It's time in my slow quest to build the race car to delete the sunroof/motor/rail/etc. (I was going to wait on this project but a tree branch decided to fall on the sunroof & smash it in)

I will not be using carbon fiber as I want the sunroof plug to be legal for SCCA IT, NASA HC, & EMRA races. Thus, I'll be installing a steel plug that I'll both rivet & weld.

SCCA rules require that the plug be made of both the same material (that's why no carbon fiber) & thickness as the original roof. I'll be using a carbon steel sheet but I'm wondering what gauge to get? Would 16 gauge (1/16 inch) be appropriate? Any thoughts?

 

I have seen people buy the roof panel from the JDM model w/o the sunroof, and replace the stock one. Sounds like quite a chore, but body shops do this all the time I guess.