K-Roll's 944 Lyfe: Sunroof Seal Challenge

"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
03/07/2015 at 12:35 • Filed to: 944 Lyfe

Here's what happens when I attempt to change out the crusty old sunroof seal on my 944 for a new one as the insanity of waiting for warm weather begins to set in....

My car is pretty much all original all around, from the paint to the interior to wheels and pretty much everything save for the radio and cruise control. Unfortunately that includes the sunroof seal. The seal is a 2-piece arrangement with an inner sunroof that connects to the body of the car, and the outer portion that connects to the sunroof itself.

The outer sunroof looked presumably like someone who was on relapse from a cocaine addiction: crusty, rotting and peeling apart bit by bit. I ordered this new seal for $57 online and it arrived Monday afternoon.

So I started by removing the actual sunroof itself, a very easy process. You insert the key into the ignition cylinder(which puts the car into "accessory mode"), undo the two latches inside the car, and raise the roof by pressing the appropriate button. Now that the roof is raised, I carefully lifted and slid the panel out of place, without damaging the deflector in the process.

(Topless driving!! Well, kinda sorta...?)

You can see the deflector in its "rest" position at the front of the open roof. Now that I had it on a soft surface(my carpet) so as not to ruin the paint as I did my work, I carefully ripped off the crusty seal with precision and brutality; gunk and dust of the 80s flying into the air with each tug. But surprisingly, no cocaine... -_-

Grabbed some paper towel and water and cleaned up the surface the new seal would occupy, and still no cocaine to be found.

I'm going to be honest here, I didn't actually get the new seal on myself, completely. The way that the seal attaches to the sunroof is an L-shaped bend that the seal has to flex and bend around and then be pressed in place. I don't lift, so it took me an hour to do one of the long sides and then I said "fuckit" and took the roof to the closest shop(Gilson Motorsports) to have them finish the job. Might be embarrassing, my lack of upper arm strength, but it was a damn good excuse to see a couple 356s and a 993. So far, that was the only thing I've had a shop do for my car and it was free!! :D

Here's the end result:

It's a bit uneven I know, but in time the compression between the body and roof should allow it to settle in as evenly as possible, and if not, I can take it off and make minor adjustments.

HURRY UP WARM WEATHER!!

DISCUSSION (19)

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/07/2015 at 12:42

That last gif is entirely accurate.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
03/07/2015 at 12:44

Very. Especially if you live in the midwest/northeast.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/07/2015 at 12:45

Oh, I do. I'm sick of the damn ice covering everything. Yay, Ohio.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
03/07/2015 at 12:47

Yay Michigan. It's gonna hit 35 today!

Sam > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/07/2015 at 12:47

Funny that the 944 one has a gasket on the panel itself. My 924 has a gasket on both the panel AND the car itself. And the gasket for the panel costs like $80.

blackchair > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/07/2015 at 12:49

For some reason "warm" looks so weird to me right now.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/07/2015 at 12:49

It is supposed to be hitting near 43 down here! Woo!

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Sam
03/07/2015 at 12:51

Oh no! There's one on the car itself, it just wasn't bad enough to necessitate a replacement for it. It's actually cheaper than the one for the panel.

http://only944.com/partscatalog/o…

This is where I got mine.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > blackchair
03/07/2015 at 12:52

Why is that? :p

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
03/07/2015 at 12:53

Lucky! I can go wash my cars outside today!

blackchair > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/07/2015 at 12:54

No idea why. I haven't seen that word in a while either! haha

Sam > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/07/2015 at 12:56

Ah. I have a feeling the 944 seals don't fit a 924, but I may have to ask o the the forums. I changed the body seal, the rear hatch seal, and the rear hatch struts last time I serviced the car. With new struts, the rear hatch flies up fast enough to break your jaw.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/07/2015 at 12:57

I'd be doing the same if I didn't have to work! Its a nice day for it.