Can anyone recommend the best fitting roof filler on market or the ones to stay away from? I don't have access to a salvage yard, so buying a filler is my best option. Looking at the one's with ridges, seems they may hold their shape better for shipping and installation. Any advice?
what body style ? be careful when you shave off the inner panel glue you can crease the steel... volvo wagon that did not have a sunroof just barely fits my buddies' sons '30 tudor… pic. . I used a clubcab mopar truck roof on my '30 coupe... no ribs...pic. … memory says about 41"x 41"...
if the ribs indent [down] they will hold water and or dust... IMO, raised ribs or smooth steel skin...
Raised ribs. I would like advice on which aftermarket filler is best. There is several companies selling them. The few salvage yards in my area, don't sell parts anymore. They crush cars as soon as they get them.
If you buy from an aftermarket supplier ask them for some pictures of their product being installed and see if it would work for you. There are many salvage yards that sell and ship, cost may be an issue but if you have your mind set on one particular roof then that is an option. The Internet is your friend, search old car salvage yards and vintage used parts.
The only issues with shipping on the big dogs now is that at least around here they no longer have regular bus stations and usually stop at mini marts or cafes. I had to ship a fender out of a mini mart 20 miles from my home a few years ago. I used them all the time when I could take stuff to the actual bus station. A roof insert shouldn't be a problem though if the package is less than 47 inches wide and 82 inches long. From Greyhound a few minutes ago: Correct, 100 pounds max per package and the Greyhound bus cargo space package needs to fit within is 29"H x 47"W x 82"L One more option for Willywash Is find some guy parting out a viable donor and buy the roof off it before he sends it to the scrap yard. That would be found money for most of those guys. Or venture further from the house to wrecking yards that do sell parts.
For the best sheet metal weld in roof insert I'd be calling Walden Speed Shop in Pomona CA. Take a look at their website waldenspeedshop.com for more about their products. Also, go to their Instagram page a scroll down a little ways for pictures of a roof install on a coupe like yours.
Once the steel has been stamped with a compound curve it becomes much more forgiving... adding a little more or flexing it less is pretty easy... I install them with an old screw driver... fine tune the trimming, press down and tack it [small tack on all 4 sides first] so it won't "walk" on you... leaving a high spot when you get all the way around... HIH.
The Jalopy Journal
