Does anyone make a replacment roof panel for a 71 Chevelle? I have a small rust hole on the LH windshield area. I could pach it, but the roof needs a little work - small dings and stuff from people (my wife) putting crap on it. I thought it would be just as easy to replace the panel if I can. Thanks!

Replacing a roof using the factory spot welds is a major task. Not impossible, but time consuming.

The pillars are two piece, where the spot welds have to be drilledto get them apart. Part stays with the roof skin, the other part stayswith the firewall/cowl. The edges along the inside of the drip rails are brazed which you cutlightly with a small grinding wheel to seperate. The rear portion abovethe quarter panel (half way up the sail panel) is filled with lead. youmelt that out with a torch and drill spotwelds around where the rear glass is.

it's a lot of work. I would try to weld patches in your roof if all youhave is small holes around the front glass. You may be able to work thembetter once your head liner and glass is removed.

This is a donor part, so all your work will be repeated to get the donor skin off.

We helped a club member, and with several guys working at he sametime it took a couple weekends. I would guess 5 guys x 4-6 hours ~=20-30hours just removing the bad skin and the donor skin. That's an optimistic estimate.

I was not there when they welded it up, but i would figure ~10 hours where most of that was prep and fit.

Still want to swap your roof? :)

Ive done bodywork since I was 16 (10 years professionally) I forgot about the drip rails. The hole is about the size of a dime. It dont even go above the chrome molding. Like I said I could just patch it. Ive replaced many roof skins before. They were very easy. But like you said, maybe it would be alot more work than I need to do. Thanks!

I am basing this job on the only one I ever helped do on a 67 Chevelle. He needed the pillars too as his were rusted out.

Maybe you can get around not doing that work if you don't need them.

We went slow, as there was one guy that does this stuff all the time. He was directing traffic for the job. Everyone else on the job would probably be considered "wrenches" with limited major body panel experience.

It was a great experience builder. I tackeled my first floor pan job right after that on a club members 65. Now that was a job!

Are you going for resto or driver? I have had good luck with POR products. The Epoxy putty they have is pretty good. The POR paint keeps rust from coming back too.

If you got a pic, post it.

Later,
DG