Sunroof tracks Stainless and powder coated mild steel (Page 8/28)
silver 85 sc MAY 10, 11:17 PM

quote
Originally posted by ly41181:


Hi! I was wondering if you had that picture of the tool you made. Is there anything special needed to make it?

Josh



I can't seem to find it, but it is pretty simple. Take a used hack saw blade 12" long and slot the hole on one end all the way out. Then using the gasket adhesive glue the rivet washer to the end centering the washer over the slot. Gently lift the roof panel and slide the blade in between the roof panel and the roof until you line up the washer to the holes in the track and the roof panel. Insert and pop the rivet. This does not work on the curved track that follows the windshield. The only rivets I installed on this track
were for the sunroof tabs. For this one insert the track and bolt into place. Mark location of one tab. Remove track. Align the tab with the marks on the sunroof track. These rivets are tangent to the centerline of the track. The tracks are 24mm wide so the center of these rivets should be at about 13.5 mm from the sunroof side of the track. After one side was drilled I installed 1 rivet and marked the opposite side. Drill out the newly installed rivet and then drill the opposite side once again the center line of the rivets is 13.5mm from the sunroof side. Now you should have the holes in the correct location. Fasten studs and rivet the tabs in. I suppose it would be possible to take the old track and line up the studs with the stock t-nuts and then use the old track as a template, however since as you can see by the pictures I didn't have anything left to use. And there was very little strength to what was left and my came out completely deformed and not usable. Of course if anyone can find a print on these that would be a game changer.

After 3 rains in the area since I replaced mine it is really nice to get into a dry car and drive without getting dripped on.

Rich
ly41181 MAY 10, 11:44 PM

quote
Originally posted by silver 85 sc:


I can't seem to find it, but it is pretty simple. Take a used hack saw blade 12" long and slot the hole on one end all the way out. Then using the gasket adhesive glue the rivet washer to the end centering the washer over the slot. Gently lift the roof panel and slide the blade in between the roof panel and the roof until you line up the washer to the holes in the track and the roof panel. Insert and pop the rivet. This does not work on the curved track that follows the windshield. The only rivets I installed on this track
were for the sunroof tabs. For this one insert the track and bolt into place. Mark location of one tab. Remove track. Align the tab with the marks on the sunroof track. These rivets are tangent to the centerline of the track. The tracks are 24mm wide so the center of these rivets should be at about 13.5 mm from the sunroof side of the track. After one side was drilled I installed 1 rivet and marked the opposite side. Drill out the newly installed rivet and then drill the opposite side once again the center line of the rivets is 13.5mm from the sunroof side. Now you should have the holes in the correct location. Fasten studs and rivet the tabs in. I suppose it would be possible to take the old track and line up the studs with the stock t-nuts and then use the old track as a template, however since as you can see by the pictures I didn't have anything left to use. And there was very little strength to what was left and my came out completely deformed and not usable. Of course if anyone can find a print on these that would be a game changer.

After 3 rains in the area since I replaced mine it is really nice to get into a dry car and drive without getting dripped on.

Rich



Awesome! Thank you for sharing.

Josh
silver 85 sc MAY 12, 02:28 PM
It was a productive day. All the blanks are sheared and the windshield tracks are ready for the roller. So hopefully within the next week I will have stock.

Rich
DLCLK87GT MAY 16, 09:52 AM
Bump for updates on both projects.
Quad GT MAY 16, 11:04 AM
Got my tracks last week and they look great

Might order one more set in a few weeks for my 4.9 GT
DLCLK87GT MAY 19, 12:41 PM
Still waiting for some info on these and the part I sent you.
Also for anybody wanting to do this; I removed my tracks yesterday, figured I’d take out the old, paint the car, and then put in the new. Couple things to note; under the original track was a gasket, almost like thick double sided electrical tape. No idea where to get new, anybody know?

And (not sure if this was mentioned already but)the front 4 rivets also hold the sunroof insert hinge tabs so those will need to be replaced.
silver 85 sc MAY 19, 01:28 PM

quote
Originally posted by DLCLK87GT:

Still waiting for some info on these and the part I sent you.
Also for anybody wanting to do this; I removed my tracks yesterday, figured I’d take out the old, paint the car, and then put in the new. Couple things to note; under the original track was a gasket, almost like thick double sided electrical tape. No idea where to get new, anybody know?

And (not sure if this was mentioned already but)the front 4 rivets also hold the sunroof insert hinge tabs so those will need to be replaced.




I didn't use the tape. I used the gasket adhesive under the tracks. When I worked for my last employer we used to use camper tape. It is not black but functions the same. After a couple of rainfalls and a wash I'm still dry inside. I have an update on the air dam brace and will PM you.

Rich
silver 85 sc MAY 19, 10:30 PM
Update.

I hope to have 10 sets ready Tuesday or Wednesday this week. All I have to do is stud them, and of course we are out of studs at work. And no I did not use them all.

Rich
Matthew_Fiero MAY 20, 02:58 PM
I hope I'm not hijacking this thread but on the topic of installing the sunroof rails I cannot seem to squeeze the rivet enough to fill the hole in the roof panel. Using 1/8" rivets with 3/16" squeeze height.

any suggestions?
silver 85 sc MAY 20, 03:49 PM

quote
Originally posted by Matthew_Fiero:

I hope I'm not hijacking this thread but on the topic of installing the sunroof rails I cannot seem to squeeze the rivet enough to fill the hole in the roof panel. Using 1/8" rivets with 3/16" squeeze height.

any suggestions?



You are missing the rivet washers that have to be installed under the roof panel. That is what my hacksaw tool is for. I skipped the 3 on the windshield side since the sunroof tabs are riveted and there are 2 studs. The rest I was able to get in with the tool. When I get around to doing my '84 I will include more photos.

Rich