So I was reading the thread about "who installed the sunroof in the 88" They were saying that all you have to do is swap the roof skins, and that they are all cut for sunroofs already. So out of curiousity, I went out and looked at one of my parts cars and Low and behold, It looks like it's cut for a sunroof.
I can see some bolts going around the sunroof area, but what about the part that runs down the A-pillar, where does that bolt up?
Am i understanding this correctly that all I have to do is unbolt the roofs and switch the skins???
Am i understanding this correctly that all I have to do is unbolt the roofs and switch the skins???
That is an understatement! You have to remove a lot of the interior, loosen the rear clip, remove the front fenders (i think), remove the front trim pieces under the windshield, remove the seal around the windshield, and then get the roof off the car without breaking it or the windshield. Definately not a job for someone with no patience.
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12:35 PM
cooguyfish Member
Posts: 2658 From: Hamilton, OH, USA Registered: Mar 2002
That is an understatement! You have to remove a lot of the interior, loosen the rear clip, remove the front fenders (i think), remove the front trim pieces under the windshield, remove the seal around the windshield, and then get the roof off the car without breaking it or the windshield. Definately not a job for someone with no patience.
Ok, that's most of what I needed to know right there. thank you much.
i would suggest when you take yours off just to cut it at the top of the pillars that way you dont have to worry about a gap that tends to appear on the right side of the windsheild and the roof. Well the roof tends to sit up to high compared to the glass i mean. So cut at the top of the pillars .. Do the same thing to the other roof cut same spots. I beleive you have 8 bolts that need to come out and then you just got a lot of glue but if you dont care for your roof.(which if you cut i you obviusly dont.) sit inside the car and just push push push. Btw this way should also save you from removing your windsheild strip and it costing 130 to get a new windsheild. But if you want to save your roof. Just unbolt everything . You dont need to remove the fenders just unbolt the tops and swing them out a bit. there are 3 or 4 bolts underthe windsheild that need to be removed that are under the black plastic piece that covers your intake for your vents. use gutiar string or piano wire and have 2 people one inside one outside pull it up from the bottom for the pillar to the top. At the top of the pillar you will hit a bolt thats glassed into the roof YOu should be able to lift the roof and the pillar up enough to slide the wire under it. Or just push it through the glue if you can to the inside of the car. uhm when you do this put wax paper under the spots that you unglued already to prevent it from adhearing again. When you do the hole windsheild area . Then you and your partner push one on each side under the roof up one hand under towards the middle/top of the pillar and one hand under the roof. Be verry careful and take your time. TAKE YOUR TIME. The glue comes up vvveeeeeerrryyyyyy slowly but it will come up. .
But for short. this swap isnt worth it and it sucks to do. Good luck
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06:17 PM
YELLOWFIERO88 Member
Posts: 1329 From: Cincinnati, Ohio Registered: Nov 2004
That is an understatement! You have to remove a lot of the interior, loosen the rear clip, remove the front fenders (i think), remove the front trim pieces under the windshield, remove the seal around the windshield, and then get the roof off the car without breaking it or the windshield. Definately not a job for someone with no patience.
You can just unbolt the fenders on the top and pull them out. The mesh panel below the wiper arms has to come off to get to the bolts that hold the clip on. You do not touch the rear clip. Remove the 1/2 round moulding around the windshield. and use a picture hanging wire to cut the glue from the clip. It sounds alot worse than it is. If you need help I can help you if you want to do it.
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88GT 3.4SC 88GT T-TOP 87GT VERT (build in progress)
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06:22 PM
DotTC Member
Posts: 2345 From: Hamlet, North Carolina Registered: Nov 2003
But for short. this swap isnt worth it and it sucks to do. Good luck
Not worth it? I couldn't imagine my 88 without a sunroof now. It wasn't hard to do at all.of course I was already removing my rear clip to replace it, but it isn't hard. its just a matter of sitting down and thinking it out. and preparing.
Originally posted by JacobHaley: That is an understatement! You have to remove a lot of the interior, loosen the rear clip, remove the front fenders (i think), remove the front trim pieces under the windshield, remove the seal around the windshield, and then get the roof off the car without breaking it or the windshield. Definately not a job for someone with no patience.
What I did was Master Tuner Akimoto's way in this thread. //www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/061778.html It eliminated everything except removing the headliner and some interior. It wasn't that hard.
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08:09 PM
Fierochic88 Member
Posts: 4962 From: Staunton, VA Registered: May 2001
If you are handy this is not a difficult swap. Matt, Joel (Turbo86SE) and I did it to his car and you would never know it didn't come with a sunroof originally.
When removing the "roof section" from the parts car you must be very careful not to damage the parts of the section that corresponds with the "A" Pillar, essentially the piece that runs along the windshield. You also need the sunroof seal (your best bet is probably ordering a new one from the FieroStore), the hardware for the sunroof latch and the surrounds that the small sunroof clips clip into. Of course you will also need the sunroof glass.
When you remove the original roof from the car, if you care to salvage it you must remove it gently. We used heat lamps to loosen up the glue underneath. You also have to remove the seal around the windshield. We did not remove the front fenders but did loosen them to aid in the removal and fitting process of the new roof. We also took the "wiper tray" or whatever you call it off. Before installing the "new" roof you have to remove the headliner and then you are ready to go! We painted the new roof before it went on (courtesy of Matt's excellent painting skills!) and then applied the glue and installed the roof. This was the tricky part as you don't have long to "get it right." After the roof section was in place, the fenders were retightened, a windshield seal was reapplied and we then installed the sunroof seal, hardware and glass. All in all (painting not included) I believe it took us around three hours. Joel is very happy with the result!
Jennifer
[This message has been edited by Fierochic88 (edited 08-04-2005).]
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08:14 PM
AutoTech Member
Posts: 2385 From: St. Charles, Illinois Registered: Aug 2004
I like the look of the hardtop but when the A/C compressor is no longer there you must get air flow. Not to mention the fact that if you have a leak it is a pain in the a55. The first fiero I had was a 84SE that every time I took off after a rain, my lap would get wet
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05:57 PM
Gokart Member
Posts: 4635 From: Mashpee, Ma. USA Registered: May 99
Originally posted by CTFieroGT87: Actually Aerosmith, I think I'm with you. I got an 86GT that I'd rather have hardtop than sunroof. I think Targa is in its future!
Your hardtop is in my parts barn when you want it!
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06:18 PM
$Rich$ Member
Posts: 14575 From: Sioux Falls SD Registered: Dec 2002
i didnt read through this thread, but just yesterday i pulled off a hard top from an 84, all of the fiero's ive owned have all had sunroof's and ive alwas wanted a non sunroof fiero, i dont know why, it seems everyone else is opposite of me,
i managed to get it off with out breaking it it was like 100* yesterday so im sure that helped loosen al the black TAR that holds it on (nasty stuff) but heres a pic of how it goes