DIY Sunroof

what tha......????!!!!!!   Yeah, use anything, a hacksaw, jigsaw, sawsall, plasma cutter, torch....Axe, machette......Just kidding!  And I hope you are too.  I appearantly dont know your motive to your fabrication.  Are you going to have just a.....hole?  Or, are you wanting to have a functional sunroof? 

After reading your post for the eleventh time, are you wanting a ceiling hole, but have it to where it can be covered quickly in case of rain? 

Ill wait on your answer before I go further.....anyone else understand what he wants?

If your wanting a sunroof and fabricate it yourself, I have your plan.  Let us know.

LOL, looks like you found the closest of your friends right here Primal Impulse!!!!!  I just want to see someone hack up a Jeep Liberty!!!! ...And this guy, Mini14 has one!  Im going to try talking him into using the machette. 

Ok, got a brainstorm, Im thinking....Jurasic-Park-Ford-Explorer-like Clear plexiglass roof.  Gut the ceiling of its covering components, remove the interior lighting and its wiriing.  Counsel with your nearest acrylic plastic / glass worker facility.  See what they would charge to fabricate a open ceiling from acrylic.  Because of strength related issues, see what he suggests in requirements for the metal part for bracing.  Being when you cut a hole in any roof, the surrounding areas weaken.  When the acrylic part is fabricated, this is the time to take your interior ceiling and lay the acrylic on top of it.  Center the acrylic on the interior ceiling panel and mark it.  Remove the acrylic, cut the ceiling panel.  Re-install the interior ceiling panel into the Jeep.  The cut-out of the panel is your guide now to cut the metal roof so that you have a.....HOLE, a big one!  Acquire professional advice ahead of time for the best process for installing the acrylic.....such as applying epoxy to the edge of the cut metal roof before installing the "H" channel, or whatever channel they suggest to drop in the acrylic into your roof for the best seal.  Dont forget to trim the interior ceiling panel as well. 

.........LOL, what?  No machette?  DANG!  Oh well, back to sanity I guess.

Hey, I wanna re-describe a section about the weakened area around the cut-out.  Im not exactly talking about the whole roof.  Im talking about the metal right immediately at where you cut, it will be flimbsy.  I was thinking some re-baring around this area in the form of a frame, weld it to the roof, weld supports from this frame out to the post areas of the whole roof.  Ok, I just made that complicated, but I would hope that it wont end up being an issue because of the weight of that much acrylic.  ...just being concerned for you ahead of time....  You cant leave out these types of possibilities. 

Gotta run......more ideas later...

JD

*standing on top of his car, sawzall in one hand, Torquehead's directions in the other*

 *crosses fingers as he starts to cut*

Thanks Aruman for the link of the sunroof car.  I like his skull flame paint job.

Here I was inside the shop today talking about this forum with my dad of the discussions with many members here.  He said lets put a sunroof in my mom's 1949 Ford Panel.  I just happened to have an extra electric sunroof set cut from an early 90s Lincoln Town Car that was totaled.  We are going to install it next monday after hours I guess.  Just thought maybe someone could use an extra idea and have the luxury.  So, heres the luxury:  Go to salvage and pilfer a 90's Lincoln/Caddy/Mercury/or whatever...electric sunroof.  Cut the the sunroof out of the roof but take enough metal, something like at least 8 inches of excess around it while not forgetting that some of those electric sunroofs slide back into the roof, not out of the roof.  So, if your roof in the convicted recipient vehicle is large enough, just cut a hole to accommodate.  Install, weld it, body work, finish the paint, wire the provided or custom switches.....BAM!!!!!!, you got a luxury electric sunroof with class.  AND, it dont cost a freakin rediculous $400+ just for a pop-up that Ive heard quoted lately for mini-trucks.  Ok, gettin late I guess, 4 year old daughter standing here telling me "Its Bed-time!!!"  Guess we all have bosses one way or the other....

Katchyalaterdudes........

JD

Hi Evol E, thanks for your link, its bookmarked now.  I wasnt exactly taking in account for the ribs in the roof.  That doesnt seem as if its going to make the job impossible though.  From a fabricator's point of view, I still know what I would do MINI....I would actually rob a smooth roof from another vehicle, weld it in, finish out the bodywork, install the sunroof, blah, blah, blah....  That is if I had a Jeep Liberty and wanted a sunroof at all costs.  But, sounds like your the one thats going to have to weigh this one out with the pros and cons.  Im a radical minded individual, so I think that is an easy job.  Speaking of easy.  If I were to have interest in the electric sunroof from a Lincoln or such, I would rob the WHOLE roof of the Lincoln.  But, if you like your idea to have a giant hole in the roof, stay with it.  Dont give up, there is a way....keep in mind what Evol said though.  Sounds like some of his comments should be heard.  .............anyone else?.........

.....I still recommend the machette!  Ohhhh.....a can opener would provide a more smoother uniform and symmetrical cut.  Ok, enough of that.  As for your questions about tires, your going to have to shop to see what YOU want, and then ask that question about your selection and need.  Air ride?  Did you say........"AIR       RIDE      "?  I think thats what I heard!  Yes, it is.  There are several sources for aftermarket air ride systems.  If you crack open a mag like MiniTruckin, Sport Truck, Truckin, and the likes, you will se plenty available kit.  Sometimes you will find a specialized kit for your exact ride.  However, a Jeep is not considered a "MiniTruck" or a full size truck for that matter, so I dont have the answer.  But heres you some links that I grabbed from MiniTruckin.  You will just have to visit the site, or call to get prices for your Jeep.

Http://www.viaircorp.com, Http://www.arsuperstore.com, Http://www.firestoneairbag.com, just to name a few sources.  There are other suppliers that have them as well such as Godfather's Customs, oh and check out https://www.suicidedoors.com, Aim Industries, www.airbagparts.com, www.firstclassauto.com, www.psychopneumatics.com, www.lowriderdepot.com, www.oasismfg.com, and www.fbirides.com.  Looks like there are plenty to contact.  If you need help, just make a note of everything about your Jeep like year, type, ect. that I could help you with. 

Side note, I wont be back onto this site again until Sunday evening.  Going to the NSRA Streetrod Nationals in Springfield, Mo for the weekend.  Talk to everyone then........

JD

P.S.  You could also cut the roof with a hacksaw....

dude go for it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

just do ittttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt

You could always go to home depot and get a bubble dome! Seriously though if this Idea materialises, I would suggest gluing a frame to the under side of the remaining skin. ( use 3M o8115 Panel bonding adhesive.) This may save you alot of paint work down the road. From there if you glued a sheet of plexy to another frame with Urethane (same thing windshields are installed with) that won't leak. The only problem is affixing that to the vehicle so that it can be removed. Would have to use some sort of weather strip.

I haven't read every single post here so if I repeat something I apologize.  Installing a Sunroof in this vehicle is a pain, but not impossible, I've done a couple.  Webasto sunroof is probably the best one on the market and it has a flexible rubber trim ring to accomodate the ribs in the roof.  If you just want a glass roof, there are Pop-Up sunroofs avaliable that are manually opperated, that would be easy to remove if you wanted to.  They are usually smaller as well so you may not run into problems with the ribs.  Also this would eliminate the need for drian tubes for the inbuilt roof and reduce the chances of leaks. 

If you aren't experienced with this I wouldn't recommend it.  It really isn't a DIY project, especially the inbuilt style.  As for tools, the best is a metal shear, Milwaukee makes a really good model #6805.  I would take an air hammer to cut a hole in the center of the outline for the sunroof, then take the shear and cut off the majority of the metal you are going to remove.  Then go back with a second pass to do the final cut that way you don't have a big piece of metal hanging down causing the shear to bind up, or cause a rough cut edge.  Also tape the exterior of the opening you are going to cut to prevent scratches.

Good luck and definately take pictures this is one we all want to see.