sunroof

[raven]

I remember reading in a previous thread that someone had installed a sunroof in their 91-94. Anyone care to guess what the effect is on the structural integrity of the car.
That's my only complaint with my 91, is not being able to have the sun shine in. I'm not concerned about resale, I've had the car this long and don't plan on selling it.
Any safety issues?

 

[Jimbo]

There's a central beam in the roof of the older coupes. It's a major structural element that would be eliminated. Back then, Honda never intended for the NSX to be anything but a coupe.

I personally wouldn't do it. I cringe when I've seen these retrofits.

By the time you paid to get a sunroof and the installation (which might be sub-par), you could probably find a nice T for not much more. Particularly, the pre-97 Ts.

-Jim

PS: I know you say resale isn't a factor, but you never know what might come along.

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1992 NSX Red/Blk 5 spd #0330
1991 NSX Blk/Blk Auto #3070 (Sold)
1974 Vette 454 4 spd Wht/Blk
1976 Honda Accord 5 spd, 3 door Blue/Blue
1977 Honda Accord - Custom - Under Construction
1986 Chevy Suburban
http://homepage.mac.com/jimanders/PhotoAlbum1.html

 

[wilsonp]

Originally posted by raven:
I remember reading in a previous thread that someone had installed a sunroof in their 91-94. Anyone care to guess what the effect is on the structural integrity of the car.
Any safety issues?

I actually bought the car with the sunroof in it. The motor went out and I'm getting it replaced, but it has never leaked.

The car creaks a little in the dash when it's cold going over bumps at an angle but no more than other people have posted about.

The sunroff is good, but I'm still waiting for the plexiglass T-Top for my next NSX. The MR-2 has glass T-Tops that were really great.

 

[Joel]

If you would like a sunroof in your coupe, go for it. Who cares? If that's what you really want.

Just don't track it.

 

[Jimbo]

Of course, it's his car and he can do anything he wants, but I think it's prudent to consider the options, choices and downside.

Technical and structural issues aside, buying a car that already has sunroof installed is a different matter. I would expect that someone who made that purchase would have been able to acquire such a car at a significant discount. A sunroof-modded car might go for $1K-$4K (a guess) less than an untouched coupe.

That is much different from someone knowingly modifying their car and spending the money to make the change. It's a double hit, in a way. You lose the value in the car and you have to spend a fair amount of money to do it. And when you're all done you just have sunroof and it's not the same open-air experience of a T.

There's a lot of NSX enthusiasts would would be happy to purchase a coupe in lieu of a T.

I would think if you really wanted a T, you could find a nice pre-97 T for a reasonable price.

-Jim

PS: Or... you could sell the coupe and purchase a car with a sunroof or one of those NSX convertibles and walk away with cash in your pocket.

------------------
1992 NSX Red/Blk 5 spd #0330
1991 NSX Blk/Blk Auto #3070 (Sold)
1974 Vette 454 4 spd Wht/Blk
1976 Honda Accord 5 spd, 3 door Blue/Blue
1977 Honda Accord - Custom - Under Construction
1986 Chevy Suburban
http://homepage.mac.com/jimanders/PhotoAlbum1.html

[This message has been edited by Jimbo (edited 02 December 2002).]

 

[ScienceofSpeed]

The center beam in the roof is actually quite small, and I suspect it's purpose it to provide a welding point for the roof panel than to provide structural stiffening. I'll try to take a picture next time I have the roof liner out.

Cheers,
-- Chris

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Revolutionize your NSX with ScienceofSpeed
www.ScienceofSpeed.com | [email protected] | 877-863-4520

 

[BostonNSX]

then can I take the roof panel out and replace it with a glass top? is it safe to do so

Originally posted by ScienceofSpeed:
The center beam in the roof is actually quite small, and I suspect it's purpose it to provide a welding point for the roof panel than to provide structural stiffening. I'll try to take a picture next time I have the roof liner out.

Cheers,
-- Chris

 

[Jimbo]

I've seen an NSX sans roof panel and although the center beam is small, I would say it's a structural member along with the side rails and the sheet metal roof (monocoque).

By chopping out the panel and the center beam some structural rigidity is lost. How much? I have no idea. Would the car fall apart? I doubt it. Would it be dangerous? I doubt it. Would it creak and rattle and get worse as time goes on. Probably. Keep in mind that aluminum is not steel. It doesn't like to flex and does not return as well to its original state.

Would I do it? No. I'd just look for a "T".

-Jim

------------------
1992 NSX Red/Blk 5 spd #0330
1991 NSX Blk/Blk Auto #3070 (Sold)
1974 Vette 454 4 spd Wht/Blk
1976 Honda Accord 5 spd, 3 door Blue/Blue
1977 Honda Accord - Custom - Under Construction
1986 Chevy Suburban
http://homepage.mac.com/jimanders/PhotoAlbum1.html

 

[Vytas]

Here's a few pics I got off Ebay a while ago of an NSX with a sunroof installed. Note the sunroof controller is too big and leave the sunshades nowhere to clip on to.

 

[Jimbo]

It also looks like the glass panel and gasket sticks up on the exterior corners. It doesn't look like the curvature of the glass matches the curvature of the roof.

The interior upholstery also looks kind of puffy and puckered to me.

-Jim

------------------
1992 NSX Red/Blk 5 spd #0330
1991 NSX Blk/Blk Auto #3070 (Sold)
1974 Vette 454 4 spd Wht/Blk
1976 Honda Accord 5 spd, 3 door Blue/Blue
1977 Honda Accord - Custom - Under Construction
1986 Chevy Suburban
http://homepage.mac.com/jimanders/PhotoAlbum1.html

 

[wilsonp]

Originally posted by Jimbo:
It also looks like the glass panel and gasket sticks up on the exterior corners. It doesn't look like the curvature of the glass matches the curvature of the roof.

The interior upholstery also looks kind of puffy and puckered to me.

-Jim

That's not from eBay - that's my car! http://pws.gamewood.net/~wilsonpm

I never notice the curvature not matching when I'm looking at the car - I think the picture angle accentuated that. Contrast with the reverse angle: http://pws.gamewood.net/~wilsonpm/Auto/images/nsx/LeftSunroof.jpg

The interior is puffy - it isn't too tight to the roof, but that's fixable. It does seem to lose a little headroom (at 5'10", I didn't expect to touch my head).

The visor thing is aesthetically unappealing, but hasn't seem to make much practical difference

 

[Vytas]

I see so many NSXs on Ebay and thought that's where I may have seen it. After visiting your website, I now recall that's where I saw the pictures. Sorry for the error.

 

[Jimbo]

wilson,

If I remember, you purchased the car with the sunroof, right?

Would you say that you got it at a lower price because of that modification?

-Jim

------------------
1992 NSX Red/Blk 5 spd #0330
1991 NSX Blk/Blk Auto #3070 (Sold)
1974 Vette 454 4 spd Wht/Blk
1976 Honda Accord 5 spd, 3 door Blue/Blue
1977 Honda Accord - Custom - Under Construction
1986 Chevy Suburban
http://homepage.mac.com/jimanders/PhotoAlbum1.html