Is a Sunroof a Drawback to a 73T Hot Rod?

[Craig T]

My backdating restoration hot rod project hit a snag. The sheet metal repair (mostly rust) and body work required makes backdating this 75 not cost effective. I'd rather put the money into a real long hood car at this point, so starting over. I think I found a perfect 73T as a candidate, but it has a sunroof.

Do you think the sunroof is a drawback to a semi-hot rod car? Should I keep looking? ..It's 35 pounds that ain't goin away.

[Walko]

Just remove the sunroof

Michael

[saxen]

Agree remove it

[70SWT]

+1...it's on the list of things to do for my own hot rod lightweight project.

[gumba]

Just removing the sunroof doesn't get you much. The majority of the weight, about 35 lbs. is in the roof sub structure. Unless it's going to be a serious track car I'd leave it.

[Flieger]

Is the '75 non-sunroof? Is the roof in good shape? There is your donor panel.

[oh snap]

Ive always liked sunroof deletes because there is less weight, no leaks and one less thing to fail. Its also great if you are tall. That said, my car has a sunroof and I wouldnt say its a drawback. Its nice on nice days, it doesnt leak and it works perfectly. It is the source of a rattle that I havent gotten around to finding, and since my car is an 85 with higher seat rails, some extra head room would be nice, but its not the end of the world.

For a hot rod, I say keep it. For a track car, delete.

[RWebb]

I like my sunroof. It is more fun than a non-sunroof car, and looks better than a "butt-ugly targa."

The wt. is not a big deal unless you have invested the money to get below, say, 1,900 lbs.

[Flieger]

Ooh, nice jab at Targas. I share your position on them, though.

[70SWT]

Originally Posted by gumba

Just removing the sunroof doesn't get you much. The majority of the weight, about 35 lbs. is in the roof sub structure. Unless it's going to be a serious track car I'd leave it.

This is the approach I'll be taking. Did it once before in an SC I had years ago. One of the 2 best places in a 911 to remove weight from.

You just have to be sure you will NEVER want that sunroof back...

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by 69 lightweight

One of the 2 best places in a 911 to remove weight from.

...

eh??

[Scooter]

Speaking from experience after owning a few early hotrods, I really like the idea of having a sunroof. Unless you are going all out light weight, the functionality of the sunroof far outweighs the extra weight.

[dad911]

For a hot rod? I'd remove all of the substructure and motors, etc.

Make a lightweight canvas 'panel' to fill in the hole for overcast/cold days.

Call it a Super-Targa.

Edit: Another idea. Remove all of the old stuff, get one of the fiberglass panels that is made to fit in the hole, and bond a few rare-earth magnets around the edge, so it sticks on from underneath. Lightweight "hot-rod" sunroof.

[FJ40runr]

Originally Posted by RWebb

eh??

Top and rear.

[herman maire]

Sunroofs are pretty rare on long hoods . I personally really enjoy sunroofs and would not remove it for a street car. There pretty special on such a old car.

Unless this is 100% track car, I say forget about the minor weight and just enjoy. A sunny early morning drive, you will be glad you kept the sunroof.

[Evans, Marv]

If I found "a perfect 73T" I definitely wouldn't cut it up to make a hot rod. Those cars are getting more rare as we type. They need to be restored. Look for a car that's "not perfect" & chop it up.

[GrantG]

I love the 911 Coupes without sunroofs. Finally, sunroof delete is available again in the US in 2012. The US-spec 911 comes without standard sunroof for the first time since at least MY 1977 (35 years), right? They even required sunroofs on the 2007 & 2008 GT3 - the horror...

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by FJ40runr

Top and rear.

run the numbers and you'll see that you aren't moving the Cg downward much

or just think about the length of the moment arm...

[Flieger]

The vertical moment arm is pretty large compared to the rest of the components like engine.

I thought non-sunroof cars were rarer? They always seem to be considered special from what I have read.

[RSBob]

If your car is going to be a dedicated track car, yes you will need to lose the roof. If your car is going to be a "semi-hot rod" just leave it and don't worry about it. My car has a sunroof and I can easily hang with the the real hot rod crowd no problem. Some may look down their noses, but on sunny days I crank the thing open,smile, and enjoy the sun and the sound of the sport exhaust. Besides, sunroof (non-track cars) traditionally have higher resale values outside of the limited hot rod crowd.