So I acquired a a non-sunroof roof from a CRX a year or two ago and it has been sitting in the garage with plans to eventually swap the roof onto my 89 CRX that has a old aftermarket sunroof that I hate. I have been working on it a bit lately and it is much harder than I had imagined.

The process in a nutshell, if you don't know, is to remove rain guards, drill out spot welds all the way around on donor roof and roof in car and then swap roof panels. I have most of the welds drilled out and I am in the process of separating the panel from the roof skeleton and it is getting quite difficult. The front and the back are not too bad but I am having issues with the sides. I have been using a chisel to slide in there and slowly pry apart and it is almost impossible to get in there there to pry the sides up.

My question is, has anyone done this before here that can offer me any advice or tips to make this easier? I am afraid that I am going to damage the roof so I have stopped for now.

Here are a few pics...









I am starting to think that it might be easier to cut a big piece out of the donor roof to patch the sunroof hole and fix it with bodywork. Help!

 

There are countless threads of roof swapping (mostly people putting in glass roofs), but the work is the same. Not sure why you are having trouble

 

I have read those threads and I am following their instruction but I am having trouble, have you done it? I am having a hard time separating the roof panel from the skeleton on the sides of the roof because there is not much room to work with to pry to get the pieces apart.

 

Did this to a few cars. Have found there are usually extra spot weld by the cross braces. Hard to see but that's what I found with the few I have worked with

 

There are usually 4 (2 on each rain channel) spot welds per support beam that runs along the underside of the roof. You haven't drilled out all the spot welds. Look under the roof.

 

Their is glue/ seam sealer that will give u a fit down each side..1'st make sure no spot weilds have been missed! And are drilled to the proper size! ie 10mm spotweild 11mm drill bit! Then as u are, use a thin chiesel to start getting in between the panels, at the same time heat along the seam with the spot weilds, along the skin side of the panel with a propane tourch.. It should start slowly coming up for ya.you'll know when you've got it hot enough, a little smoke from the underside of the sealer starting to melt and release..take your time and u can get it off with no warpage... Any more ?? Just ask,, I'm a body/paint tech of 15 yr btw...

 

Thanks guys, I got it separated on the donor roof finally, I missed the spot welds on the bottom and used a knife to cut through the sealant. Hopefully now the actual car will be easier now that I have done it once.

 

Good deal! My 89 has a POS aftermarket sunroof also, I'll prob just weild in a patch panel on mine in the near future, used panels are hard to find around here....

 

BTW,, u can opoxy that panel back on your car with no wielding! (3M panel bonding adhesive) stronger than weilding! Quick and easy! No interior removal ,, LMK I can walk u through it, not hard at all..