Aftermarket sunroof

[RichieRocket]

I have an LT HB, basically because I did not want the leatherette seats or 205/17" wheels tires. The one thing I regretted not getting is a sunroof, not available on the LT

So I was thinking how about a professionally installed aftermarket sunroof. A simple manually operated sunroof that tilts up or can be removed are $300 installed. I had a manual pop-up sunroof in my '89 Probe GT.


Things that worry me:
- No gutter and drains, seal depends on glass edge compressing the rubber seal evenly all around. They claim if you keep the rubber seal clean, it will seal properly...
- roof is a compound curve, curves fore-aft and side-side, how does the frame grip the bare metal edge? Any chance of corrosion on the roof edge?
- if the glass panel is not flush with the roof, will it make a lot of wind noise?

Anyone have experience with aftermarket sunroofs?
Here's one I found with a quick search:
Aftermarket Sunroof Product Lines

 

[Eric Smit]

I wouldn't touch an aftermarket sunroof with a ten foot pole that wasn't mine.

 

[$ub$onic]

I wouldn't touch an aftermarket sunroof with a ten foot pole that wasn't mine.

This !!!!!!

 

[sonic24740]

i have installed one on my old pickup.. after a few years rubber drys up and it leaked.. again this was also like 20 years ago. when getting an aftermarket sunroof was all the rage... how they are built today not sure.. I don't think i would do it.. but if the shop guarantees no leaking then go for. as for noise my truck was loud to start with a 70 chevy c-10

 

[ThatTmoGuy]

Don't do it.

 

[acire91]

The words aftermarket sunroof just scream bad idea to me.

 

[SonicBoy24]

I've heard good stories and horror stories about aftermarket sun roofs, some from the same installers.
Might depend on whose working that day, or the brand, or whatever.
Personally, I wouldn't do it.

 

[HADES20]

Maybe I f you find one that does work with a dealer or check out customer reviews but I'd probably pass

 

[sx sonic]

Ritchie you're a sharp fella and it sounds like you have a rather intimate understanding of the small details that go into a factory sunroof. Ask yourself how much you think it would cost to approach O.E. quality and durability (and even then they aren't with out occasional problems). Now ask yourself how well Frakenstein worked.

I think you'll find your awnser then. I suppose its all a matter of how bad you want a sunroof and how many issues you are willing to endure, as well as how likely you are to notice any faults.

 

[Calculon]

I had a dealer offer to get me an aftermarket sunroof on a LT, which doesn't offer it, but it was considerably more than $300.

 

[RichieRocket]

Ritchie you're a sharp fella and it sounds like you have a rather intimate understanding of the small details that go into a factory sunroof. Ask yourself how much you think it would cost to approach O.E. quality and durability (and even then they aren't with out occasional problems). Now ask yourself how well Frakenstein worked.

I think you'll find your awnser then. I suppose its all a matter of how bad you want a sunroof and how many issues you are willing to endure, as well as how likely you are to notice any faults.

sx sonic, you are right, I know what the answer is, an affordable aftermarket sunroof comes with all the potential problems. I was hoping new technolology rubbers and plastics would solve the problems all those sunroofs had in the 80's...

I just get jealous when I drive my wife's Mazda 3 with sunroof

 

[SonicBoy24]

sx sonic, you are right, I know what the answer is, an affordable aftermarket sunroof comes with all the potential problems. I was hoping new technolology rubbers and plastics would solve the problems all those sunroofs had in the 80's...

I just get jealous when I drive my wife's Mazda 3 with sunroof

yea but a Sonic has what no mazda does, nice styling
no mazda looks as aggressive as ours, they all look like bugs...

 

[Natesriv]

Can a dealer install a factory OEM sunroof? It'd require a new headliner, and drainage lines & such...but is it doable.

I mean, on the factory floor, are sunroofed cars using a different roof stamping, one with a hole already cut?

 

[$ub$onic]

My Lincoln used a different roof

 

[RichieRocket]

Can a dealer install a factory OEM sunroof? It'd require a new headliner, and drainage lines & such...but is it doable.

I mean, on the factory floor, are sunroofed cars using a different roof stamping, one with a hole already cut?

Yeah...that's waaaaaay more than I would want to $pend.

 

[severous01]

why in the world would anyone put a hole in the roof of their car from the factory.....second, why in the world would you PAY someone to put a sunroof in your car, after you bought it.

any way, good luck with that in a year or two when the seal shrinks and you got a leak in the ceiling.

 

[RichieRocket]

why in the world would anyone put a hole in the roof of their car from the factory.....second, why in the world would you PAY someone to put a sunroof in your car, after you bought it.

any way, good luck with that in a year or two when the seal shrinks and you got a leak in the ceiling.

hi severous01, uh, I explained that in my first post. I want a sunroof, I did not want the LTZ with 17" wheels or leatherette seats. Chevy does not offer the sunroof with the LT.

You kinda have to PAY, because the body shop won't install the sunroof for free

Thanks for the good luck wish, but no need for luck, if it starts leaking, they sell replacement seals, not a big deal. Why do you think the aftermarket seal is inferior to the OEM?

 

[$ub$onic]

I just wouldn't touch that with a 10 foot poll that all, not my car , not my problem so have fun.

 

[Stew]

...Why do you think the aftermarket seal is inferior to the OEM?

The one big thing that OEM's have is a gutter lip inside the opening so if some water does leak down past the outer most seal it will drip into the gutter and down the drain tubes which go down either the A or C pillar (haven't looked at my sunroof yet to see which way they go because it's been raining since I got it at the end of January ) and onto the ground.

On an aftermarket sunroof if water gets past the outermost seal, well, it's inside your car. I had a Dodge D-50 back in the day with an aftermarket sunroof that leaked and I took that whole damn thing apart, cleaned it and caulked everything and put it back together nice and clean and it STILL leaked. Finally just kept a towel in the truck to wipe up the water.

 

[RichieRocket]

The one big thing that OEM's have is a gutter lip inside the opening so if some water does leak down past the outer most seal it will drip into the gutter and down the drain tubes which go down either the A or C pillar (haven't looked at my sunroof yet to see which way they go because it's been raining since I got it at the end of January ) and onto the ground.

On an aftermarket sunroof if water gets past the outermost seal, well, it's inside your car. I had a Dodge D-50 back in the day with an aftermarket sunroof that leaked and I took that whole damn thing apart, cleaned it and caulked everything and put it back together nice and clean and it STILL leaked. Finally just kept a towel in the truck to wipe up the water.

Stew, yup, I agree, if you read my first post:
---------------------------------
Things that worry me:
- No gutter and drains, seal depends on glass edge compressing the rubber seal evenly all around. They claim if you keep the rubber seal clean, it will seal properly...
----------------------------------

Looking closer at the curvature of the roof (point #2 in my first post) the roof curves a lot right where the flat glass panel would go. It's not like the old '89 Probe GT, that roof was FLAT!

So yeah, it was just a dream...