There used to be a company that made a fiberglass one, but they went out of business or just stopped making them (can't remember), I was lucky to buy one in the Mall you could try doing a WTB post and see if someone who had bought one might be willing to sale but if I recall they didn't sale/make many.
There used to be a company that made a fiberglass one, but they went out of business or just stopped making them (can't remember), I was lucky to buy one in the Mall you could try doing a WTB post and see if someone who had bought one might be willing to sale but if I recall they didn't sale/make many.
You are correct. Jimmy with Fierofiberglass used to make them. He also made one with a non-functional scoop:
[This message has been edited by IMSA GT (edited 03-07-2022).]
I just made my own. Made a one time mold from the original sun roof glass and cast a fiberglass one. Hardware/Nuts are bonded into the panel, to attach the Tabs and Latch...Now I can swap between the glass panel or the the fiberglass one.
I just made my own. Made a one time mold from the original sun roof glass and cast a fiberglass one. Hardware/Nuts are bonded into the panel, to attach the Tabs and Latch...Now I can swap between the glass panel or the the fiberglass one.
Great fitment did you paint inside or use a liner.
Originally posted by Australian: Great fitment did you paint inside or use a liner.
I did paint the underside (Dark Gray) to sort of match the look of other OEM panels on the car... ie. underside of Hood, Rear Deck or Sun Roof opening.. But I did fabricate a new Sun Shade panel covered with the same Headliner material to give it a more finished look.
Originally posted by mono: Orig88GT-NC...That's exactly what I was looking for! Very clean. Would love to see any build photos on how you did it, fabrication details, etc.
I will tell you how I made it ......BUT
--------------------------------------------------------------------- DIS-CLOSER • I do not have a large budget, so many methods or techniques I use maybe a bit unorthodox, but they work for me. My methods may not be the only or the best, but the results are of good quality and appearance... • Since the budget is low, What I do have is Time & Patience and I am not afraid of making mistakes and starting over. • I only fabricate parts that I can not find for sale... or have never been created before. • Since the projects I make take ALLOT of time, I will NOT produce them for sell. They would be way to expensive and for a limited market. • I enjoy designing and fabricating and do allot of it .... • I know that everybody doesn't have the same skills, nor the patience.... but some have an interest and desire to try, and I'm willing to help... ---------------------------------------------------------------------
I didn't take allot of photos during the build, I think, I didn't expect the panel to come out right the first time...
HOW I MADE IT:
● The first thing I did was obtain the hardware... Latch Handle/ Tabs .. and make some steel nut plates to embed into the fiberglass.
One of the Nut Plates
Setup ● Next I made a shallow box out of wood that would fit the Glass Panel. ● Taped off the holes in the Glass with some painters tape and applied several coats of paste wax to the top surface of the glass. ● Poured Plaster of Paris into the Box and laid the Glass Panel into it gently. Then let it sit for about a week. ● Removed the Glass carefully. Leaving a perfect impression of the panel.
Fiberglass ● Mixed about a Qt of Fiberglass Resin and put down (2) layers of Fiberglass Mat... While this was starting to set, I positioned the fabricated Nut-Plates onto the panel AFTER I applied painters tape to the stud portion (to prevent resin from getting onto the shaft or threads). ● Mixed up another 2-3 Qts of Resin and applied about 10 Layers of Woven fiberglass in alternating directions(allowing the Nut-Plate Studs to poke through) until I achieved the same thickness as the original glass panel. ● I let this set for about a week... to help eliminate warping. ● After a week I carefully pried it from the mold. ● Trimmed and sanded the edges, touched up any little defects with spot filler( Bondo wasn't needed). Primed with a Urethane Sandable Primer and prepared for paint
Hope this helps. I can take some better pictures if your interested
I did paint the underside (Dark Gray) to sort of match the look of other OEM panels on the car... ie. underside of Hood, Rear Deck or Sun Roof opening.. But I did fabricate a new Sun Shade panel covered with the same Headliner material to give it a more finished look.
Fabricated Sun Shade
Headliner.. It's a Light Tan Suede material.
Fantastic i put in a Suede leather liner light tan so looks similar. I used to have factory bag for roof but someone took it. Finger up to them.
Excellent write up, Bob! Thanks! I wonder if a salvaged OEM solid roof panel could be adapted for this mod? ..."Measure 5 times, cut once". Fabricating the underside for hardware attachment would obviously be needed...
Originally posted by exoticse: Dude !! You are back ! Awesome,.. I see you painted the car too ! Looks great ! Need to update your build and videos.
Hey... Glad to see some old friends still hanging around. Wondered if anybody would notice my little teaser pic. The car has come out looking nice all around. Just going to put some rubber on the new wheels before I post any real pictures and upload a new vid on YouTube. Probably be about a week or so.. Bob
Fiberglass ● Mixed about a Qt of Fiberglass Resin and put down (2) layers of Fiberglass Mat... While this was starting to set, I positioned the fabricated Nut-Plates onto the panel AFTER I applied painters tape to the stud portion (to prevent resin from getting onto the shaft or threads). ● Mixed up another 2-3 Qts of Resin and applied about 10 Layers of Woven fiberglass in alternating directions(allowing the Nut-Plate Studs to poke through) until I achieved the same thickness as the original glass panel. ● I let this set for about a week... to help eliminate warping. ● After a week I carefully pried it from the mold. ● Trimmed and sanded the edges, touched up any little defects with spot filler( Bondo wasn't needed). Primed with a Urethane Sandable Primer and prepared for paint
That's awesome! Did you do any additional surface prep (mold release, wax, etc) on the plaster mold?
[This message has been edited by MinnGreenGT (edited 03-11-2022).]
Is there a Carbon Fiber or Fiberglass sunroof panel available that replaces the heavy OEM glass? It would be a direct replacement, latch, hinges, etc.
I don't know if there's that big a weight saving (building a 1/4 mile racer?)
On my Indy, we sandblasted the surface of the sunroof glass and had it primed/painted when the car was repainted. That was in 2008 and it's still holding up fine. (I'd have preferred a non-sunroof car)
I don't know if there's that big a weight saving (building a 1/4 mile racer?)
On my Indy, we sandblasted the surface of the sunroof glass and had it primed/painted when the car was repainted. That was in 2008 and it's still holding up fine. (I'd have preferred a non-sunroof car)
I believe the OEM glass roof is around 15 lbs. So unless it was CF, I agree, it doesn't save much. I like your idea of the blasted/painted top. But prefer the clean-shaved look (no exposed bolt heads) on the FG mod.
Originally posted by MinnGreenGT: That's awesome! Did you do any additional surface prep (mold release, wax, etc) on the plaster mold?
I didn't use any wax because I was concerned about damaging the plaster surface. As I recall I think I may have sprayed some rattle can paint primer to help seal the plaster. I remember there was no problem with the resin sticking to the plaster.
Though of another “solution” to the appearance thing. One could coat the outside of a glass sunroof with the dotted color matched stuff used to lessen sun pass through used in RVs and offices and the such. Appears color matched but is not fully opaque. Love the talent some of you guys display in your searches for solutions! That roof panel Orig88GT-NC made…. Just darn cool!
[This message has been edited by johnyrottin (edited 03-14-2022).]
I didn't use any wax because I was concerned about damaging the plaster surface. As I recall I think I may have sprayed some rattle can paint primer to help seal the plaster. I remember there was no problem with the resin sticking to the plaster.
That's awesome! I've been playing with plaster & clay for forming a polycarbonate RC car body, but had never thought about it for something to shape fiberglass!
That's awesome! I've been playing with plaster & clay for forming a polycarbonate RC car body, but had never thought about it for something to shape fiberglass!
One day i plan on making a mpc into replica of my car was going to bog out the widebody but thinking make it lighter and doing it properly with a RC so looking at 1:18 and find something eg Ferrari toy with short wheel base to suit.
[This message has been edited by Australian (edited 03-18-2022).]
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