Need some tips... Replacing a rusted roof...84GT...

[gabe8496]

Ok, the roof of my 84 has some serious cancer. It is wher the roof meets the "water channel" for the hatchback. now, my friend said best thing would be to get someone to chop off a top from a donor and then have them chop off the original and weld in the donor top.

Is there anything specific that i need to watch out for? or anything specific i need to tell a shop when doing this?

Has anyone done this? Any advice?

-Gabe

[Daddy, oh...]

This is kind of a big job but not too bad. It will probably be expensive, shop labor =$$$. However a reputable experienced shop shouldn't have a problem. A shop that does alot of rebuilders will have alot of experience with this. Once the glass and interior are out, it goes fast. Measure twice, cut once.

How is the rest of the car for rust? If the bottom side is rusty it will be weakened while the roof is off and the car could break in half!

[RACECAP97]

lmao, nobody wants a car in two halfs. How much does this car mean to you. You might be able to find a car that isn't rusty for the same price this job will cost you. Just change out all the stuff from your car to the other one.

[capri650]

If the shop is good then they will weld in supports so as to keep the gaps at proper fit also so that the new lid will fit right and be easier to weld in if your car doesn't have a sun roof then this is your opportunity to put a factory one in also if you have the opportunity to have the shop cut out the new roof they'll be welding in the so much better your going to look for a body from 79 til 93 hatch car. Check out shops look for ones that do custom work (IE hot rods, street rods)they live to cut one up so they know how and where and what they need to do job right the first time, as well as how much it will cost. not your local production shop cause BOSS I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO THAT attitude is not what you want. GOOD LUCK.

[gabe8496]

Only a bit of the roof is rusted. The rest of that stang is clean. I've taken everything out and double checked it.

i'm gonna take it to a shop this week and get an estimate.

[negusm]

I would seriously recommend against getting the top chopped and fitted with a different one. You doors and windshield may never fit properly ever again. I had to have this done with my ascMclaren coupe (there is a tree somehwere with some blue paint and orange stripes on it) and its going back into the shop to get it "redone" by a better body man along with a new coat of paint. The top may need to be recut and fitted again. My windshield had to be "trimmed" to get it to fit.

I would think about just cutting out the rot and welding in new, even if its going to be time consuming....either that or get a body man who can walk on water.

-Mike