Thread: Adding a stock sunroof to a car that doesn't have one?

We mostly installed middle-of-the-pack Webasto motorized units. The few flip-up only units we installed may have been a different brand?

Webasto:*Retrofit fresh air with a Webasto roof system

Installing a full motorized sun roof involves removing the A, B, and C pillar trim, removing the headliner card, cutting any lateral supports* in the way, cutting the hole, painting the raw metal, mounting the roof with provided supports (universal flat stock you bend and drill), waterproof with gobs of sealant, install the upper trim ring, run the four drain tubes down the pillars to the lower exterior of the car, cut and recover the sunroof card, cover the sliding shade (if provided) in headliner, wiring up and installing the motor switch, reinstalling all of the pillar trims.

There are lots of weird techniques and skills you'll want to have before trying this. It takes a lot of practice to do well.


A simpler pop-up venting only sunroof is easier to install because you don't have to support a large structure but in the end it really is about the same amount of work. It could be much cheaper to purchase though.



*I hated doing this on the WRX sedans we did. Some beefy supports all gone in the same of... sun burns?

damn, you may have scared me off! :/

The more I think about it, the more I'm sure I'd go w/a non-motorized push sunroof. I only use the cracked window feature of the motorized stock one anyways. I bought the car because it was a great deal, but didn't have a sunroof and I thought I'd just 'throw one on'. Maybe I can get a quote for an install from a few local places or work up the courage to do it myself.

Webasto didn't have a drop-down box for a Nissan for the pop-up sunroof, so I'd have to find a compatible one first or at least dimensions that would fit without much cutting of the supports and moving stuff around. Honestly, if there's anything as a 'half' sunroof that'd work fine as well. I just need something to draw smoke out of the car.

-G

Sounds like you want a sort of reverse rally roof scoop.
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1114337

hot damn, now we're talking! That'd be perfect, but idk if it'd fit in the b15 as it seems to have quite a bend in plastic interior piece it comes with that fits the wrx

In the thread it mentions this piece:

http://www.writerguy.com/primitive/body.htm (search for roof scoop at the bottom of the page)

Much cheaper and seems more universal, but won't look the best on a stock DD.

Here's something I've thought about for a while that might be of help.

I've always wanted something I could use to keep air flowing through the car in the summer so it isn't so hot when I get in. The easiest and least intrusive solution seems to be something you could squeeze between the window and door trim (roll the window down some, put unit in place, roll the window up a little) that would house a small fan and incorporate solar panels for power.

You can either put one in each window with one being intake and the other exhaust, or just crack open the opposite window and use one. Anyway... You could build something like that, maybe even with batteries or use the cigarette lighter thing for power...

Keep it under your seat or whatever, and when you want to smoke a cigar in the car you can put this in the driver's window and crack the passenger window and have the smoke drawn out using your mini "smoke eater".


Edit: Well shit, it seems they already make something like this. And it looks to be an even better design than the style I was envisioning.
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Asolar%20car%20vent

I'm going to buy some.
Uhh, reading the reviews maybe not... We'll see if I can find some of good quality.

hmm something similar to this might work as well..something I can put in the window temporarily to draw out the smoke.

please don't cut up a beautiful hard top!