sliding ragtop

faygolovinjuggalo · Post by **faygolovinjuggalo** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 6:06 am

anybody saw a vibe with a sliding ragtop yet.... i got a 4ft power sliding rag top made by wabasto in my blazer, but i was thinking about putting it in my vibe. if anybody has a picture of a vibe with one that would be great

kaybeejay · Post by **kaybeejay** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 10:12 am

It's probably going to be costly. You're likely going to be losing at least one (maybe more) structural supports by making an opening in the roof that large.The original Vibe was not offered with a moonroof and 17" rims for safety concerns over structural integrity. I would guess that a 4ft ragtop roof will be even worse.Your Blazer is probably a body on frame so its more structurally sound. The Vibe is a unibody, so it would flex and bend like crazy.

faygolovinjuggalo · Post by **faygolovinjuggalo** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 11:04 am

no i aint worried about making it fit... yeah you will loose one support in the roof... that dont matter.... we do lots of moonroofs at the shop all the time on cars that dont even come factory with them.... i was just wondering if anyone had any pics of a vibe with a rag top.... i didn't buy some cheap ragtop either... this one will set you back almost $1500 installed. And yes i can say it is 100% watertight.... i installed it in my blazer last summer... its a project doordragger that i am thinking about skipping cause it just cost to much damn money.. http://www.hollandia.com.mx/extlona.html

kaybeejay · Post by **kaybeejay** » Fri Mar 19, 2004 2:59 am

I think I misunderstood then - I thought you were putting in a 4ft opening.A 4ft hole in the roof of the Vibe would likely take out more than 1 cross member. I think there are three total - so lets say that two are removed to accommodate this ragtop, that only leaves one member, therefore weakening the entire structure of the car.The pictures in that link you supplied showed ragtops with a smaller than 4ft opening.

faygolovinjuggalo · Post by **faygolovinjuggalo** » Fri Mar 19, 2004 5:02 am

unfortunatly that picture doesn't do it justice. i went out and measured it. its 31.5" wide and 44" long.. thats close enough to 4'. removing 2 of the 3 braces wont hurt it. cause you still leave the front and rear headers and the 3rd brace. plus you add supports. so it will be fine. i will post some pictures of it when i get it done. It will be a few weeks before i jump in and do it though. here is another picture of the ragtop. i went out and took a picture of it in the blazer. http://www.geocities.com/faygo...p.jpg

kaybeejay · Post by **kaybeejay** » Fri Mar 19, 2004 5:12 am

The reason I brought it up was because the early Vibe was not available with a moonroof and 17" rims. That was because in testing, the combination of aggressive 17" rims, a missing cross member, and a glass moonroof resulted in cracked, leaking, broken, shattered moonroofs.I think they might have fixed that with the newer Vibes - but I am not sure.Your ragtop is not glass, so I guess its more flexible, but still - the warning is out there.I suppose if you drive like grandma this will never be an issue, but if you plan to autox or drive had - then the structural weaknesses might manifest themselves later down the road.

faygolovinjuggalo · Post by **faygolovinjuggalo** » Fri Mar 19, 2004 5:18 am

well i aint scared..... i tend to chop up perfectly fine vehicles. lol... my last one was a 1996 s-10 convertible, layin frame

GrafxWerks · Post by **GrafxWerks** » Fri Mar 19, 2004 6:06 am

I know someone that put one in her Cavalier without any problems. You will obviously lose some structural rigidity, but daily driveability won't change much (a few extra creeks and rattles perhaps). Just make sure its not mounted too far forward.- Ryan

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Fri Mar 19, 2004 11:50 pm

Quote, originally posted by kaybeejay Â»The reason I brought it up was because the early Vibe was not available with a moonroof and 17" rims. That was because in testing, the combination of aggressive 17" rims, a missing cross member, and a glass moonroof resulted in cracked, leaking, broken, shattered moonroofs.Hm...so this is me thinking twice about getting an aftermarket moonroof.. Oh well, guess i'll have to install a big-(removed) LCD and a camera on the roof. Simulated moonroof!

NovaResource2 · Post by **NovaResource2** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 1:04 am

The sliding vinyl sunroof was done back in the 70's on the Nova and even in the 60's on VW Bugs. The leaked real bad but modern versions are much better.Go here for more info:http://www.donmar.comThey have much more than just vinyl.

faygolovinjuggalo · Post by **faygolovinjuggalo** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 6:54 am

Quote, originally posted by Jahntassa Â»Hm...so this is me thinking twice about getting an aftermarket moonroof.. Oh well, guess i'll have to install a big-(removed) LCD and a camera on the roof. Simulated moonroof! if you are really interseted in a moonroof. go to a authorized dealer of wabasto roofs. that way they will put the proper roof in your vibe, and it will be warrantied. that way you dont have to worry about it at all....

GT_03 · Post by **GT_03** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 7:06 am

Quote, originally posted by faygolovinjuggalo Â»if you are really interseted in a moonroof. go to a authorized dealer of wabasto roofs. that way they will put the proper roof in your vibe, and it will be warrantied. that way you dont have to worry about it at all.... First off, it is Webasto, second they are awesome, that's the company i got installed on mine

Attached files

GT_03 · Post by **GT_03** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 7:07 am

another pic

Attached files

faygolovinjuggalo · Post by **faygolovinjuggalo** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 7:12 am

who cares if i missed spelled it..... i know what it is cause i install **** like that for a living

faygolovinjuggalo · Post by **faygolovinjuggalo** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 7:14 am

is that a moonroof, spoiler roof or ragtop

GT_03 · Post by **GT_03** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 8:12 am

just a moon roof

Attached files

faygolovinjuggalo · Post by **faygolovinjuggalo** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 11:16 am

looks good

GT_03 · Post by **GT_03** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 11:24 am

Thanks, it was my first mod, i never even drove the car. I had the dealership take it to the installation place and pick it up. It cost about a $1000, but well worth it, and i got a lifetime guarntee on the parts and installation.

Attached files

faygolovinjuggalo · Post by **faygolovinjuggalo** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 7:46 am

well i went out yesterday and pulled the ragtop out of the blazer... maybe this weekend i will cut a hole in the roof of the vibe....

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 7:56 am

i want a webasto spoiler moonroof. can get one installed here for $850! but if i do it, will go to our client, auto trim designs in fbx for $750 installed! rather give them the business.... If if if....but again... all wishful thinking till my bills are long gone!

faygolovinjuggalo · Post by **faygolovinjuggalo** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 8:18 am

the spoiler roof is pretty simple to instal. I would almost say any one with a bit of mechanic skills could do so. but the problem that you will run into is the headliner. It takes alot of knowledge to be able to get it to look factory. And it is the most time consuming.

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 8:54 am

oh, i would def have a pro install that! i would screw it up for sure and something about cutting into my car.... hmm... no

Pills_53716 · Post by **Pills_53716** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:52 am

I think it looks great!!! If I were do buy this car again, I would skip the MOON & TUNES Package, get a basic radio and get a great sunroof like you did. Outstanding!!!

GT_03 · Post by **GT_03** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 12:35 pm

Thanks alot. I was goin to get the factory one, but could not find a Lava GT with one, so i cut my loses and got something alot better.

faygolovinjuggalo · Post by **faygolovinjuggalo** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:59 am

I was bored today... so i went out and put my sliding ragtop in finally..... Its been a long day so i haven't done the headliner yet.... but I will do that tomorrow....

Attached files

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 10:18 am

that looks sweet! now how do you go about installing something like that? cut thru the roof obviously...

frostyGT · Post by **frostyGT** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 10:58 am

Holy smokes!!! That is beautiful! I would love to have that large opening. Very nice job!

faygolovinjuggalo · Post by **faygolovinjuggalo** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 9:48 pm

thanks for the compliments.... that is much appreciated.... yeah its a pretty big opening.... their were 5 supports in the roof... unlike any other vehicle i have delt with.... most have 3 or 4... the hole was 31.5" x 42.25"... i had this rag top in my blazer... and it aint like some ragtop from streetbeatcustoms... this thing is complete power just like a normal moon roof... and it dont leak...

Attached files

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Sun Apr 04, 2004 2:38 am

I'd be curious how it'll last over time.. The aftermarket moonroof in my Probe started sagging in the corners, almost dragging down the whole roof...It is a big hole, but it almost looks like it should be there... Any pics with it closed?

faygolovinjuggalo · Post by **faygolovinjuggalo** » Sun Apr 04, 2004 5:28 am

this is the only pic with it closed that i have right now..... its blurry... gotta take another.... plus i got the headliner back in... i just dont feel like going outside....

Attached files

sliding ragtop

sliding ragtop

Re: sliding ragtop (faygolovinjuggalo)

Re: sliding ragtop (kaybeejay)

Re: (kaybeejay)

Re: (kaybeejay)

Re: (faygolovinjuggalo)

Re: (kaybeejay)

Re: (Jahntassa)

Re: (Jahntassa)

Re: (faygolovinjuggalo)

Re: (GT_03)

Re: (GT_03)

Re: (faygolovinjuggalo)

Re: (faygolovinjuggalo)

Re: (GT_03)

Re: (faygolovinjuggalo)

Re: (GT_03)

Re: (Pills_53716)

Re: (GT_03)

Re: (faygolovinjuggalo)

Re: (faygolovinjuggalo)

Re: (Jahntassa)