I havnt met my camaro in real life,not untill sunday when I go into tampa and check it out. They guy says the car has a sunroof in it that doesnt leak.

Just how much structural integrety have I lost with a sunroof? Does this make my car unsafe?

Also,I cant find any pics of a camaro with a sunroof...Help!

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LONG LIVE THE F-BODY!!

 

I would guess that the structural integrity lost due to having a sunroof would be minimal.

 

This is what your car will look like from a standpoint of structural rigidity with a sunroof:


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View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
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Exactly, the stress in the top region is focused mainly on the center, so it's essentially the same or worse than TTOPS. The TTop cars came with extra support, so I guess an aftermarket sunroof would be even worse.

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Ya but my question still stands...is this safe? What conditions would cause the roof to fail or bend or whatever it does??

 

who cares, if ya flip the car, your ****ed anyhow. just keep her between the lines and dont try to make shapes outta the clouds for to long at a time!!

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I suppose your right. ****ed if ya do,****ed if ya dont


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LONG LIVE THE F-BODY!!

 

Too much power for the structural integrity of the car will cause this. If you read some other posts (can't remember where) some guys here have car that have been bent, and reformed, but still say they don't drive right afterwards. In fact, one of the moderator's on this site has one.

 

I'm not convinced having a sunroof compromises the structural integrity. With all due respect, where's the proof?

 

You're not convinced? Glass is weaker than metal. Explain to me how it WOULDN'T affect the structural integrity.

 

Want proof? Get a couple pieces of corregated cardboard 12"x12". Take one and cut a 10"x10" hole. Now try to twist them. See which one twists easier.

Simple physics dude. A hole isn't as strong as no hole, especially when the entire structural support beam runs through the spot you just cut out.


------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

20 gauge sheet metal isn't all that strong,,,


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My Firebird

Part Diagrams

[This message has been edited by deadbird (edited February 02, 2001).]

 

Sorry, still not convinced.

If you take that hole you cut in the cardboard, form a solid metal frame around its perimeter, not to mention all the other braces, sliding mechanisms, motor assembly (which I assume drives the glass via a lead screw?), etc., fill it with a piece of tempered glass that's attached to the whole thing, I'd wager that the other piece of cardboard will bend first. I haven't actually looked under the roof liner material on my car to see but ASC installs a reinforcement "stiffener" which is integrated into the sunroof and replaces the beam that is removed. (And IMHO the thin sheet metal would bend before the tempered glass would.) Like formula90 said, if you get to that point you're pretty well f*cked anyway.

'Course, I'm not real concerned about my 2.8L twisting the car too much out of shape.

[This message has been edited by AAustin50 (edited February 02, 2001).]

 

i don't think that the sunroof is bad at all. the glass in a sunroof is unbelieveably strong. you could jump on it and it wouldn't break

 

Cut your roof then. I guarantee your car is going to turn into a squeaking rattle-trap within a year. The ONLY support for the whole top half of the car is the beam welded to the center section of the roof. It goes from the windshield to the hatch. When you put a sunroof in, you are cutting ~18" of that bar away, and replacing it with a tin frame and a piece of glass that is just pressure-fit to the rubber gasket. Even the t-top cars retain that structural bar, and they still feel the need to add reinforcements. There's a reason that GM didn't offer the f-body in a targa top.

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

My sunroof was installed probably 5-6 years ago, at least, and my car is certainly not a "squeaking rattle-trap". I feel plenty safe driving it and love having a sunroof.

Good luck RS'er. I hope you'll be happy with your decision either way.

 

Personally I think they look like ****..find one with t-tops,you will be much happier...sunroofs are for gt's

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...and I personally think tail light covers look like sh*t. I guess it'd be a pretty boring world if everyone liked the same thing.

 

how do they get corvettes to have the hole entire center out of the roof, have all that power, and be a dam good handler? boggles the mind if u ask me.

 

Simple physics dude...

 

lol

 

The structural rigidity of the C4 is much better than the thirdgens, and those cars are still rattle traps. The C5s are a whole different ballgame, because they were designed from the start as a convertable, and the hydro-formed chassis is extremely strong.

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

Here's the deal: T-tops or sunroof, they both rattle. I mean, it's all about the number of girls your car gets and how many other guys your car smokes, right? So, don't ask us, ask the local hotties what they think.

 

Girls love the t-tops. Sunroofs, ehhh, not so much.