snipcod

The camaro That Iv been working on had a sea of bondo on it. I got some of it off today. The roof is all messed up. Dents every where. Plus the guy who must have trid to fix it, drilled holes to pull the dents out. How much do you guys think a body shop would charge to have a new roof put on my 84 camaro.

Pew

You'll probally have to take it to them to get a estimate but I can tell you It's gonna be quite expensive.

snipcod

What do you think. 1000, 2000? This is kinda making think twice about fixing her up.

M84Z28

You could try yourself if you had a welder. You just have to be precise about lining everything up and stuff. My guess would be probably between 1200-2200 but i dont really know.

CaysE

It would be expensive, but it's not hard... and the majority of the cost would be in paint, i believe. Putting a new roof on is as easy as chopping a good one off a parts car and welding it onto yours. Stripping the interior and supplying them with a good roof already removed from a parts car will cut your costs on labor.

Bondo isn't bad for the car or anything... but I would get subframe connectors put on your car ASAP; a dented and/or replaced roof equals more flex than normal in the body.

Pew

If I were you I would try to fix the roof before you go ahead and go chopping the roof off if it's not to bad the body shop could probally fix what the previous owner did and will probally be cheaper. Like I said before chopping the roof of will be expensive for a body shop to do. But like I said could be easier and cheaper to fix what ya got depending on th extent of the damage.

1992rs/ss

sounds like you should convert it to a convertible hahahahahaha

snipcod

I got they headliner off today. And was wondering if you can just replace the skin on the roof. The cross member on the passenger side looks alittel bent up. But looks fixiable.

chevyrumble83

ya u can just replace the cloth and reuse the board, just dont try cleaning the cloth thats on it now it will shrink. get new cloth and cut to size, lot of info on this site on this topic

JeffW

hmm someone didn't read the post


Roof Metal.

Just fix it if i remember correctly you got that car for a song and a trailer included. Bondo is no problem if done right and not hiding a bunch or rust. The holes in the roof from pulling dents is not a big deal that was the old way of doing it.

i wouldn;t go after the roof unless it was really bad like rolled over or along that line.

Good luck keep us up on the progress

chevyrumble83

well i skimed it and read the last couple posts...... the dude said>"got they headliner off today. And was wondering if you can just replace the skin on the roof. The cross member on the passenger side looks alittel bent up. But looks fixiable." i some how thought he was talking about the head lineing, my bad sry man...but hey u might need that info for future refrence lol
later

jay92,85,79

iTrader: (1)

Hey i did this to my 1st camaro it is not that hard little time consuming all u are doing is replaceing the roof skin.U DO NOT CUT IN TO THE PILLERS.Have to take the window out and hatch.Drill out about 100 or so spot welds and it pops right off.

86IROCKET-Z

Looks to me like the roof would cost more than what you payed for the car. Nothing wrong with saving them, I'm 100% for it. But if you can do it yourself-save some money!
My dad and I had to replace the roof on his toyota. Just make sure you get everything lined up well, and take the time to pull out all the interior. Even if you decide to have a body shop do it, things like gutting the interior and getting it prepared will bring down the price for you. The labor hours add up.

86transamws6

TARGA! TARGA! TARGA!

snipcod

Targa would be bad ***. Im just not sure about how much that would cost me. I would think it would be up there. plus I thought the way these cars where made to have a real roof on them.

19doug90

you read my mind, and considering he either got the car for free or paid next to nothing (i forget although i do remember the post from forever ago) so weld in a cage, some sfc's and get started on that targa

snipcod

Whats a sfc? How would I make a targa.

86transamws6

SFC = sub-frame connectors, basically 2 steel rails u weld to the subframe to basically have a frame running the length of the car, really stiffens up the chasis. and to make a targa? cut out the roof and throw a plastic tarp in the trunk in case it rains

snipcod

But how would you make the targa its self. Iv never seen a 3 3rd gen with one.

86transamws6

that last part was a joke, I was sayin just cut out the roof and leave it like that, but anyway I guess u could get some old t-tops and use the framing from them and mold over the t-tops glass with fiberglass and throw the frame under the fiberglass. then incorporate the t-top latches into it, kinda like on the simon and simon targa. you could also use convertable weatherstripping on the front where it meets the windshield

19doug90

making the targa is a complete custom fab, its just cut out the roof, make her look pretty. and if it was a daily driven car you could fab something up for the actual targa roof. I wouldnt do that though unless i was going to put a cage in the car because you would weaken the chassis so much

JeremyNYR

iTrader: (2)

I'm guessing that if the roof was hacked up that much from the previous owner, the rest of the body has problems too... like significant rust a and bondo everywhere. I say you consider this 3rd gne as a stepping stone. Go the cheap route to make it look decent for now and save towards a replacement 3rd gen with everything you want in it. I just found an 84 Camaro for my friend that he bought for $150 (yeah, he owes me big time!). We're just getting it road worthy and realize that it isn't worth a full restoration. Maybe we'll do a quick sanding of the obvious rust areas and spraypaint it but that's about it. Some day when it's not worth repairing he'll look to get a 3rd gen in better condition to start with. Just giving you an idea of one way you may want to approach it

snipcod

Iv looked at the rest of the car. and it looks great. Very small spots of rust. Nothing I could not do. Under side is good. Just a bit grimme. Best of all. runs good to. Just a small blue smoke at start up. But I run it maby 3 times it the past 5 years. Drives good to. Just has a beat up roof. Im thinking mad wife with his golf clubs