HELP: Having trouble getting the roof halo seperated from the roof. Ideas?

[Cobra4B]

Ok.... roof is off, but having a heck of a time getting the halo separated from the roof panel. I've used cable saws to cut down the vertical parts to the bends, but have hit harder adhesive and can't get much farther. I'm considering cutting out the rib in front of the halo to get better access.... any ideas? I know there's a way to get the roof off the car w/o cutting the halo out as I've seen pics of it from GM techs fixing a leaking roof, but never found a GM how-to. In my case I'm putting a roll cage in my race car so don't need the halo and want it out w/o tearing up the roof panel. My main hoop will be taking up that real estate.





Thanks,

Brian

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,

Are you talking about the external panel that is bonded to the frame it self ?????

If so, that is a bond that must be separated from the roof frame.

Allthebest, c4c5

[Cobra4B]

Yes... I need to remove the factory "roll bar" (the black metal part) from the exterior roof panel (silver) so that I can re-install the roof panel once the rollcage is in place.

I'm trying to figure out how to cut the adhesive holding the roof panel to the metal bar. Is there a GM procedure for this, something I'm not thinking of, or a special tool?

As I said in the OP I've seen pics of a Z06's roof removed at the dealer to repair a leak around the rear seal from over hardened adhesive and they got it off in once piece w/o cutting anything.

Maybe I need a better wire cutter tool.... Equalizer makes professional glass stuff and they have a wire insertion tool that comes with their kits that would probably allow me to get the wire through the urethane and make the cut along the horzontal part of the roof/bar



Just curious if you knew the GM procedure on how to do this w/o boogering up the roof. As it stands I'm probably going to cut out the support rib in front of the "rollbar" and have the glass guy come back over with his fancy sawzall attachments and make the cut. Probably cheaper than buying more tools... but it's always nice to have an excuse to buy more tools ;)

[Cobra4B]

Success! Cable saw, lots of silicone spray, and a buddy's assistance did the trick...

[c4c5specialist]

Nice!!!

Allthebest, c4c5

[Cobra4B]

Roof panel trimming done.. much more room for the cage....

[BruceF]

Nice work!

[Cobra4B]

Thanks.... still have no idea how GM can get them off w/o having to cut anything. I can't see any way to get the the seal at the rear of the roof. The upper "tub" structure has a lip on it just ahead of the trunk gasket lip. That lip is bonded to the roof up in a channel in the roof... there's no way to cut that adhesive w/o cutting the lip off. In my case I started prying the roof backwards since I had the front and sides free and the b-pillar cut and I just broke it.... but in my case it doesn't matter beacuse it's a race car and I'm re-sealing the roof with thin weather stripping so it's permanently removable.

Here's the pics I was talking about from a guy getting his roof leak fixed by GM back in the day.

http://www.jlaforums.com/Z06Pictures2.html



Wait a minute... looks like they cut that lip off too! Guess they just re-sealed it up good.