I've had this sunroof for years, it's been hiding in the garage for a decade at least, I got it for my 86 Golf diesel but then never installed it and one day I suddenly sold both my Golf diesel cars so it's had no real destination. At one time I had pondered putting it my VW Fox diesel conversion but when my Passat wagon project showed up getting the Fox sold was a priority so the sunroof became something I didn't really care about doing and back into the garage it went.

So now we get to this Dakota, which seems to be a good candidate for using this sunroof. The curvature side to side is close, the sizing I think is reasonable for the truck and it would finally let me get some use out of the money I spent. It's a powered glass roof that pops up and slides back rather than dropping down and back into the roof. I can't say I'm fond of how it works but it saves all the hassle with drain tubes etc. Also the install is pretty simple, there's a frame that bolts to the underside of the assembly around the full perimeter, you just put a small bead of silicone around the perimeter before you set the roof in and then crank it down tight. There's also a sunshade that you can close on the inside if you don't want the sun glaring in on you.

So what do you all think? The photos show the roof assembly just parked on top, I didn't make any effort to make sure it was centered , it's just up there.

Steve

 

I am just not a fan of cutting holes in the roof.

 

I can appreciate that!

Steve

 

The one time I put a sunroof on a pickup, I hated it! It was a bitch to get to seal and the glare from the sun was awful. I think sunroofs are pretty horrible.

 

I can appreciate the comments. I'm not worried about a good seal, this roof assembly is really nicely made, the clamping mechanism runs the full perimeter of the glass frame. As for the sun this model has a built-in sunshade you can close when the sun is in a bad position.

Steve

 

Measure twice, cut once. You can't make the hole smaller if you screw it up.

 

So true... I'm not saying I'm going to go through with it, just weighing my options at this point. I have a lot of other more pressing maintenance issues at this point. Truck currently in the queue for garage space to do the work I know it needs done, the sunroof install isn't really high on the to-do list at this point!

Steve

 

Personal preference here, but way back, I had a friend with a new 78-9 z28. It had tinted t-tops. We took it to Myrtle beach. Even with the AC running full blast, the sun was hot coming through it. If you notice, most factory sunroofs, now have a piece that pulls in place to totally block sunlight. IMHO that a good thing!! Bottom line, for me, even if it dont leak water, no aftermarket sunroof for me!!

 

The Camaro / Firebird T-top (in fact all the GM T-tops) were really very poorly executed. The cars they installed these on were never designed to have that much roof material removed. Essentially it created a very weak body structure without the roof rails. The Camaro / Firebird had to be heavily reinforced to keep the body from twisting, the doors even had to be wedged in the jambs because of the twisting. Again all this was a bad idea. In 1980 I traveled from Des Moines, IA to Washington DC in a Z28 with T-tops...bad experience really.

To address your sun concern please read my response from above (posted again below).

Again, I see the things about sunroofs I don't care for. I have a glass roof panel in two other cars I have and really if I'd had the opportunity to order these I would never have gotten them. We will see if I can bring myself to install it in this Dakota...when the time comes...lol.

Steve

 

Hey Steve,
i apologize for not reading your orig. post more carefully. To be honest, I never seen an aftermarket sunroof with a sunshade. That alone makes it much more appealing to me!!

If you decide to install it, Good luck and dont forget to post pictures!!

You know we love pictures.