[wwilder9]

Hi All,

Anyone have any pics or advice on replacing a roof, I have located a perfect donor car, and I think I understand how to do it, but any help would help, will be replaceing windshield pillars with roof due to rust damage.

Thanks
Wayne

[Pontirag]

not directly related but to put t top roof on a 70-74 is 1500 bucks

[wwilder9]

It looks like the pillar post go underneath the metal dash panel, do I have to remove it also? Will get some pics on next post.

[racerx23]

Hey,glad you asked about the firebird top.I've got a 74 firebird I'm ready to cut the top out of to sell,and don't know where to cut!

Thanks,Steve

[x-bird2]

Wayne; having skinned my a-pillars, a word of warning--don't just chop straight through the pillars, as you'll cut through the main roof/windshield brace. the a-pillar skin is tacked in place and has a tab of metal that goes under the dash panel. i snipped the tab as far under the panel as i could reach, ground off the tack welds and cut the skin just below the roof when i did my pillar skins. (a-pillar article ran in HPP back in '98 or '99 along with my "at-home" full quarter panel story.) if you only have a few rust-outs along the windshield channels, i'd consider doing just the pillars and welding in some patches for the windshield opening. getting an entire roof on without misalignment, warping or damage is pretty tough unless your in a shop with helpers and have been through it before. is if you're going to chop a roof for resale, cut about 4 inches into the dash panel below the pillar and cut about 2-3 inches below the door window opening at the rear. that'll provide a complete roof section.

[wwilder9]

Well Guys,
Here are the pics I promised, Any advice would be helpful, I replaced floors, 1/4s, outer wheel houses and did window repair on my 68 bird, but never anything this rusty in windshield A-pillars.

[wwilder9]

More Pics

[1971WARBIRD]

ouch,that hurts.

[PetesPonies]

look here, you'll see pics. What question do you have now?

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/...60&uid=2966983

[1971WARBIRD]

Originally Posted by PetesPonies

look here, you'll see pics. What question do you have now?

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/...60&uid=2966983

that is impressive!what was that,a 77-78 into a 70-71?

[wwilder9]

I agree, That was very impressive, nice pictures, thanks

[x-bird2]

i'd try and get just the skin off the pillars for starters to see what shape they're in underneath. looks like you picked up the "cannonball car".

[keith k]

Originally Posted by x-bird2

i'd try and get just the skin off the pillars for starters to see what shape they're in underneath. looks like you picked up the "cannonball car".

That's what I was thinking (besides, wow... big repair). Is that the movie car?

[1971WARBIRD]

Originally Posted by keith k

Is that the movie car?

thats a good question?it was talked about here when it was for sale on ebay.looked like they used more than one car by the different things that were spotted in the video.

[wwilder9]

This car was painted like the Movie cars back in the 80's, previous owner liked Cannonball Run, I picked this car up from Washington State. Most of the skin on the pillars is already rusted off, Car was parked under big bushes or Pine tree, Just thinking everything out first so I don't screw this up. I know how to do 1/4 panel connection but pillars connection goes under dash about 3 inches, need to decide what to do about this.

[Formulabruce]

metal dash has to be out, get a spotweld cutter bit, NO get a couple, the correct size for the spotwelds. the roof in rear is "leaded" in at top of rear window,to sides. The big panel is part of the rear quarter. Go slow and be paitent and youll be fine. spend plenty of time fitting the new one before you get out the welder., good luck, Bruce

[PetesPonies]

my pics show a '79 w/t-tops turned into a '70 )

[wwilder9]

I checked out the 79/70 pictures, you guys did a great job. I cut the top off my parts car today, with lots of extra metal of course, will have pics soon.
Thanks

[wwilder9]

Well, like I said before, I got a parts car with a good roof, I've cut the roof off and trimmed it back removing all extra metal, next step is to remove my roof. Here are some pics, let me know what you all think so far.

[wwilder9]