challenger roof or patch for sunroof

[Shoooter]

looking for someone who has a parts challenger who is local in BC or Alberta if you have a whole roof . willing to ship if you have a patch i could use. Also need some other parts for a 1970 challenger. I understand shipping a whole roof isnt really a option so this is more for one i can go drive too as i know there are lots of members in western Canada.


Thanks

[YYZ]

It's still a bit of a drive from you but Flatla Auto Wreckers in Tilley, AB (just outside Brooks) has several E-bodies and does not crush any old Mopars.

There are enough folks going east/west on the Trans Canada that you could probably get it delivered.   Or just make it a weekend trip.

https://www.flatlaautowrecking.ca/

[Shoooter]

I'll give them a shout.  Thanks Vlad

[mike ketterer]

are you replacing the whole skin or just repairing the hole. i have something probably for you i have a roof that can be carefully removed

[Shoooter]

I don't know really know what the best option is yet.  I imagine replacing the whole roof is about the same amount of work as repairing the hole properly.  I'm guessing it's better to replace the whole roof?? Here is a picture of the sweet vintage sunroof.

[Shoooter]

Went and looked at a challenger to get the whole roof and it was a bust. Looks like the whole skin will be the way to go

[Joegrapes]

You're much better off replacing the whole roof skin for a patch that big.  The roof has a curve to it so you just can't weld in a flat piece sheet metal. If you cut a section from a donor car you need to be really good with your measurements so that you cut the donor piece in the exact same spot as the missing piece from your car otherwise when you weld it in you'll notice the difference in curvature. I could never figure out why people back then thought those aftermarket sun roofs looked good.😂

[Shoooter]

Yes I would only have considered a patch from another car. I'm a welder fabricator by trade and was going for to tig weld it back in. I'll see what my local options are before I order one

[Filthy Filbert]

GTAW, GMAW, FCAW...it won't matter.   That's a huge hole to match up. 

You think because you're a GTAW welder that you have a magic bullet at welding it without warping, or having alignment issues from using a patch? 

Order a skin from AMD and replace at the factory seams. 

[johnr]

I agree; I have been been doing resto work for more than a few years and I am currently working on a '70 Challenger. I opted to replace the entire roof skin, rather than patches, due to the possibility of warpage (way tough to control). This also allowed me to properly deal with all of the corrosion under the skin at the same time. This was a great decision (due to my wife's pushing) as I found more than a few issues to be dealt with. I got an OER roof skin from Classic Industries and it cost me $650 including the truck freight to get it out here to the extreme west coast. I figure it has saved me time and monies thanks to my wife's insistence.

[Shoooter]

GTAW, GMAW, FCAW...it won't matter.   That's a huge hole to match up. 

You think because you're a GTAW welder that you have a magic bullet at welding it without warping, or having alignment issues from using a patch? 

Order a skin from AMD and replace at the factory seams.

Never said I had a magic bullet or was the best around. This is a discussion about the best way to go about fixing it.and as stated more than once in this thread the whole skin is the best way to go about the repair in question. That is how it will be done. Now weather it's a new panel or off a parts car is yet to be determined

[Filthy Filbert]

GTAW, GMAW, FCAW...it won't matter.   That's a huge hole to match up. 

You think because you're a GTAW welder that you have a magic bullet at welding it without warping, or having alignment issues from using a patch? 

Order a skin from AMD and replace at the factory seams.

Never said I had a magic bullet or was the best around. This is a discussion about the best way to go about fixing it.and as stated more than once in this thread the whole skin is the best way to go about the repair in question. That is how it will be done. Now weather it's a new panel or off a parts car is yet to be determined

My apologies.   I was in a mood the other night, and in my line of work frequently run into guys who say 'I can TIG weld, it's the best'

I did not mean to project onto you. 

Regardless of the method of weld, patching a giant sunroof hole is a tall order.   Not impossible, but the fastest and easiest option is a full skin.

You'll thank yourself for doing a full panel replacement.

[Shoooter]

I agree it will net the best result doing the whole roof and won't be much longer.

[Shoooter]

If I could get ahold of the member here with the original roof would you use that ? Or would you go with a aftermarket one? Is AMD the best ?

[Filthy Filbert]

you mean the original piece that was cut out?  I wouldn't bother trying to weld that back in.  It'll be a challenge to control the warping and getting a nice seamless repair that won't be visible through the final paint when it sits out in the sun on a warm summer day.

AMD makes a great complete roof that installs like factory original.