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Questions for the owners of factory sunroof cars. #1123379 11/28/11 03:08 PM 11/28/11 03:08 PM
Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 688 USA challenger6pack OP mopar
challenger6pack OP mopar Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 688 USA	I have a 70 Challenger that I am modifying instead of restoring to 100% original. I have a complete sunroof from a 73 Challenger that I was planning to install in the car. Here is where I have questions. Since the car is not going to be original, should I use the factory sunroof or one from BMW, Volvo, newer Charger etc? Are the original Challenger sunroofs hard to get parts for? Are they hard to keep working, etc? Thanks,Tod

Re: Questions for the owners of factory sunroof cars. [Re: challenger6pack] #1123380 11/28/11 09:21 PM 11/28/11 09:21 PM
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 7,196 Harrisburg, Pa. screamindriver master
screamindriver master Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 7,196 Harrisburg, Pa.	Hi Tod, When you say complete do you mean the whole roof ??? If so the best avenue would be to run it through the cycle and see how well it works...Parts are tough to find....My would be to use the E-body set-up if it's in good useable condition...If it's shot then I would'nt waste time or money and just snag a good working unit with as much of the donor roof panel as you can get....

Re: Questions for the owners of factory sunroof cars. [Re: screamindriver] #1123381 11/28/11 09:40 PM 11/28/11 09:40 PM
Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 688 USA challenger6pack OP mopar
challenger6pack OP mopar Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 688 USA	It's most of the roof. It is the crank type sunroof. The car will not have the original front seats and the rest of the interior will be slightly modified. I plan on factory style paint with a bumble bee stripe. Nothing too crazy. The point is that the sunroof does not have to be original. The roofs I find on other cars in the junk yards are not as wide as the original sunroof. It may not make much difference in appearance. It does not have to be correct. At the same time too small of a sunroof will look out of place.

Re: Questions for the owners of factory sunroof cars. [Re: screamindriver] #1123382 01/12/12 05:17 PM 01/12/12 05:17 PM
Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 14 michigan S Sparky77 member
Sparky77 member S Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 14 michigan	did you use the challenger sun roof or get another 1 imm looking for parts for my 72 challenger sunroof

Re: Questions for the owners of factory sunroof cars. [Re: Sparky77] #1123383 01/12/12 06:35 PM 01/12/12 06:35 PM
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 9,550 Sacramento CA M Morty426 master
Morty426 master M Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 9,550 Sacramento CA	I think I would ask Dayclona here on the forum. I thought he had identified a car that had a very easy to use sunroof.

Re: Questions for the owners of factory sunroof cars. [Re: challenger6pack] #1123384 01/12/12 08:42 PM 01/12/12 08:42 PM
Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 245 Western PA O OldMoparMan enthusiast
OldMoparMan enthusiast O Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 245 Western PA	I have a 74 dart sport with the hand crank factory sunroof which is badly worn. The block where the draw wires run through is so badly worn that the roof won't close without extra help pushing it up. If your going to use the old roof make sure it is working smoothly before installing it, parts for these are hard to find Living with ALS help support the search for a cure Thanks http://web.alsa.org/site/TR/Walks/WesternPennsylvania?team_id=347781&pg=team&fr_id=12069

Re: Questions for the owners of factory sunroof cars. [Re: OldMoparMan] #1123385 01/12/12 11:07 PM 01/12/12 11:07 PM
Joined: May 2011 Posts: 251 USA R ramairthree enthusiast
ramairthree enthusiast R Joined: May 2011 Posts: 251 USA	If it is a mod, and not an original factory sun roof, I would use a more recent one salvaged. My 74 RR roof also has the worn gear drive, you must help it open and shut with your hand- and that is with the headling shift left out, with that in the extra resistance is a bear to shut and close. the mechanics of the lift/lower at the rear are also worn. My rear of the roof falls down, it will leak into the pan like it is designed to and drain out the hoses.... which just got behind your rear panels and behind your kick panels. I would acutally make a hole for them to go out. it also leaks enough in a heavy or windy rain to end up not going into the pan. You are looking at a LOT of squeeze for very little juice.

Re: Questions for the owners of factory sunroof cars. [Re: ramairthree] #1123386 01/13/12 09:48 AM 01/13/12 09:48 AM
Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 688 USA challenger6pack OP mopar
challenger6pack OP mopar Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 688 USA	It looks like I should go with a modern sunroof off of another car. This does not have to be a Mopar part. I am modifying the car. What wears the most in the old sunroofs? The gear? I ask because the parts in mine are good. The sunroof has been stored for almost 30 years. I do know a good machinist who may be able to make the gears using my good ones as a pattern.

Re: Questions for the owners of factory sunroof cars. [Re: OldMoparMan] #1123387 01/13/12 01:37 PM 01/13/12 01:37 PM
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,918 Calgary, Alberta Canada a12rag master
a12rag master Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,918 Calgary, Alberta Canada	Quote: I have a 74 dart sport with the hand crank factory sunroof which is badly worn. The block where the draw wires run through is so badly worn that the roof won't close without extra help pushing it up. If your going to use the old roof make sure it is working smoothly before installing it, parts for these are hard to find I have a 74 Duster360 with same issue. Although after looking at it for a long time, I think the thing to do is get a new gear made (the one that is the hand crank)that is a couple of mm larger in diameter, and that will engage the cables better, allowing it to close the roof. Mark

Re: Questions for the owners of factory sunroof cars. [Re: a12rag] #1123388 01/13/12 04:40 PM 01/13/12 04:40 PM
Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 14 michigan S Sparky77 member
Sparky77 member S Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 14 michigan	i have the service manual on that sunroof it says to put a .015 shim behind the track wall and retainer clip mine does the same thing.

Re: Questions for the owners of factory sunroof cars. [Re: a12rag] #1123389 01/13/12 05:51 PM 01/13/12 05:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,157 Mass DAYCLONA I Live Here
DAYCLONA I Live Here Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,157 Mass	Quote: Quote: I have a 74 dart sport with the hand crank factory sunroof which is badly worn. The block where the draw wires run through is so badly worn that the roof won't close without extra help pushing it up. If your going to use the old roof make sure it is working smoothly before installing it, parts for these are hard to find I have a 74 Duster360 with same issue. Although after looking at it for a long time, I think the thing to do is get a new gear made (the one that is the hand crank)that is a couple of mm larger in diameter, and that will engage the cables better, allowing it to close the roof. Mark Cable or Electric ASC sunroofs: the problem with the "drive system" for the cables is not the gear (there's only one) it's the block that holds the gear, it's aluminum, and what happens is over the years the aluminum wears away where the cables are guided by the channels cast into the drive block that the gear meshes with both cables to open/close the panel,as the channels wear they loose contact/mesh with the crank gear (regardless hand/elec.)....the only cure is machine a channel drive block out of steel, then double case harden it for wear, this is what I've done for customers sunroof cars in the past....it's not an elaborate piece to machince Mike

Re: Questions for the owners of factory sunroof cars. [Re: DAYCLONA] #1123390 01/13/12 06:15 PM 01/13/12 06:15 PM
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,918 Calgary, Alberta Canada a12rag master
a12rag master Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,918 Calgary, Alberta Canada	Cool to hear . . . Originally I was told the cables wear (?!?!?!) - uhhh, nuts to that I figured. Would be easier to get the block made than another gear ! Guess I am gonna have to find a machinist up here to look at it ! Yes, either way, getting the gear to mesh with the cable is the trick ! Thanks, Mark

Re: Questions for the owners of factory sunroof cars. [Re: a12rag] #1123391 01/13/12 08:52 PM 01/13/12 08:52 PM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,157 Mass DAYCLONA I Live Here
DAYCLONA I Live Here Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,157 Mass	Quote: Cool to hear . . . Originally I was told the cables wear (?!?!?!) - uhhh, nuts to that I figured. Would be easier to get the block made than another gear ! Guess I am gonna have to find a machinist up here to look at it ! Yes, either way, getting the gear to mesh with the cable is the trick ! Thanks, Mark Although the cables are tuff stuff, they can get corroded, or worn just where you need them to "grab"....if the cables are indeed worn, which I have seen in some applications, you can remove the cables and swap them side to side/end for end,...the end that is crimped on the the rear adjuster can be pried free, just take your time as the adjuster is potmetal....think of it like swapping out a remote cable on a drivers door remote mirror 7017097-sunroof5.JPG (50 downloads)

Re: Questions for the owners of factory sunroof cars. [Re: DAYCLONA] #1123392 01/13/12 08:55 PM 01/13/12 08:55 PM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,157 Mass DAYCLONA I Live Here
DAYCLONA I Live Here Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,157 Mass	here's the rear adjuster where you can remove the cable from so you can orientate the cables to a reversed position to take advantage of "virgin" cable track, as I described above, if your cables are indeed rotted/corroded/worn 7017105-sunroof4.JPG (60 downloads)

Re: Questions for the owners of factory sunroof cars. [Re: DAYCLONA] #1123393 01/13/12 09:00 PM 01/13/12 09:00 PM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,157 Mass DAYCLONA I Live Here
DAYCLONA I Live Here Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,157 Mass	Here's some more pics for those with electric set-ups so you know what's missing, or lurking under the dress plates Mike 7017111-sunroof2.JPG (51 downloads)

Re: Questions for the owners of factory sunroof cars. [Re: DAYCLONA] #1123394 01/13/12 09:01 PM 01/13/12 09:01 PM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,157 Mass DAYCLONA I Live Here
DAYCLONA I Live Here Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,157 Mass	.... 7017116-sunroof3.JPG (62 downloads)

Re: Questions for the owners of factory sunroof cars. [Re: DAYCLONA] #1123395 01/13/12 09:03 PM 01/13/12 09:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,157 Mass DAYCLONA I Live Here
DAYCLONA I Live Here Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,157 Mass	..... 7017121-sunroof.JPG (59 downloads)

Re: Questions for the owners of factory sunroof cars. [Re: DAYCLONA] #1123396 01/13/12 11:46 PM 01/13/12 11:46 PM
Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 688 USA challenger6pack OP mopar
challenger6pack OP mopar Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 688 USA	Dayclona, Would you say that the sunroof is reliable and easy enough to get parts for? Would I be better, in a non-stock application, to use a newer sunroof that I can easily get parts for. Thanks.

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