Swapping roofs...now THATS a new trick!

[Stacked440]

Well...i found a roof donor for my 71 challenger.  My 71 is a southern car so it rusted out the roof right in the rear window area.  I've got the roof off my car but im trying to get the skin off the donor roof...ive drilled out all the spot welds(to my knowledge)  Ive been using a small chisel and a hammer to get between the skeletal frame and the skin itself to pop the spot welds loose.  This isnt working very well in some areas...does anybody have any tricks or suggestions who have done this before?

[4Cruizn]

Welcome stacked!!  Here is a thread that we just had on the subject . . most pics will be gone as we have just made an upgrade to the site.  But I did see one pic in there that should help you out!   Good luck with the roof job!!     


http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=7556.0

[360 'CUDA]

OK but wouldn't it be better to just cut the whole thing off and weld the new one on the factory welds.
I have never gone that far on a project but I do have a chassis that will need that...

[torredcuda]

360,if you don`t need to replace the whole roof structure I would leave it intact and just replace the skin.I did the skin on mine and just used a small chisel ground down to fit in the channel.I have an air hammer with a chisel bit for the larger areas but other than that there is no easier way,just keep at it.

[Mr. 6pak2go]

id say thats gonna be a job!! but apparently get gets done quite often cause iv seen numberous cars in junkyard missin there lid!!

[torredcuda]

It`s really no worse than changing any other spotwelded panel, just drill the spotwelds and separate them then line up and weld on the other panel.

[Stacked440]

Success!!  I can't find the digital camera =/
But as soon as I do I'll take some pictures of the "roof transplant"  The donor roof fit great and we have it all welded down, just need to grind the welds down.  Painted some P.O.R. on the bottom of the roof to prevent any rust from happening at least from underneath.  Next stop, sand blaster.

[426HEMI]

Well done.  Only thing I was going to say was be patient and don't get into a hurry.  Hope to see pic's soon.  I have some rust on my roof but I will just cut it out and replace needed spots.  I have some around windshield and will fix it the same but getting out the rust and replacing what metal I need to and then fiberglass it to seal it.

[Mr. 6pak2go]

cool cant wait to see how it turned out!