover.

I suppose if you were already going to have a rack that would be handy. Hmm...

 

[jatree]

I did the bike tube on mine and have helped a few other guys do it, and every time, it has stopped leaks. While we're there, we also blow out the drain tubes and then pour some water down them to confirm that they're clear. The whole thing takes maybe 30 minutes to do and only requires a 10mm socket. Uh, and a compressor, but only if you want to blow the tubes out while you're there.

The extra space that the tube takes up between the glass and the body may possibly fix the rattle, especially if you never open it.

Do you have any photos that show how you did the bike tube thing? Original thread is unclear.

 

[LC4LIFE]

Do you have any photos that show how you did the bike tube thing? Original thread is unclear.

Basically you just cram the trimmed tube between the sunroof and the weatherstrip, you fold the weatherstrip outward and put the tube into the gap you create. I have done it multiple times with good success each time. I don't have any better pictures than what is out there or I would put them up. Can't believe its been over 10 years since I first did this.

Bicycle Tube Sunroof Fix/wind noise gone!

 

[jatree]

Basically you just cram the trimmed tube between the sunroof and the weatherstrip, you fold the weatherstrip outward and put the tube into the gap you create. I have done it multiple times with good success each time. I don't have any better pictures than what is out there or I would put them up. Can't believe its been over 10 years since I first did this.

Bicycle Tube Sunroof Fix/wind noise gone!

Thanks @LC4LIFE. Isn't there a weatherstrip on the housing as well as the glass? I need to get in front of it, possibly remove glass to understand.

I have my headliner down right now and will be reconnecting power to open the sunroof and test my drain tubes. All four are connected but the rear-PS one feels kinked after it disappears into the C pillar. I'm trying to decide if it's worth pulling the whole thing and fighting to re-route it - which is what the flow test is for. I also plan to silicone the underside of the screws where the dust covers mount as that looks like another spot water can enter.

Maybe once I get the glass out it will be more clear.

 

[LC4LIFE]

The weatherstrip is bonded to the glass, it will become clear once you take a look.

 

[AtlWagen]

I used some paracord. Here are some pics.

Media for user: AtlWagen | IH8MUD Forum

 

[jatree]

I used some paracord. Here are some pics.

Media for user: AtlWagen | IH8MUD Forum

Now that's an interesting fix! Might be my second option. I have the use of a garage for 1-month and with everything on my list I think I'm going to run out of time to actually drop the sunroof glass as I want to the headliner back in but maybe... Another part of this that seems related is using shims to make the sunroof sit flush with the roof of the truck. Someone posted part numbers a while back and it seems like that would help keep water from pooling in the corners.

I found a slight kink (though water still flows) in my rear PS drain hose. Today I'm going to pull it and replace with either vinyl or heater hose. Unfortunately stores are closed and I need new hose clamps, may use zip ties and see how well that works.

 

[HIPPYHUNTER]

Black Duct Tape

 

[alex4640]

I broke down and sealed my sunroof. Disconnected the switches in the roof cluster. No more water!

 

[MaxFederle]

I just wanted to resurrect this old thread to say how useful it was to read through! I don't have an 80 (lucky owner of a 40 though) but my old Jeep WJ is having the same issues. I'd like to add that I am in the construction realm and I am going to go the Vulkem route. That stuff is insane for sealing things up on roofs etc. Planning on taping it off and sealing it up in the next couple days.