sunroof Options

[uberschall]

i have an issue with the sunroof. apparently i'm taller than the designers expected, and my head hits the roof with the seat up where i like it and wearing my autocross helmet is downright ugly in there.

as far as i could tell, gt's are really hard to find without sunroofs.

has anyone ever had a bodyshop weld a panel in it's place? i don't even care if it looks that great, but i could really use that extra inch of headroom.

[j0e_p3t]

how about a targa top conversion? that should give you plenty of head room.

[uberschall]

hahaha, very funny, j0e_p3t


just kidding.

in all seriousness, i just wish i could have found one without a sunroof. it's heavy, noisy, and robbing me of valuable headroom.

i gotta be practical, though. the whole idea of a targa roof has never appealed to me.

i'm hoping somebody has encountered the same issue. i was thinking of fiberglassing it, but i don't want to worry about it if something were to hit it. simplest thing seems like having a body shop tack a plate in the hole, but idk how easy it would be to match the curvature of the roof. i would even live with a flat spot, though.

[94celicadude]

surgically shorten your torso...lol

well i think it seems like if you found the right shop, they could remove the sun roof and just weld in a piece of SS sheetmetal and then find someone to smooth it out and blend the whole thing in, no one would ever know. Excet for that, i am the same way, without my auto-x helmet on its just barely, and with it i have to tilt my head slightly. Maybe you just have to live with driving with the seat back further than you like it to be. good luck finding the solution.

[azian_advanced]

if it helps, you can change the chair to something aftermarket to give you that extra couple of inches...

[6strngs]

what if you just open the sunroof so your head pokes out the top a tiny bit?

[j0e_p3t]

^^ haha, like the coneheads. anywho... good luck with the sunroof delete. if that's not too expensive then maybe it won't cost too much for a targa top.... if its even possible.

This post has been edited by j0e_p3t: Nov 29, 2006 - 2:26 AM

[urbandork]

lol im glad im a short asian haha

[uberschall]

my head actually hits the back of the opening. i've been considering getting some "racing" seats, but i don't know how low i can sit and still have good outward visibility.

i think i'm just going to get quotes from a couple of shops on how much a weld & fill job would be.

in the meanwhile, any suggestions for reasonably priced seat that will ride lower?

thanks for all the input, guys!

[snapshotgt]

Just fyi -- i have a GT with no sunroof.

[uberschall]

yeah, i know they're out there...i just couldn't find one when i was looking. in fact, i was lucky to find a manual, too. most of them for sale within 250 miles or so were auto, st, high mileage, or a combination of those.

both of my celicas (my old coupe and my current hatch) are equipped.

i didn't want an st, but i would have liked no sunroof (more common on st's) and manual windows. i guess the trade off for the disc brakes, slightly more power, and little stuff like the strut tower brace makes the gt worth it.

i'm thinking i might make a trip to a local scrapyard with a sawzall and cut out a section of the roof from a non-sunroof car...if they'll let me, anyway!

[Negative]

I'm 6'3" and I have no issues with the sunroof. o0black0o is taller than me by a couple of inches or more and he doesn't have any issues either. If you are that tall you should be able to see with your seat reclined one more notch. That would give you the inch or so you desire without sacrificing luxury or looks.

[Culpable04]

my head actually hits the back of the opening. i've been considering getting some "racing" seats, but i don't know how low i can sit and still have good outward visibility.

i think i'm just going to get quotes from a couple of shops on how much a weld & fill job would be.

in the meanwhile, any suggestions for reasonably priced seat that will ride lower?

thanks for all the input, guys!

for the money the best you can get is APC seats, I mean unless you're looking for recaro, momo or something like that, APC at least have DOT approval I think those are the cheapest ones with DOT approval on the market. but the advantage is not too much, I think they are probably 1.0 inch lower than stock at the most.

[block]

I'm 6'3" and I have no issues with the sunroof. o0black0o is taller than me by a couple of inches or more and he doesn't have any issues either. If you are that tall you should be able to see with your seat reclined one more notch. That would give you the inch or so you desire without sacrificing luxury or looks.

im 5'9...my head hits the top of the car, if i sit up straight.............

[jcbass7]

I'm 6'4" and don't fit perfect either, im usually reclined a bit. I also have a gt with a sunroof.. If i ever removed my sunroof it would be for weight over anything though.

I have driven to school with my head out of the sunroof.

Before i send my parts car to the yard i think im going to cut out that panel of the roof (ST with no sunroof)

does anyone know what the sunroof weighs?

[uberschall]

i don't know exactly what the suroof weighs, and you can dismiss it if you see fit, but my guess is about 30 lbs. including the glass, track, motor, sliding cover, and all.

i could recline the seat more and get the space i need, but i like to drive rally-style with the wheel more or less in my lap. better control, outward visibility, and more power into the clutch, etc.

the big problem is autocross. no club will let you run without a helmet, and that effectively adds 1.5-2 inches to my height. i actually had rubbed the flocking off the sunroof panel and part of the headliner with my helmet in my old celica.

i think my first plan of action is now to pull the seat out again and see if there's any way to modify the existing bracket to lower the seat at all.

i won't be having any bodywork done until the late winter/early spring anywho.

taller people drive all kinds of cars, but their comfort level is personal. i wish i could just convince myself i was comfortable in the "lean." that way i'd be able to save some elbow grease (and some cash)!!

[InfamousChappy]

i don't know exactly what the suroof weighs, and you can dismiss it if you see fit, but my guess is about 30 lbs. including the glass, track, motor, sliding cover, and all.

i could recline the seat more and get the space i need, but i like to drive rally-style with the wheel more or less in my lap. better control, outward visibility, and more power into the clutch, etc.

the big problem is autocross. no club will let you run without a helmet, and that effectively adds 1.5-2 inches to my height. i actually had rubbed the flocking off the sunroof panel and part of the headliner with my helmet in my old celica.

i think my first plan of action is now to pull the seat out again and see if there's any way to modify the existing bracket to lower the seat at all.

i won't be having any bodywork done until the late winter/early spring anywho.

taller people drive all kinds of cars, but their comfort level is personal. i wish i could just convince myself i was comfortable in the "lean." that way i'd be able to save some elbow grease (and some cash)!!

Scoot the seat forward and get your gangsta lean on. Modifying brackets wont give you much at all and could potentially be dangerous. I'm 5'7" and my seat leans back..just how I'm comfortable. If I need to see something (blind hills etc.) then I lean forward..but I dont move the seat. This reminds me of driving one of my ex's moms in my car...She was an abominable snow woman and probably the funniest things was seeing her wedged uncomfortably into the seat..She now drives a 350z and it puzzles me how her humongous frame (6'3" atleast a couple hundred pounds) finds her way comfortably into the driver seat. Find your comfort zone.

[creis]

wearing my autocross helmet is downright ugly in there.

Yup. ive been there.

best bet is what I do, lean the seat back and make the best of it sticken your head out the sunroof is not the best idea, you'ed have to be leaning tward the center a bit much i think.