Mr Whippy
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| posted on 18/6/14 at 11:38 AM |
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DIY Panoramic roof
Seeing all these modern cars with their nice fancy panoramic roofs I'm wanting to make one for my car using a heavy steel frame welded to my
cars relatively flat roof and the glass then bonded to the frame.
Questions are… can anyone recommend an easy to use and strong glass mastic and does all glass need to be kite marked (wanting to use laminated
windscreen glass for this, if I ever rolled the car I don't want my roof just vanishing!)
Any ideas?
Cheers
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stevebubs
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| posted on 18/6/14 at 11:43 AM |
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Surely you can just use Windscreen mastic?
Are you *sure* you won't be weakening the structure of the car?
How are you going to get the glass to match the existing contour of the roof?
[Edited on 18/6/14 by stevebubs]
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loggyboy
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| posted on 18/6/14 at 11:50 AM |
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Hi have visions of the Topgear Avantime:
http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/homemade-evo-2
1:00 min onwards!
Mistral Motorsport
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 18/6/14 at 12:01 PM |
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Hi
Was wondering if there was something stronger than windscreen mastic as that's quite rubbery, maybe it's ok?
The steel frame is made from two 1 inch 3mm angle sections welded together and then welded to the roof skin in a kind of double frame, there's
still the double skin box section that runs round the roof anyway so this is in addition to that. I think it would beef up the roof if anything,
it's just replacing a thin floppy sheet of metal
The roof is really flat with only the slightest curve, I may even just make it totally flat with my hammer 
This is kind of what I was thinking
Cheers
[Edited on 18/6/14 by Mr Whippy]
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loggyboy
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| posted on 18/6/14 at 12:20 PM |
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Why not put the angle bracket over the roof, that way you could paint it, and would not show any rough edges around the roof hole, would also reduce
pooling of water.
The inner bracket thats supposrts the glass could be smaller so thickness of the glass lifts it over the bracket when finished, this would also reduce
pooling.
Mistral Motorsport
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loggyboy
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| posted on 18/6/14 at 12:25 PM |
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like this:
Mistral Motorsport
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 18/6/14 at 12:31 PM |
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yeah I know what your saying and did think about pooling the of water issue, idealy I'd like the glass to look like it is set into the roof
rather than a after market sunroof frame so thats why the frame is under the roof panel
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loggyboy
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| posted on 18/6/14 at 01:03 PM |
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OE ones will be perfectly sealed, with pressed holes in the roof, custom seals and probably drainage channels. For a retrofit your almost certainly
end up with a damp arse unless you seal it well.
Mistral Motorsport
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mcerd1
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| posted on 18/6/14 at 01:09 PM |
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what about like this:
 
Description
or this if you could manage it:
 
Description
[Edited on 18/6/2014 by mcerd1]
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 18/6/14 at 01:14 PM |
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hmm perhaps I should make sure at each corner the glass is flush or very slightly proud of the roof skin so the water will run off
tbh I get a damp arse anyway as the currrent tilt and slide sun roof leaks due to dried out mastic, either that or it drips on my head when I go round
a corner 
[Edited on 18/6/14 by Mr Whippy]
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 18/6/14 at 01:29 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mcerd1
or this if you could manage it:
Description
[Edited on 18/6/2014 by mcerd1]
I was going to say I can't think how I'd fold the edge over but thinking about it if I spot weld the top sheet on I could then tap the
edge over the frame and weld it at the bottom so the weld would be hidden by the glass 
good suggestion 
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mcerd1
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| posted on 18/6/14 at 02:17 PM |
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^^ pretty much what I was thinking
having the old roof sheet folded under the glass is about the only way I can think of that would give you a hope of a neat watertight solution -
because that way the glass is at least party bonded onto the roof sheet directly and you won't see any of the metal seems from the outside
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 18/6/14 at 02:26 PM |
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yip a better solution all round
thanks
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Myke 2463
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| posted on 18/6/14 at 03:13 PM |
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What about modifying a Joggler / Flanging Tool to give a larger step ?, perhaps it would leave the glass a little above the steel roof but worth
considering.
Be Lucky Mike.
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Wadders
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| posted on 18/6/14 at 03:48 PM |
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If you bonded it in with sika windscreen bonder and followed the correct prep and priming procedures.......and assuming you had a big enough sucker
attached to a large crane, you would be able to lift the whole car up with your new roof. 
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Hi
Was wondering if there was something stronger than windscreen mastic as that's quite rubbery, maybe it's ok?
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mcerd1
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| posted on 18/6/14 at 04:04 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Myke 2463
What about modifying a Joggler / Flanging Tool to give a larger step ?, perhaps it would leave the glass a little above the steel roof but worth
considering.
only reason I didn't suggest that was I thought it would be difficult to get the depth needed for the glass + glue and you'd still need
the reinforce it afterwards anyway
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jacko
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| posted on 18/6/14 at 05:12 PM |
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In this day and age bonded windows are the main strength in coaches and buses
the only thing i can think of to not do it is will it pass a MOT ? and condensation dripping off the glass
Jacko
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