| Author |
Message |
Gregg Holden
Trader
WA
Soarer GT-TL & Supercharged 31
Posts: 447
Reg: 08-2005
|
Hi Guys,
I have another buyer for my car (first pending finance) and a second who wants to buy it but the sunroof isn't giving him the head clearance he would like.
Now I've read up on the problem and note that there are Soarer owners with the Sunroof who are up to 6 foot 4" plus who manage. Of course the other problem is my GT-TL has the electric seats so there is some space loss there also.
I've always wondered why the section directly above your head in a sunroof car was so low. Feeling in behind it seems to be the part responsible for lifting the sunroof up (as opposed to back).
I dug around some other threads and found the two pics below (Ignore the circles and arrows) - I'm trying to work out if it would be possible to remove the Components responsible for the Tilt up function which then would hopefully allow for the cutting away of that part of the roof section and retrim.
The guy is really keen to buy it but he needs to understand if there are any reasonable options to fix the space issue.
The other thing he could do is get a standard non-electric seat but then he would need to get the custom leather trim swapped over. However I don't think that would be a big job.
Finally I have two layers of carpet so I'm also thinking that with the seat jammed on top it may also be higher by a 1cm or so. Every bit of space would make a big difference for this guy.
So what do you people think? Could the Tilt mech be removed and that part of the roof lining cut away and retrimmed flat while maintaining the full reverse of the sunroof?
A picture of a complete sunroof mech removed from the car would also be handy....
These are the ones I found that sort of show what's there:
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Neil Griffiths
Trader
NSW
212Kw @ 8psi MANUAL Super Charged UZZ31 
Posts: 3528
Reg: 07-2005
|
Play with the seat. Easiest option. |
Rob Andreacchio
Moderator
Victoria
Supercharged VT Calais & 1991 JZZ30
Posts: 2322
Reg: 01-2005
|
Gregg,
I just put some autotecnica seats in and had the same problem. Took it to my trimmer, and he removed just over an inch of padding out of the seat. Perhaps look at something like that? |
Simon Triantafillou
Goo Roo
NSW
Soarer Turbo
Posts: 1050
Reg: 07-2005
|
Install some JZA80 seats. Fully electric drivers seat and about 2 inches more clearance. |
Alan Chow
TryHard
Vic
GTT-L
Posts: 283
Reg: 12-2006
|
Take out the seats. Who needs seats  |
Gregg Holden
Trader
WA
Soarer GT-TL & Supercharged 31
Posts: 449
Reg: 08-2005
|
Neil - Unfortunately he spent about 30 minutes trying to get a comfortable position. He's not only tall but very wide as well so his seating positioning options is more limited than most.
The only problem with swapping in other seats etc is the work that would have to be done to match the rest of the interior...It would be easier to look at options with the sunroof I think...
Remember it currently looks like this:
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Alan Chow
TryHard
Vic
GTT-L
Posts: 285
Reg: 12-2006
|
Mmmmmm i have always loved your interior gregg. It inspired me to do contrasting colours in mine. |
Matthew Sharpe
Goo Roo
North Island
JZZ31
Posts: 2031
Reg: 10-2005
|
Tell him to shrink =)
Or leave the sunroof cover open and have him tilt his head to the side... |
Rob Andreacchio
Moderator
Victoria
Supercharged VT Calais & 1991 JZZ30
Posts: 2326
Reg: 01-2005
|
You can't remove some of the meat from the base?? |
Gregg Holden
Trader
WA
Soarer GT-TL & Supercharged 31
Posts: 450
Reg: 08-2005
|
Rob Andreacchio wrote on Saturday, February 03, 2007 - 02:54 pm:You can't remove some of the meat from the base??
That could be a reasonable option. I can't recall the make-up construction of the seat base though. Is it simply a piece of foam in there on top of a spring base?...
It would be great if there was some positive solutions as it is the only thing that is holding him back from buying the car. He said he would check the forums here to see what the solutions could be. So any constructive help will help me sell my car and him enjoy his new ride knowing he can resolve the issue.
I'd still really like to know if removing the sunroof tilt bars would still keep the roof operable and allow a retrim up top. Does anyone have a pic of the sunroof and mechs outside of the car? |
Rob Andreacchio
Moderator
Victoria
Supercharged VT Calais & 1991 JZZ30
Posts: 2327
Reg: 01-2005
|
If you do work it out Gregg, I would be mighty interested to see how you do it!
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'd be happier with another inch or 2.  |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
Ellerslie
Soarer 4.0GT
Posts: 1081
Reg: 11-2005
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Ive found the space also rather restrictive with my sun-roof....
For instance Im 6 ft' and when I had to put the helmet on for the drag night, I had to have my head tilted to the left so the helmet could sit in the cavity the sunroof slide goes in! 
Any one else find helmets annoying in the soarers!! |
Gregg Holden
Trader
WA
Soarer GT-TL & Supercharged 31
Posts: 451
Reg: 08-2005
|
Rob Andreacchio wrote on Saturday, February 03, 2007 - 03:35 pm:If you do work it out Gregg, I would be mighty interested to see how you do it!
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'd be happier with another inch or 2.
Wouldn't we all  But getting back to your actual BODY height aren't you some obscene height like 6 foot 7" Rob? |
Kieran McIlwain
TryHard
Queensland
UZZ31 V8 Limited
Posts: 131
Reg: 08-2006
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I'm 6'5" and sunroofs are a no-go for me. |
Rob Andreacchio
Moderator
Victoria
Supercharged VT Calais & 1991 JZZ30
Posts: 2329
Reg: 01-2005
|
Yeah 6'7" and am really starting to hate the sunroof! side head tilt or laid back in the seat to avoid the roof is starting to annoy me.. lol |
Graham Dollisson
Goo Roo
QLD
GTTL , Morris Marina, P76 V8 Super
Posts: 1140
Reg: 07-2005
|
Maybe longer springs on the seat base plate. Only problem with that is it might make the seat uncomfortable for people with larger rears.
I have been thinking about going for a manual seat for ages now, but I just haven't got around to it.
I personally would not touch the sunroof. I would do something with the seat. |
Graham Dollisson
Goo Roo
QLD
GTTL , Morris Marina, P76 V8 Super
Posts: 1142
Reg: 07-2005
|
I just had another horrible thought.
I was wondering if it would be possible to remove the factory sunroof and use the existing hole that it left. Then fit an aftermarket sunroof, of the type that tilts and slides back on the outside.
Then, use a non sunroof hood lining to give you back your headroom.
Something like this Holandia 300......
http://www.sunroofcentre.com.au/sunroof_products_info.php?id=9&PHPSESSID=fde0116639cdad1cd3bc74168d6 66c18
As long as the hole in the roof only needs to be enlarged, and not reduced.
But of cause, that sounds expensive, but the best I can think of!! |
Callum Finch
Goo Roo
WA
Soarer TT & Corolla
Posts: 2520
Reg: 09-2005
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Mike Beck wrote on Saturday, February 03, 2007 - 03:36 pm:Any one else find helmets annoying in the soarers!!
Not me, but then i dont have a sunroof. =P
Glad to see you have a buyer so soon Gregg. Good luck mate! =P |
Gregg Holden
Trader
WA
Soarer GT-TL & Supercharged 31
Posts: 452
Reg: 08-2005
|
Callum Finch wrote on Saturday, February 03, 2007 - 05:02 pm:Glad to see you have a buyer so soon Gregg. Good luck mate! =P
Well two buyers actually...but the first is having problems getting finance and the second has this issue with the sunroof! If anyone actually has the money and isn't 6 foot 7" then drop me a line and the car is yours!!! |
Aaron Mead
Goo Roo
NT
TT
Posts: 1247
Reg: 03-2006
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I think the removal of some foam is the only real option, but your car is so luxuriously appointed, Id hate to think it could lead to uncomfortable seating.
I went with JZA80 as soon as I got my car. How much to retrim 'em I guess.....versus how much to remove teh covers and chop the foam ansd hope its all good?
Maybe just sell it to the short arse! |
Damian Ware
TryHard
Victoria
UZZ32
Posts: 423
Reg: 10-2005
|
Might be a dumb suggestion but this came to mind.
Remove the electrics from under the seat and replace it with mechanical items (probably change the seat trims which look lovely btw). This should give you a fair bit more room under the seat. Then modify the seat rail/buy another one that is actually lower probably the JZA80 rails. It might be possible and this should give you a noticable lower seat if you can find the right seat rails. |
Gregg Holden
Trader
WA
Soarer GT-TL & Supercharged 31
Posts: 453
Reg: 08-2005
|
Thanks guys - certainly there seems to be a lot of seat modification options which are all viable. I'm still wondering about the sunroof mech though... has anyone got a pic of the sunroof out of the car?
There was one on ebay a while back but I didn't take much notice of it and certainly didn't save it to disk... |
Matthew Sharpe
Goo Roo
North Island
JZZ31
Posts: 2034
Reg: 10-2005
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Sometimes its good being only 5'11". |
Gregg Holden
Trader
WA
Soarer GT-TL & Supercharged 31
Posts: 503
Reg: 08-2005
|
This is no longer something that I need to do however I noticed that this pic from a 98 (Blaines) seems like a completely different setup and trim altogether? Did they completely change the mech and roof trim on the 97+?... Certainly the controller for the roof is different...
I haven't seen a late model 98 in the flesh before and you hardly get to see a pic of the roof trim... So does anyone know for sure?
Looks like it could be an option (although probably expensive) to retrofit into an earlier Soarer....?
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Roger Costello
TryHard
WA
UZZ31 V8 Limited, UZZ32 no 867
Posts: 328
Reg: 07-2005
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That looks like a non OEM aftermarket install, The factory sunroof on a 98 is not very different to a 91 other than the auto open function. |
Don Bagnall
Moderator
New Zealand
I have WAY less Soarers than Hayden :-(
Posts: 5875
Reg: 05-2005
|
Looking in the EPC, the ONLY notable difference I could find was that from 91 - 8/96 they used laminated 4.7mm thick Gray glass, and from 8/96 - 2000 they used 4.0mm glass.
Other than that the mechanism and rails etc were the same from go to whoa.  |
Adam Smith
TryHard
Queensland
97 UZZ31GT-L
Posts: 160
Reg: 07-2005
|
Gregg that is definitely an accessory sunroof in that last picture. I am a mere 5-11 and my head rubbed on my last roof (the red one you have the pics of)
Now my Mum just got a very nearly new BMW 325i with a non-genuine sunroof installed. It is an extremely compact sunroof (like the last pic of the 98) soooo I was thinking it might be worth your effort to talk to an accessory sunroof mob and see if they can install a new type mechanism using your glass and seals...
I was of the belief that Ford don't actually have factory sunroofs, but the car/shell is taken to an accessory mob for installation before delivery.
Not sure, anyone? But might be somewhere to start asking Gregg...?? |
Gregg Holden
Trader
WA
Soarer GT-TL & Supercharged 31
Posts: 542
Reg: 08-2005
|
Cheers Adam - I no longer need to do this but the info may still be useful for others... Thanks. |
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