911 Sunroof Cancelled

[jjeffries]

The guy who was Fenn Lane, Chris Flavell, offed himself last year, IIRC. I'm not sure if Rennline sourced theirs from him, but if yes, that would explain why you (bv911) can't find one now.

John

[Bill Verburg]

Here's what the removed roof looks like, the whole thing weighs ~33# + actual s/r panel 15# + the bows, motor, trim, sliders & liner 14#

the replacement roof 8#



You will need to put something to finish the inside ~3# for this alcantra cloth




The increased headroom is priceless

[Flojo]

Originally Posted by bv911

And can anyone tell me where to find a good sunroof delete panel? Searching Rennline’s website turns up nothing.

https://www.stuttgart-classica.co.uk/964/steel-sunroof-delete-a85k7

https://www.heritagepartscentre.com/eu/91150308798-sunroof-delete-panel.html

https://www.design911.com/Sunroof-delete-panel-supplied-in-bare-steel-to-be-welded/prod147398/

[super9064]

I converted a track rat back to a driver, the PO striped out the mechanism and just welded tabs to hold the sun roof in place, crookedly 🙄. I purchased the Fenn Lane panel and had it bonded in place and finished. Very simple and cheap, around $1,500.

Personally I would not feel safe in a roll over crash in a car that had its roof cut and welded. I would never ever buy one. Just my opinion.

[bv911]

Originally Posted by Flojo

https://www.stuttgart-classica.co.uk/964/steel-sunroof-delete-a85k7

https://www.heritagepartscentre.com/eu/91150308798-sunroof-delete-panel.html

https://www.design911.com/Sunroof-delete-panel-supplied-in-bare-steel-to-be-welded/prod147398/

Thanks Flo!

[bv911]

Originally Posted by jjeffries

The guy who was Fenn Lane, Chris Flavell, offed himself last year, IIRC. I'm not sure if Rennline sourced theirs from him, but if yes, that would explain why you (bv911) can't find one now.

John

Thanks John, and holy 💩 that sucks if true…

[jjeffries]

Not only hugely sad on a human level but apparently he left a number of long-time friends and customers in the lurch by doing unscrupulous things with their cars and parts in his possession. Much was lost, pilfered, etc. I read the (outstanding) forums on the British site, ddk-online.com; that’s where much of this was documented. Complicated stuff for some of the guys there: profound sadness at a guy they’d been friendly with taking his own life, but also anger with him for having sold the parts he was supposed to be overhauling.

John

[RSS]

Is Perfect Lines Restoration in Esposito’s old shop? Is this shop affiliated with Esposito?

[Kemo]

Just out of curiosity...did you delete the drain tube that runs to the rear lid area and weld up the holes?

job well done by the way...looks great.

[germanwheels]

Originally Posted by bv911

When I looked up this part here on Pelican, it rang in at roughly $5.5K, which makes me think this approach would cost significantly more than what you spent.

You don’t have to be specific, but were you able to spend less for the replacement panel?

And can anyone tell me where to find a good sunroof delete panel? Searching Rennline’s website turns up nothing.

Replacing the entire roof skin still might be cheaper in the long run vs. the bodywork it takes to weld in a replacement panel — can you tell I’m interested in cancelling my sunroof too??

I paid $2500 for the Dansk roof via Perfect Lines Restoration. They ordered it from Pelican. Google and you will find it for about $2500 +/-.https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/91150308712GRV.htm?pn=911-503-087-12-GRV-M350

[germanwheels]

Originally Posted by Bill Verburg

Here's what the removed roof looks like, the whole thing weighs ~33# + actual s/r panel 15# + the bows, motor, trim, sliders & liner 14#

the replacement roof 8#



You will need to put something to finish the inside ~3# for this alcantra cloth




The increased headroom is priceless

Your measurements line up with mine. My bathroom scale said 65 pounds for the roof with the complete sunroof. It said 8 pounds for the new roof skin.

[germanwheels]

Originally Posted by Kemo

Just out of curiosity...did you delete the drain tube that runs to the rear lid area and weld up the holes?

job well done by the way...looks great.

Yes, the drain tubes were cut out and the lower holes were welded up. It was quick work.

[germanwheels]

Originally Posted by RSS

Is Perfect Lines Restoration in Esposito’s old shop? Is this shop affiliated with Esposito?

No direct affiliation.... ....same location as John Esposito’s old shop. One of the owners of Perfect Lines worked for Esposito for a few years. He took over the location when Esposito moved out. Perfect Lines Restoration is in the same complex as TLG in North Hollywood.

[Marek]

Hi Guys

To you info JP group / DANSK is lunching this month count on 1 martz
a roof section , only the middel part to say so as used on this project ,
so you dont get the wiper front area or the rear window part, where the decklid is
I keep you posted asap and it will offcause be cheaper the the complete roof they make

Marek

[super9064]

$269.95
https://www.heritagepartscentre.com/us/91150308798-sunroof-delete-panel.html

[germanwheels]

Originally Posted by 75 911s

Hi, my name is Duane and I cancelled my sunroof:

Looks great. ...nice shaved bumpers too. Please share a pic of your front bumper.

[famoroso]

Random question.

If I recall correctly, from '89 onwards (so final year of G Body and 964 onwards) the inner flange of the windshield opening is wider than the earlier cars and that the later style (no metal trim) windshield rubber seal sits against this wider flange.

If that is, in fact, the case, do these roof sections come with the wider flange across the top of the opening? And, if they do, I assume you'll end up with three sides of the opening (at the cowl and both A-pillars) with the original inner flange width and the flange across the top of the opening (adjacent to the leading edge of the roof) with the wider flange width.

I may be overthinking the above and even if my assumptions are correct, the different flange width meeting at the tops of the A-pillars may not be an issue.

This is the kind of stuff I lay awake pondering.

[75 911s]

Originally Posted by germanwheels

Looks great. ...nice shaved bumpers too. Please share a pic of your front bumper.

It's mostly stock. I welded the license plate holes on the valance shut and smoothed it over.



I did pick up a fiberglass front blade and made a sketch, but so far haven't implemented it yet.



This was another mock-up I did when I thought about replacing the bellows with an aluminum piece.




Just to bring this thread back to being on topic, this was the "Helion" CF insert (not used in my application and re-sold - went with the fennlane insert)

[germanwheels]

Originally Posted by 75 911s

It's mostly stock. I welded the license plate holes on the valance shut and smoothed it over.

I did pick up a fiberglass front blade and made a sketch, but so far haven't implemented it yet.



This was another mock-up I did when I thought about replacing the bellows with an aluminum piece.

Really cool concept. I like it.

[famoroso]

Originally Posted by super9064

Personally I would not feel safe in a roll over crash in a car that had its roof cut and welded. I would never ever buy one. Just my opinion.

You did see in this thread that none of the pillars were cut? And that only the roof skin was removed and replaced with a non-sunroof skin?

Originally Posted by Marek

Hi Guys

To you info JP group / DANSK is lunching this month count on 1 martz
a roof section , only the middel part to say so as used on this project ,
so you dont get the wiper front area or the rear window part, where the decklid is
I keep you posted asap and it will offcause be cheaper the the complete roof they make

Marek

Marek,

Any word on this? I'm a buyer!