To sunroof or not to sunroof that is the question?

[Fairlady Z]

Ok im still debating to keep the sunroof or to remove it.

 

Pros:

 

1. No delay in project

2. Dont mind it personaly looks ok and give bit more light inside

3. Good for summer nites crusing with it removed completely open air driving

4. Good if on the sun open it slightly to let the heat out.

5. One of the better sunroof ive seen on a z. Factory like (yes i know they never came with it)

6. No delay time or extra cost quicker on the road.

 

 

Cons:

 

1. Its a sunroof on a 240z devalue not that im gona sell it anyway.

2. Can cause problems leaking but it is in good condition

3. Extra heat from the sun dark glass.

4. Probably cause fumes if i have any leaks under the car.

5. Glass break no replacement that i can find so roof will have to be shut eventualy if that happens

6. Maybe stuff the clean lines of the z but being dark coloured it most probably will blend in and wont be noticable

7. will take me few weeks to get rid of it properly.

 

 

Ok some detailed pics.

 

Has 3 different levels of opening shown 1 to full open. Also can remove it. Very similar to stock 180sx and n12 exa turbos.

 

Inside car pics

 

 

Outside pics

 

Cheers

 

[Retro Z]

I say keep it. Personally i like it and if it works why not? I don't understand why sunroofs are shunned on Z's so much when they are desirable on nearly every other car.. my neighbours mustang and hk monaro have one and i reckon it can be a good thing.

[luvemfast]

It depends on what colour you're going to go.

So tell us the colour...... and we'll tell you what we think! 

[Fairlady Z]

Hehe cheers guys. This particular one i dont mind. The one i had in 260 prior my mod was junk.

 

Luvemfast i was trying to keep it quiet but or what tha heck. I was waiting next 24 hrs to say as im waiting on key item to the project but i will get it anyway so no point.

 

Colour is Grande Prix Marron or know as ZG maroon. So i guess now you know what this thing is going to be and why i got those wheels for it.

 

[gilltech]

FWIW I have what looks like the very same sunroof in my car & I wouldn't be without it. The purists will cringe but I had mine fitted back in the early '80s after agonising over doing it for a very long time, & I certainly haven't regretted it. It transformed the black dark interior with more light, the interior feels less claustrophobic as I'm tall, & best of all the ventilation is much improved as my early '74 2-seater doesn't have AC. And I think it looks perfectly fine. First thing I do when I get in the car is pop the sunroof up just by habit.

As to whether the car is devalued, why? Are you building the car for you or sale to some future owner who may or may not care either way?

I say keep it & have voted as such! The very best of luck with your project.

[620Z]

Get rid of the sun roof. I did and my car was much cooler on those sunny days.

[Whittie]

I think this is one you need to decide for yourself.

 

Personally - I LOVED my sunroof. On mild days, when it wasn't too hot, too cold, not raining, not windy, at low speeds, when the lever wasn't broken..... you get the idea

 

Every other time the endless sun was unbearable in summer and it leaked like a sieve in winter.

 

I got rid of mine without any hesitation, but if I could have a single large one (like you do - instead of the double window of mine) and made up some kind of blind like they have in modern cars so that I could block the sun out, Well, then I probably would have kept it.

[Fairlady Z]

Cheers guys. My only real concern is with sunroof and vented bonnet may be too much going on a ZG replica.

I do want it to look as close to original 240zg as possible. Though vented bonnet is kinda a must due to other reasons.

 

Practicality of a sunroof don't bother me. Can be with or without it. Asi dont mind it could save bit of time by just leaving it there.

 

I see what pole says when time comes to actualy make a decision. At the moment 70% say to leave it. Kinda surprised thought be other way around.

 

 

[benny]

Have you considered a metal sunroof... i think one from an older celica suits the profile and all. Ends up closing nice and flush so you dont have the big pane of glass on top. Could be an option?

 

 

edit: just found who did the original install of the metal sunroof  :

[nat0_240_chevZ]

keep a 'sunroof' but make it a flip metal tin top lid type one, ie body colour and pics up and slides back, but has a very minimale gap/line, ie almost un-noticeable.

but not sun/seethrough like it is now.....maybe just paint it, but the current one does not have the 240z curve in it.....hint hint :wink:

[d3c0y]

This is an easy questions really.

 

 

No you should remove that abomination.

[zzzzed]

keep a 'sunroof' but make it a flip metal tin top lid type one, ie body colour and pics up and slides back, but has a very minimale gap/line, ie almost un-noticeable.

but not sun/seethrough like it is now.....maybe just paint it, but the current one does not have the 240z curve in it.....hint hint :wink:

 

That is exactly what I was going to do before I found a replacement roof

[dazzed]

get rid of it whilst you have the oportunity these cars werent designed for a sunroof

[Fairlady Z]

Yeah benny u got that right 

Nah not doing that again. It looked good but big head f.

 

Its either keep or remove and plug.

 

I got that part of the roof from my rusty musty. So getting the profile right wont be too bad.

 

Im now leaning towards remove and plug. Its a very small roof and sunroof shouldnt be too hard to get right. Even if i spend two days i think it be worth it.

 

Im just too worried about over cluttering it with stuff.

 

Main reason i fell in love with zg is the clean lines. Still love my normal Z but fender mirrors flares and extra long nose just ticks all the boxes for me. Also lucky enough to have vertical demister glass like real zg do.

 

Also its the easiest one to make a good tribute to original zg.

432 be easier and cheaper externaly but without s20 its just a normal 240 with 432 badges bit lame.

 

As mine will have vented bonnet to get rid of the heat build i was thinking to paint the grills same as the flares and bumpers. If sticks out i can always paint it same color as the body.

 

Im almost talked into removing it but still not clearly over the fence still holding with one arm.

 

Nato i know what u hint is but by time u make me a metal type sunroof she be ready for another rebuild lol. Btw how are the floor rails going? Chop chop hehehehe if need inspiration let me know i bring it with me in 6pk form. and when u finish we get more otherwise rails may end up looking like rats tails.

 

Thanks guys keep it comming someone needs to step on my fingers so i let go of the fence.

 

 

 

 

 

[dazzed]

This is an easy questions really.

 

 

No you should remove that abomination.

i agree

[Matvex1]

i agree

 

it dates the car, lowers the cars value , it will sag your roof lining, they leak, the break, the dont suit the car.......

 

Up to you thou. :-)

[gilltech]

it dates the car, lowers the cars value , it will sag your roof lining, they leak, the break, the dont suit the car..

Why should it date the car? The car, & sunroof, are contempory products of the 70s.

Why should it lower the car's value? Only to the fussiest of collectors, & he'd want everything else factory-issue too; & no faking to a different S30 model included! (Don't take that personally, I'm a great fan of the ZG look as you are).

The roof lining panel doesn't sag, in fact it is better supported by the sunroof frame lip.

They can leak if the closing clamp weakens, or seal perishes, but those can be attended to.

Agreed a breakage could be a problem.....

Personal taste; some like their S30s factory plain, others like all the period add-ons like spoilers, flares, bob tails, wide alloys, etc etc etc.

Looks like it's a 50/50 split thus far!

[Fairlady Z]

Wow never though it be such a hot topic 

 

Everyone has the good points . As for purity or being standard i could give a rats butt.

 

I cannot afford a real zg what the point stock zg be boring i like to have one that looks like it but goes like the stink and cost me half as much.

 

Nobody in australia is going to pay 80k for genuine zg. I love it but other cars come to mind like porsche, mustang, camaro,corvette, which are better investment.

 

Anyway as i said earlier i just think too many things on may detract from what im trying to achive. A zg replica that is very close to original. Sunroof kinda doesnt fit in that category but nor does big fat wheels or vented bonnet but thats my personal have to have.they just look so much better with it.

 

If i was going just normal z with flares i would prob kept the sunroof. Im even contemplating not putting the RB and keep it L so its period correct. But we see. Easier to plan for rb now than its just a quick changeover.

 

 

 

 

[nizm0zed]

But sunroofs are origional, Goertz designed it like that!!!!!

 

 

(runs and hides!)

[gilltech]

Stirrer!

Goertz designed it

Ah, but did he in actual fact design it? Now that's another debatable topic.....

 

[Fairlady Z]

Stirrer! Ah, but did he in actual fact design it? Now that's another debatable topic.....

 

Hahaha nope he was prob a kid by the time first sunroof appeared as a factory option.

 

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunroof#section_1

 

But popularity grew in early 70s so we can argue its period correct modification 

 

;D

 

Still leave sunroof is winning. Just

 

 

 

[Zeddophile]

That particular sunroof looks kind of out of place on a Z to me, particularly if you're going the ZG replica route.  Not quite sure what it is about it that makes it look funny to me, whether it's the width, or the location in the roof, or the fact that it's all glass - maybe even the angles of the photos from outside... Probably a combination of all of the above.  As you kind of hinted in your first post, it looks more like something that you'd find on a 180sx, or something else from the early 90's... 

[Fairlady Z]

I dont think its out of place its not bad in person u hardly notice it. Its very low profile unlike most aftermarket kits.

I do believe that this is probably an 80s install as its resemblance to to exa one.

 

Though my bigest worry is i personaly think it will ruin the zg

appearance.

 

Just too much glass on small cabin.

 

I want it to be smooth like this something about this pic and angle that makes the zg soo cool. dont want to screw it  up.

 

 

 

Now imagine a sunroof there. I just think its going to be odd.

 

I think now ill be silly to leave it in. If went through all the expence getting zg stuff to replicate it as close as possible the sunroof has to go.

 

 

[nizm0zed]

could you not just paint the glass and outer frame the same colour as the body?

Then it'd blend in real well, yet still be functional.

It also would be cooler in summer because you wouldnt have the sun coming through the glass yet you could still open it for ventilation.

[Six_Shooter]

Painting glass is a pain, to get it to be long lasting. Painting rubber will just look terrible and also not last very long.