New Guy: Sunroof and rust

[luvtolean]

Hello all. This looks like a great site!

I'm looking at a couple different SVO's to buy, and one of them has the optional sunroof. From what I've seen looking at different cars, it is common to get rust in this area, and for the roof to leak due to it. A friend told me this happens when the drain holes are not kept clear and water stands in the area. I'd like to have a sunroof, but this car is to replace my truck as a daily driver, and I don't want to get wet when it rains!

What does it take to get rid of the cancer around the sunroof of an SVO?

[Ken Potter]

Pretty much replace the roof if it's showing on the outside. It's the rust you can't see that really hurts as it will eventually blister through. Is the headliner still in the car? Do a search by "rust" as there are some existing threads that cover the sunroof problem.

[luvtolean]

Thanks, my first search must've been too specific. Another search found what I wanted.

Sounds like considering my facilities, I'd be better off not having to swap roofs.

I did this with a friend to get t-tops on a Fox that came without (about 10 years ago), and it was a heck of a lot of work!

[AT6svo]

Howdy,

I just had to deal with the same problem. You can see a picture in this thread here:

http://www.svoca.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5696&perpage=10&pagenumber=2

It was nice to have a sunroof, but rust sucks.

Good luck on your search!

[luvtolean]

Thanks, that's quite the project! That's going to be one nice looking car when it's done.

I am lucky enough to be looking at a couple of cars, so I can choose not to deal with the rust. Like you said, the sunroof would be nice BUT...

[Christina]

My 86 is a sunroof car and has never had any rust...not near the sunroof. The car was kept in rain and snow for three years with very little protection while we lived in New York and luckily the only problem we had was that the handle for the sunroof was broken so it leaked water onto the carpet and runied it. We replaced that and haven't had a problem. It's a good idea to vacuum or blow out the drain tubes once in a while with a shop vac, this prevents clogging.
Christina