Sliding steel sunroofs

[trebor]

What are your thoughts on original steel sunroofs ? Are they more trouble than they are worth ? Just thinking about the drain pipes running through bodywork and what happens to the headliner when cables pack up ? Can you get at them from the top ?
Just thinking ahead :roll:

 

[Lordain Volley]

Hello,
I think it depends on your bus's condition. My sunroof was corroded badly in the corners, so I bought an original used which was in pretty good condition, although not perfect. I got in re-painted and it looks new.

The drainage pipes - one of mine has rusted at the roof point so it needs to be sorted, which is on my winter to-do list. They are very nice original features if working properly.

Midland Paintwerks did the paintjob on the sunroof - superb job.




Original second hand - not perfect.



[After it had been bare metalled and painted





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LV

 

[trebor]

How do you work out the drain pipes are shot, does it just leak inside the headliner ?

 

[RICH-I-AM]

Yep, the headliner gets wrecked.
I think the pipes usualy survive, its the rear corners of the rain pan (<Not sure of its proper name) that rust out.
Other than the sunroofs themselves rusting away.
Have you got the van already or is it something youve got an eye on?

Rich

 

[StripedHemi]

It was something I really wanted when I was looking for an EB, I only wanted an import due to not wanting one that had been welded in the past, I got lucky but the sunroof had been 'sealed up' with filler

stripped and found the sunroof panel was rotten due to the filler, luckily everything else was mint.. there are small plastic tubes that connect the downward tubes to the sunroof surround aperture so its worth checking those if it is leaking around that area and of course flush the tubes thru to make sure they arnt blocked up...

If all is well personally I think they are a fantastic addition

 

[trebor]

I keep looking at different ones trying to make my mind up! Looks like a van could be the best option. Less is more and all that. Just been looking at the prices of seals for doors and windows :shock:

 

[RICH-I-AM]

Yeh, nothing is cheap on em.

I suppose then, if you go and look for a Sunroof bus check the headliner for watermarks.
And make sure it works.

Rich

 

[trebor]

Does the pipe stick out at the bottom of the body work for the water to drain away ?

 

[Graham L]

There are 6 drain pipes in total, 2 at the b post, 2 at the c post and 2 right at the very back by the engine vents. The pipes don't stick down below the body but there are holes in the body to let the water drain away, there's a flexible pice at the top of the 4 around the sunroof opening and that then joins a metal pipe, the 2 at the rear are visible through the vents.

Easy to clean the drain channels out with old sunroof cables etc, the cables are approx £130 each and there's 2 of them, we've done 3 sunroof buses now including our own and they are fiddle but worth every penny

 

[neilswheels]

Can you get the 'flexible bit' anywhere? My ex Westy needs everything, and most of it I can get or have, but i cant source these bits, and without drain tubes, its going no where!

As for Trebors original question, if you're buying one, make sure it works, or get a good discount on the price.

 

[trebor]

Trouble is can you tell without pulling at the headlining ? don't think they would like that :lol:

 

[Graham L]

Trouble is can you tell without pulling at the headlining ? don't think they would like that :lol:

You don't have to pull the headlining to check the sunroof works?, just wind the handle

 

[StripedHemi]

Can you get the 'flexible bit' anywhere? My ex Westy needs everything, and most of it I can get or have, but i cant source these bits, and without drain tubes, its going no where!

As for Trebors original question, if you're buying one, make sure it works, or get a good discount on the price.

yeh I need those buts too anyone shed any light on this?

 

[Graham L]

It's not that simple to convert a westy into a sunroof bus as it's missing a couple of bits

No drain tubes in the pillars or at the rear
No ramps on the side of the sunroof opening, without these the sunroof will never close properly.
Plastic connector funnels at the roof opening to join to the drain tubes

The drain tubes are steel but the piece at the top which joins them to the funnels is clear plastic tube which I'm sure you'll be able to source but a westy won't have the funnels that these pipes connect to.

 

[NickB]

http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=46463&start=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Have a look at this thread - not new, and seem to come up time and time again

Some tips:

Buy your felt seals direct from Kieft n Klok - much cheaper and superfast delivery

Get a copy of the Bentley manual pages on sunroof operation and adjustment (chapter 1 pages 41 - 45)

Get very friendly with your bank manager as they are expensive to get bits


It is VERY worthwhile trawling the Samba for bits you need and also for technical info as there are a lot more sunroof buses out in the states.

I did my sunroof from scratch and whilst it wasn't perfect it worked and drained properly, so feel free to ask anything you want!

And eternal thank to Graham L for the tip on the ramps - they don't appear in ANY of the books!

 

[neilswheels]

Yeh, I know i.ve got a rather large hlll to climb, but welding it up seems criminal. My Westy actually has no drain tubes at all, plus no holes in the inner skin at the back to drop them down, its gonna be fun...