Quarter-Life-Crisis Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 Well this topic is about a project on the car rather than the whole car being a project as such. The project in question is tackling the the caveman design of the manta sunroof. A complete failure on nearly every level. Ford must have sent one of there design guys to Opel in disguise on a saboteur mission. Any way - been to the scrappy this afternoon and removed a glass pop up sunroof from a Renault Clio (cost £24). All Renault did was cut a whole in the roof and plop the sunroof in. No lips to worry about nothing. The size of hole required for the Clio sunroof is 513mm X 833mm which enables the old sunroof to be removed and allows 90mm of rot behind the sunroof to be cut out. Making up the headlining is a close call but it should be possible to make it look good inside. It has two drain tubes at the front and is removed from the car by moving the headlining to one side and taking out 14 x 10mm bolts. Even the handle is the same grey colour as the headlining. The glass also lifts out completely so although it not retractable it is removable. Pictures coming in the following weeks. I was inspired by the Westabo sunroof i saw on Stradacabs silver GTE but being on a budget thought this may be an idea for people like me with a problem but limited funds. Id like to hear of any other solutions people have come up with that also look good on the inside as well as the outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 Well thanks for the name-check Glad you've been "inspired", I've had loads of ideas off this forum over the years and that's some of what it's here for. Good luck with it, my only suggestion would be to extend the drain tubes and run them out of the bottom of the sills to prevent rust. Please keep us updated and good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantapaperman Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 nice snippet of info that . what year shape of clio did you use? and do you think it is the renault factory jobbie? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quarter-Life-Crisis Posted April 3, 2011 Author Share Posted April 3, 2011 (edited) Its a factory renault sunroof. Not electric and NOT with a winder handle, although they may well work also. Not really up with clio models but it must be around the 2000-2005 model. The best looking clio. there's one on ebay a bloke is selling - item no. 290542071426 Also item no. 150577715908 shows it better. Don't know about sizes until i check but the first of the clio's may have a workable sunroof too. Need to check on an actual car from inside and out really. Edited April 3, 2011 by Quarter-Life-Crisis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantapaperman Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 ta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quarter-Life-Crisis Posted April 10, 2011 Author Share Posted April 10, 2011 Well the new sunroof is in and more importantly the caveman Opel sunroof assembly is out. No real problems i've come across with the minor exception of the broken windscreen. All that remains to do is:- Sand off all the surface rust from the underside of the roof where the old sunroof cassette was. Perhaps introduce an inch box section or flat-bar roof skin support to stop the roof flexing and to attach the headling centre catch to. Run and attach the front drain channels from the sunroof to somewhere sensible Stick the headlining back around the edges and fit the door/window seals Make up a spacer section if necessary to connect the manta headlining to the clio sunroof edge trim Bond in the top section of the sunroof to the roof to weatherproof it Draughtstrip the bottom underside of the sunroof and join with the above Re-fit the new screen and seal to stop water getting in. Pictures to follow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keith1200 Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 Crap about the windscreen I used a scotch disc pad thingie on a drill and it worked a treat I reckon the black tinted glass sunroof looks far, far better than the steel one, and it works a treat on the hatchback, still not sure about, how it would look on a coupe..... Looking forward to the picture's PS Glad its not me refitting the headliner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leon Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 (edited) Be interested to see some pics when you are done as I would like to do this on my hatch too. Just been out and measured up, 9cm extra is about right, will be a huge sunroof when fitted! Edited April 10, 2011 by Leon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quarter-Life-Crisis Posted April 18, 2011 Author Share Posted April 18, 2011 (edited) Pictures of the new sunroof install. Just need to glue the headlining back in now and make good round the opening VIEW FROM THE TOP, ALSO NOTE THE ADDITION OF A NEW AERIEL AND FROM ANOTHER ANGLE. GOOD PROFILE FIT TO THE MANTA ROOF. VIEW FROM THE INSIDE BEFORE THE HEADLINING GOES BACK IN. NICE TINTED SHADED GLASS RUSTY ROOF SANDED DOWN AND PAINTED WITH STANDARD OIL BASED UNDERCOAT. INCH ANGLE IRON STRENGTHENER IS NEEDED. NOTE TAB TO HOLD HEADLINING IN NEW SUNROOF DRAINAGE TUBES ON THE RENAULT SUNROOF DRAINAGE TUBES RE-ROUTED TO EXIT THROUGH THE INNER WHEEL ARCH OLD ROTTEN SUNROOF CASSETTE THIS MUCH OF THE ROOF SKIN REMOVED. RUSTY BUBBLY SECTION INCLUDED Edited April 18, 2011 by Quarter-Life-Crisis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 (edited) I know it's a bit late now, but when I did mine I cut the brace off of the factory sunroof cassette rustproofed, repainted and widened the appeture to fit the wider frame. It had to be welded a bit further back too It seems you have had to make up a part with a profile that you already have- Sorry! Great install btw Edited April 18, 2011 by stradacab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavtastic Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 Another modified Manta! Only joking Dave - looks great and a reasonably cheap solution as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Abbott Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 Top work on this job that would normally be the death of a Manta. We need a WIKI on this site for threads like this as it will save countless Mantas in years to come and threads like this will be way down the list in 6 months. Great mod and epitomizes what this forum is about. Awesome, cheap and easy fix You Sir deserve a years club membership free 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quarter-Life-Crisis Posted April 20, 2011 Author Share Posted April 20, 2011 Free membership - lovely! One day i will rejoin. Don't know if it can be seen from the pictures but the strengthener on the sunroof cassette rotted through. May be a slight delay in the finishing shots as im going to look at a mk1 cav which may well be unfinished project no.3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gt/e paul Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 this is a fantastic idea you have done marvellous work there. i heard of the clio sunroof idea as i too have some minimal rot to deal with and have just got a clio sunroof myself from a mk1 j reg clio. although its not as snazzy as your one (i may have to look for one the same ) it is bigger and will do the job well . good coverage of this topic well done ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opel2000 Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 Superb thread, with some top notch posts. Can only echo Kev's comments.......... "Top work on this job that would normally be the death of a Manta. We need a WIKI on this site for threads like this as it will save countless Mantas in years to come and threads like this will be way down the list in 6 months. Great mod and epitomizes what this forum is about. Awesome, cheap and easy fix " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdi200 Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 agreed,,,,,,,this is much easier than changing the the whole roof skin,,,,,,,,,,,,,ehh clive ?,,,,,,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D85CGV Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 Hi. This looks like a good fix that I think I'll have a go at doing myself. Got a wee question with regards to the angle that's been fitted for strengthening. I can see where it's been welded at the end. I can't clearly see if it has been tacked on across the middle of the roof. I'm assuming it has been though, or there would probably be potential for it to rattle against the roof. Cheers Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Are you removing a factory roof? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D85CGV Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Yeah it's a factory sunroof. It's got blisters behind the aperture and one has become a hole. The clio sunroof would be a good fix for mine since it will get rid of the section of roof that's started to rot. Cheers Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantasrme Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Don't weld it to the roof as it will melt the paint off the outside. You can just use stikaflex or other sealant between the brace and the roof, welding the brace at the sides to the framework. You can also do it without a brace as the framework for the sunroof once clamped in place stiffens the roof panel very well. Thats what i did last time i fitted a clio roof This is the outline showing how much the hole is enlarged, great for rust in front or behind the original hole but not much wider. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 And my tuppenyworth. When you remove the factory cassette there is a brace bar across the top. Cut that off the cassette and you have a ready made brace to go back in! i needed to widen the radiusses (is that a word?) and re weld it about 50 mm back on the cant rails. It was brilliant lat thing. If you are redeploying the original headliner I needed to sikaflex three hooked brackets where the second or third cross bar hits the cassette so you can correctly hang the headliner back up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D85CGV Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Thanks guys both great words of advice. Glad you brought that to my attention about the paint melting. I would have been kicking myself for doing that. It's so obvious now that it's been pointed out. I may do without or as stradacab mentioned use the bracer from the old unit, dependant of course on it's condition. I had often wondered if the windscreen needed to come out to to remove headlining. I'm assuming as there's mention of a broken windscreen further up the thread that is the case. My headlining could do with replacement. Is original opel material readily available? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Search German eBay, you can get new headlinings for not much money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D85CGV Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 Nice one thanks Snowy :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 13 hours ago, D85CGV said: Nice one thanks Snowy :-D I'm sure rutts has bought one, message him and ask. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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