Third gen sunroof cars...

[ramairthree]

I have a manual 74, even if I find a bezel and crank at less than a fortune price,
I doubt I'll have a functioning sunroof for years.

It leaks like crazy.  I have it taped off on the outside with duct tape for now.

I am going to seal it up.

Not bondo it in or anything, It will still appear to have a sunroof, just not functioning.

Have any of you done that?

I am thinking
shoe goo
ultra black gasket maker
silicone adhesive


What do you think you think would be best?

Also, anyone that had installed a headliner in one of these cars,
or knows how to get the rearview mirror tight instead of dangling like a disco ball on a string,
I would love to hear your tips.

thank you.

[Alaskan_TA]

If it is leaking, there are two possible problems, either the pan is rusted out, the drain tubes are clogged or they have come loose.

The first step is to locate where the 4 drain tubes exit the car & blow them out with compressed air.

If your pan is rusted out I know a guy that has a good one, shipping would be expensive though.

[ramairthree]

thank you,
I am not in good enough shape for those tips yet, I wish I was. 
it is way simpler than that,
it does not close tightly
and seems to be missing the parts and not functioning to get it to.




i dont have a pic from the inside right now, but I should get some tomorrow when I am working on the floor

[Alaskan_TA]

From memory, it does not look to be 'ramping' up at the back. They are adjustable.

Ramped up or not, it will leak if the drain tubes are not clear. (or if the pan has rustholes)

[FLG]

PLEASE don't do what you described 

Figure out what you need and post up in the wanted section, you'd be suprised at the genoristy of the people on this forum.

Btw where are ya located?

[Alaskan_TA]

A list of missing / broken parts would be good. I know that the one I am aware of has the pan, handle, cables & small parts. The chrome bezel is cracked & in bad shape though I think, if needed I can get a closer look at all of it.

[ramairthree]

Trust me, I do NOT want to do it.

I just have to end the leak.  The car starts, runs, stops, and all the front exterior lights work.
Not quite roadworthy yet.  But it lives outside and braves the weather.

I have been going over the body manual,
but think I am missing more than just the crank handle and bezel.  The passenger side is propped up by a socket, and there was nothing propping the driver's side up, where it is lowest.  I am missing all headliner except the shreds of the last two bows.  So I am not sure what it should look like from the inside.

I have two hoses coming out behind the rear lower panel/seat belt retractor covers.

I will post some pics tomorrow to see if anyone has some ideas / pointers of how to stop it leaking wihthout sealing it.
(meant to be a reversible fix, not permanent)

I will get so pics on here tomorrow, and  will accept any and all tips at trying to end the leak without sealing it.

I wll list what I think I have compared to the manual list.

thank you

[Alaskan_TA]

The two front hoses travel down the inside of the A-pillars. Look in the front wheel well area for where they exit. Blow them (four total, two in front, two in back) out with compressed air & the leak should go away if the pan is in good condition.


It was asked before, where are you located?

[ramairthree]

Thanks for the email Alaskan,

here is where my hoses go-
not good as they do not exit the car-
who knows what and why was done







obviously missing the bezel and handle
when I try it with a window handle a little wiggle each way but nothing else
I do see cables in there



This is the general shape











I dont have a day to dedicate to dissaembly and reasembly right now, but from the pics how bad off do you think I am?

the hoses not exiting right really tthrew me off

[Alaskan_TA]

I see at least part of your problem.

Remove socket.

Rotate arm out.

Rotate it back in, but get it below the roller.

Repeat for other side if it looks the same, that will allow the back to ramp up.

[ramairthree]

Thanks,
I'll give that a try.
Does anyone have a pic of where  the hoses should come out?

[Alaskan_TA]

The rear ones went into the wheel wells on mine.

The fronts somewhere behind the rear of the front fender, look for holes.

[moparjohn]

I have a crank handle, a parts guy sold it to me as the emergency crank for my power 69 sunroof,it is not.  $10. 
plus ship it's yours.  I paid $50 for it, just better to see someone who needs it get it. MPJ

[FLG]

I hope this helps you

http://img831.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=40735659.jpg

Click on each image, and right click and "save as" and youll get the full image and you can zoom in on it and read everything (its quite readable)

[ACUDANUT]

The two front hoses travel down the inside of the A-pillars. Look in the front wheel well area for where they exit. Blow them (four total, two in front, two in back) out with compressed air & the leak should go away if the pan is in good condition.


It was asked before, where are you located?

It must be top secret 

[ramairthree]

I have a crank handle, a parts guy sold it to me as the emergency crank for my power 69 sunroof,it is not.  $10. 
plus ship it's yours.  I paid $50 for it, just better to see someone who needs it get it. MPJ

you are too awesome,
I'll be happy to get it.  I sent you a PM.

One step at a time!

I can't find holes for the hoses to come out,
I must be missing something will keep on checking.

[ramairthree]

I hope this helps you

http://img831.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=40735659.jpg

Click on each image, and right click and "save as" and youll get the full image and you can zoom in on it and read everything (its quite readable)

thanks, that worked great, better pics of the exploded diagram than I have

[ACUDANUT]

 Camp Lejuene ?

[ramairthree]

OK,
I got the spring arms under the rollers, but it actually pulls the rear lip down some.
Anyways, will keep working it.

Also,
I think the previous owner (got it from a guy who's uncle bought it new) bondoed in the exit holes and then sprayed the inner fenders with truck bed liner/undercoat.

Any pics of where the hoses enter would be pefect, so I know where to sand down to and get the hoses going out again.
I can trace them all down to behind the rear lower interior panels and behind the kick panels, so I should be close to getting them routed right.  great exploded view on the links pic I have to say, but not actual exit points.

Thanks again.


For other progress, I got the 73 interior I had modded to take the seat belt retractor covers,
reflectix and rust encapsulator on the floors (nice and solid, found two pin holes in rear drivers pan, everything else surface rust, salvaged the rear tray with a piece of vinyl to refurb the top surface.  dynamat was about 150 for 36 sq feet delivered.  I got 100 sf of relfectix for 37$.

[ramairthree]

Thank you MoparJohn,
I got the handle today.

Looking forward to the weekend and some car time!

[moparjohn]

Cool man, glad it's being used in a car and not on my shelf. MPJ

[ramairthree]

ok, here is what I found also with two other guys-

no holes the hoses actually exit through

just right into behind the kick panel



and right into behind the rear lower panel



I thought there should be holes they exit through and not just drip behind the panels,
but two others have same set up.

could be I was wrong about someone closing up the holes.

[ramairthree]

ps-

here are the pics of another guy's 74 the same way

http://s985.photobucket.com/albums/ae332/scotts74birds/Roadrunner%20Sunroof%20Drains/?action=view&current=100_1771.jpg

http://s985.photobucket.com/albums/ae332/scotts74birds/Roadrunner%20Sunroof%20Drains/?action=view&current=100_1771.jpg#!oZZ3QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs985.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae332%2Fscotts74birds%2FRoadrunner%2520Sunroof%2520Drains%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D100_1772.jpg

I know there are some manual diagrams showing an acutal exit hole with the hose going to the exterior,
but I have not seen pics of one for real.

[ramairthree]

well, I can't say I got the sunroof working,
even with all this time.

but finally,

I scored a bezel for the sunroof handle !

I might have to get a headliner ordered now.

I remember finding one company that made the sunroof headliners.

[moparjohn]

Sunroof headliners are a hard find.  I had the local upolstery shop make and install mine, very good work. Ask around at car shows, someone else there had a headliner installed by a local shop.  Keep on working at it, nothing happens overnight, I too wish it did. OK, one more thing, I have, somewhere, a video showing how a sunroof in one of these cars functions (power) but the rest is very simular.  IF I can find it, would you like a copy?  (I know the answer, LOL!)  MPJ

[ramairthree]

that would be great!
i look over every and any intact, apart, etc. third gen sunroof picture or source I can.

Legendary Auto does adverstise a two bow 73/74 sunroof headliner.

It is the perforated material, and I think I recall those years were originally non-peforated.
But regardless, and also despite it would be the only decent, non ghetto piece in my entire interior, that is the only source and I will end up going that route.

I appreciate all the time and and what you have done for help with my sunroof.

[ramairthree]

well, the bezel came today.
it is not just "chrome cracking and peeling" as I was told.

The plastic is actually cracked. 

But, they don't grow on trees.

I am using gasket maker on the side that does not show to salvage it.

[ramairthree]

ps- the manual does not show,
but can anyone tell me what size/type screw holds the bezel in place,
and the same for the handle.

it looks like just a sheet metal screw for the bezel, but any special size/shape to the head?

And a machine screw for the handle, like window handles, but of a different size.

thanks for any further info.

[1ol72charger4me]

Just wanted to let you know that SMS Auto Fabrics had the correct material for my 74 sunroof car. It was kind of a weird cloth. They will sell you the cloth or a headliner. Pretty pricy though. Just for the record, my draintubes just end in the 1/4 panel also. No drain holes. Good thing it was a CA car, or the 1/4s would be history. I also heard that big Olds and Cads had the same sunroof and somebody on Moparts said the company was still in business but new parts are expensive. There was a real good thread on  Bbodies only about sunroof cars.

[Alaskan_TA]

And a machine screw for the handle

Philips head, 8/32 thread & 1/2" long from the end to the fat part of the head.

[ramairthree]

thank you.

[ramairthree]

Well,
I could use some more help.  I am using the 74 body service manual, and the first step to remove my sunroof is to remove the liner.

It requires me to open the panel some, then slide the sunroof sliding panel back into the open position.

My sunroof will not open.
I get nothing with working the crank. So am just trying to slide it back.
but nothing.

Any hints on how to slide open the sunroof with a non working crank?

Thank you for any help.

I now have a car with everthing ready to be roadworthy except getting the wiper linkage right,
and am hoping to get the sun roof at least not leaking bad and hopefully working.

[ramairthree]

alright, I have an update.

The sunroof was not so much stuck, as needing help.

My handle DOES engage-
only I have to push very hard up on the mechanism for it to engage without slipping.

Then, because the roof is so tight to open, it will slip and not move even though engaged.

You have to push very hard to get the roof going, and move and inch or so at a time while pushing up, cranking, and pushing or yanking on the actual sliding portion.

I was able to get it open as far as about five or six inches of sliding portion still showing.

Any fully open pics I would like to see, I think it is supposed to go all the way in.

I can get it fully closed, but it sags a touch in back.
It is also not a fully tight seal.

I know they are designed to leak some, but if it rains hard and is real windy, some water ends up not flowing in the pan to the drain tubes, but ends up in the rear floormat area.

[70 Charger RT]

I don't know if you're interested or not but I have a 77 Cordoba sunroof complete.  I cut it out so that it could be welded in to another project.  If you want it, let me know.  I'll give you a smokin deal.  I'm near Edmonton, Alberta.  I can see by the dates of your posts that you were working on yours last year.  Not sure if you fixed the problem or not yet.

70 Charger RT

[ramairthree]

Thank you for the offer.
I am good to go except for the gear mechanism and a nicer bezel.

(plus I should put some headliner material on the headliner frame I guess)

I should be able to get the sunroof out and work on it now.
I have lubed everything I can get to with it in and removing the front and side cable track covers.

I think I need to get more mud wasp, etc. junk cleaned out of the pan to roof space for it to open all the way.
That, plus lubing everything and use I think I will have close to usable with minor pulling and pushing.

I think I am going to make holes for the hoses to actually drain out and gasket maker them to seal them.

I may smooth a bead of gasket maker around the weather stripping when it is out, and then let it dry.  that may give me a thin bump to the sealant and with adjustments may manage the leaking enough.  I wish I could store it inside.

I also want to see if I can take the pan off, and cover everything in eastwood or por rustproofing for long term. if not there is a paint for internal frames i can run in there.

thank you for all the help so far on the forum.