240Z with a Sunroof

[theianmonster]

I know this is going to be a stupid question to most. Was there ever an option for a sun roof in the 1972 240Z's? Just wondering...because I have one...

- Ian

[1 Bravo 6]

G'Day Ian,

Can't say for sure about the 240Z's but my 260 has a sunroof, (Coenen brand), that been a proper pain in the ......neck. As Coenen no longer exists, it has been a real battle to find a rubber sealing kit for it. Hope you have better luck.

Rick.

[sblake01]

Not a factory option. Sometimes they were dealer installed or the car owner either installed one or had a shop put it on.

[PrOxLaMuS©]

they were DEALERSHIP installed.. or aftermarket in a shop.. they were never factory!


I have a sunroof on my 280Z.. i LOVE it and it doesnt leak

[theianmonster]

Mine doesn't leak either, I was just wondering. Thanks guys.

[sblake01]

they were DEALERSHIP installed.. or aftermarket in a shop.. they were never factory!............

Isn't that what I said?

[KDMatt]

I wish my Z had a sunroof...

[PrOxLaMuS©]

LoL yes Blake... that's what ya said.. hehe

I just wanted to say it too.. i got excited because it's a thread I can actually respond too! haha

but ya always jump on threads before i do!

[beandip]

I wish my Z had a sunroof...

NO YOU DONT. IF THERE IS ONE THING THAT WILL DESTOY THE VALUE OF A 240 , IT'S A SUNROOF.

[RAZ1]

A friend and I were looking at a 240Z that someone was selling. It was a total piece of crap and not worth anything. It did have an electric retractable sunroof (not the aftermarket kind). The buttons to control it were built into a panel just in front of the opening. The buttons were Datsun original with icons and everything. There is no way a dealership would have gone to all that trouble to install a factory looking sunroof. The headliner was molded to allow for the sunroof and everything. The question is did sunroofs back in the 70's retract. If not, then this was one hell of an install because it looked factory.

[PrOxLaMuS©]

dang beandip.. calm down.. LoL..

we all bought Z's because of their looks and ease of workin on.. and the styling and engine and.. etc etc...

i dont think anyone bought a Z strictly for the VALUE or what it could be worth, otherwise your not a true Z fan, just a collector.

If you enjoy the Z that's all the matters.. the sunroof to me makes it more valuable, since I never see Z's with a sunroof.. and I am fortunate to have one with a sunroof

[theianmonster]

Mine isn't retractable, it just pops up.

[KDMatt]

NO YOU DONT. IF THERE IS ONE THING THAT WILL DESTOY THE VALUE OF A 240 , IT'S A SUNROOF.

Seriously, no need to yell dude. o.o

Besides, I don't have a 240, I've got a 280!

[1 Bravo 6]

You WANT a sunroof ??????????????

Heck, man, ...you can have mine if you you pay for the work. It might be o.k. for someone whose bum's closer to the ground than mine is. I absolutely HATE bumpy roads 'cause I'm forever bumping my head. Having a sliding sunroof lowers the ceiling by about three inches.

Rick.

[theianmonster]

Yeah, I have one and I don't even want one, haha. I like it so much better with a solid roof, but whatever.

[dogma420]

I have seen quite a few factory retract sunroofs put into various cars, and they look original...quite common for auto body guys. Just saw my buddie's 510 the other day, has a 88 prelude sunroof in it...looks factory ...has the inner liner and everything...all electric.

If the roof was flat, it'd be one thing, but I have to agree with Beandip, sunroofs in an S30 look real bad. Glad I don't have one in my 240. Wouldn't have bought it if it had had one.

[KDMatt]

Hrm, they look bad eh?

Well it's not like I have much choice anyway. My budget certainly does not include installing a sunroof... even though they're a lot of fun to have.

[auxilary]

it was a 70s fad to put sunroofs into coupes. Problem is that all sunroofs on S30s leak, and they weaken structural rigidity of the hull

[RAZ1]

How can you say all sunroofs leak. Unless you've been in every early Z that has one. Mine happens to have a sunroof and it has never leaked. I bought the car that way so it doesn't bother me one way or the other.

My guess is if you roll a Z with or without a sunroof, your going to get the same result. A flattened roof. So structual intregity only goes as far as the serverity of the accident.

I was once in a rollover accident in an Acura Integra. Rolled four plus times (lost track after the fourth) and it had a sunroof in it. It played no part on the outcome of the accident. The roof held and did not compress. I'm alive today because of a soundly engineered car, not because it did or didn't have a sunroof. Oh, and I was wearing my seatbelt.

[Zrush]

The Scarab has a sunroof made by "Z-Lid". Remember that company. The literature is so cool, wicked 70's stuff. I'll have to take a picture of the plaque that's installed infront of the Z-Lid inside. It has far out 70's writing and design.



Vicky

[auxilary]

RAZ: I think you misunderstood me:

all Z cars with sunroofs that I've seen have leaked. Whether I've seen it from rust spots, mold spots in the liner, or heard complaints from the owners, they leak. My friend David bought a Z with a sunroof. We wound up cutting the roof off a parts car we got and he had the roof skin grafted in place of the sunroof top to convert the car back to solid hull

As far as rigidity, I am not implying crash protection. I'm talking weaker structure and looser chassis that will flex more on turns than a non-modified one.

Here's the Z I'm talking about with rhe grafted roof:




He also had the drip rails shaved

[RAZ1]

I also have a spare roof that I'm someday thinling of replacing on my 280 only because I have a V8 in it. The odd thing is, my sunroof doesn't look all that great as far as the finish look goes. The seal looks like it should leak, but I have been in some heavy rain storms, the car sits outside most of the time and not one leak. My guess is this sunroof has been on the car at least 10 years.

I will say that it is very functional for my application. It's one more area for the hot air to vent.

Also, if you want to build up rigidity in the car because of the sunroof, you can always do what the guys do when they make a convertible out of an early Z. Weld in supports between the rear strut towers. But heck, just having front and rear strut tower braces will help a lot.

[drsib260]

I have a 260 with a Z-lid sunroof. I purchased this car new, it has 55,000 miles on the clock. Everything works fine but the sunroof seal,molding is in need of replacement. I cannot tell for sure but it looks as if there maybe up to a combination of 3 seal to make this unit water tight. Is there anyone out there with experence in replacing the seals and where can I fine a web site with molding and beading?
Thanks

I know this is going to be a stupid question to most. Was there ever an option for a sun roof in the 1972 240Z's? Just wondering...because I have one...

- Ian

[Reverend]

Congrats on reviving zombie thread!

[ZCurves]

If you have a sunroof or contemplating buying a Z with an existing sunroof, here are my suggestions:

1. Plan on getting a donor roof and graft it in to restore.
2. Look at the Canvas Retractable roofs (see link below).

Sliding Ragtop Kits Homepage

There is a picture of one on page 2 of their Gallery. These look pretty decent, so if you are in a position of dealing with a bad sunroof issue, it might be a solution.

[sblake01]

That's somehow better?

[ZCurves]

That's somehow better?

Well, no. But if you already have a hole - seemed like good alternatives.