Fibreglass Removable Roof (Sierra)

[Highway-Star]

Hi Everyone

Due to my current employment status I am very seriously considering buying myself a fibreglass removable roof (for security at work) for my 92 WT Sierra. I have a fare few questions about them, and am open to either buying 2nd hand or brand new. It must be black, two piece and in good condition if 2nd hand.

Questions:
1 - Who actually makes these things, most companies only advertise similar canopies for utes on their websites?
2 - WRT manufacturers what are the differences in style? eg: sliding windows or not, design over roll bar, fitting method...
3 - Are the sliding windows worth having? i.e. do the usually end up just getting loose and ratling? Is the airflow worth it (I do have four seats and occasionally carry four people)
4 - Do any of the makes fit in line to the body, or do they all protrude about 15mm outside of the body?
5 - You can remove either just the front half or just the back half? or on which makes?
6 - Has anyone noticed any change in fuel efficiency since the fitting or removal of a F'glass roof comared to standard softop?
7 - How to they close on the rear tailgate? I have a thick plywood panel covered in vinal on the inside of my tailgate, will this fowl on the rear window?
8 - What is a fair price for a new one? I understand 2nd hand ones are approximatly $400-$800, depending on quality, and desperatness for cash.


Finally, if you have any other comments regarding these roofs please feel free to say so. If you want to discourage me from buying one, thats fine, but have a good reason to back up your opinion.

Sorry about the length of this questionaire, but answers to just one of questions will be appreciated.

[grimbo]

Flexiglass Challenge used to make them not sure if they still do

[Pinball]

Hi Everyone

Due to my current employment status I am very seriously considering buying myself a fibreglass removable roof (for security at work) for my 92 WT Sierra. I have a fare few questions about them, and am open to either buying 2nd hand or brand new. It must be black, two piece and in good condition if 2nd hand.

Questions:
1 - Who actually makes these things, most companies only advertise similar canopies for utes on their websites?
2 - WRT manufacturers what are the differences in style? eg: sliding windows or not, design over roll bar, fitting method...
3 - Are the sliding windows worth having? i.e. do the usually end up just getting loose and ratling? Is the airflow worth it (I do have four seats and occasionally carry four people)
4 - Do any of the makes fit in line to the body, or do they all protrude about 15mm outside of the body?
5 - You can remove either just the front half or just the back half? or on which makes?
6 - Has anyone noticed any change in fuel efficiency since the fitting or removal of a F'glass roof comared to standard softop?
7 - How to they close on the rear tailgate? I have a thick plywood panel covered in vinal on the inside of my tailgate, will this fowl on the rear window?
8 - What is a fair price for a new one? I understand 2nd hand ones are approximatly $400-$800, depending on quality, and desperatness for cash.


Finally, if you have any other comments regarding these roofs please feel free to say so. If you want to discourage me from buying one, thats fine, but have a good reason to back up your opinion.

Sorry about the length of this questionaire, but answers to just one of questions will be appreciated.

1. Flexiglass Challenge still make em... not sure if any other company does in oz.

2. If looking secondhand, the old tourertop units used to lock rear canopy over front, better weather seal..

3. Sliding windows... will rattle eventually.. let dust in etc. ... can get flip up for access..

4. All that i've ever seen protrude a little, although it's not that noticeable on my Flexiglas.. well before i bent it.

5. yes

6. not really... done to much other stuff at the same time, a bit heavier, wnd drag probably similar... less noise from canopy flap..

7. Canopy close first, then tailgate, has rubber weather strip that works better if closed onto tailgate, which can be achieved with practice, but spare wheel tends to get in way. Spare carrier will aslo chew out weather strip where it bolts onto top of tailgate.

8. New price is not fair... but the options are limited if you want one.. Graeme at Suzisport Springwood usually has one or 2 available secondhand, usually need regas on the struts.. oh new price... around $1400 from memory, but i'm old and memory is a transient thing.

BTW coloured will be rare (not impossible) secondhand as that adds to the cost, as does some configurations of windows, vents, roof racks etc. Most are white.

Spock

[grimbo]

another option is to fit a quality steel lockable box in your car for your valuables. Maybe also fit an immobiliser and a few other security preventation methods that will come in under the cost of one of these roofs.

[smileysmoke]

i have a 30cal box bolted to the floor for when i go to the beach and dont want my stuff secured by a towel on the sand :S. it is lockable.
cost me about 20 bucks.. stereo is worth more than wallet etc but wallet would be a b1tch to replace contents. if you want pics let me know.
oh and it has drink holders on top and sits behind the handbrake as a centre console

[Highway-Star]

Thanks for the early replies. I checked out flexiglass' website http://www.flexiglass.com.au. They don't mention Suzuki, I'll try and get in contact with a supplier anyway and be sure (if you can recomend a supplier in Brissy, prefer western suburbs then that would be cool).
They list two suppliers in their catalogue, one at Slacks Creek, and one at Geebung.

As for other more cost effective security: I have an alarm imobiliser combo thing (when its armed the engine starter motor wont crank). My stereo has a removable face plate, and I keep all my tools etc at home unless I'm going camping, 4wheeling etc. As for a lock up box, I've considered one, but the only functional place i can find for one is in the engine bay on the LHS wheel arch, and the extractors would heat this up something chronic. Also it doesn't stuff blatent vandals from slashing the soft top which it seems happens on ocasions .

For example of why I want one: At work last week, i came outside and someonw had trashed the cigerette but can. I dont smoke and honestly dont care about that, but it shows how blatently violent some of the no-hoppers who hang around at night are (yeah I'm night shift). I know they could still damage my car or something, but I think a F-glass hardtop will at least act as 'to hard to break in' deterant, whilst the rag top looks like 'Thats an easy oportunity, lerts see whats in the car' sort of situation.

Thanks again

[want33s]

Have a look on Ebay. There's nearly always a couple on there. I haven't seen a black one though! You don't say if you want SWB or LWB but heres one anyway.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/suzuki-sierra-lw ... dZViewItem

[Santos]

i have a 30cal box bolted to the floor for when i go to the beach and dont want my stuff secured by a towel on the sand :S. it is lockable.
cost me about 20 bucks.. stereo is worth more than wallet etc but wallet would be a b1tch to replace contents. if you want pics let me know.
oh and it has drink holders on top and sits behind the handbrake as a centre console

i want pics !

[Longbaser]

If I didn't already have a Flexiglass canopy on my LWB, I'd be bidding on that for sure! LWB canopies were never made in great numbers, so they're getting hard to find.

I paid $400 for mine six years ago at Suzukishop and it's great in winter (the only time I use it, summer security consists of not leaving anything of value in the car and my CD tuner has a removeable face). A real PITA to fit each time, mostly due to its greater length and bulk than a SWB canopy, but the difference it makes to noise levels is amazing, especially at highway speeds. I never really figured out the best way to close the rear hatch with spare wheel on tailgate, so I take it off and strap it to the R/H targa bar support.

Rattling has never been a problem with my windows, they stay quiet even on corrugated gravel roads.

Pinball, you say Flexiglass are still making canopies for Sierras but they certainly can't be bothered replying to enquiries off their website about spare parts! I'd like new seals for mine but I have given up on them and will spend an hour or so browsing at Clark Rubber.

I'd really like an extra front canopy, to cut a couple of big holes in and fill them with shadecloth! I have a full shadecloth top for summer, it's fantastic, and a clip in- clip out version would be even more convenient.

Cheers - Longbaser.

[fool_injected]

LWB one on eBay
Seen a few SWB top on there from time to time for around 5 hungy

[Highway-Star]

Sorry guys, its a SWB (car in my avatar). What are opinions on painting a white one black? What sort of paint, method etc. Powdercoating maybe, hard enamal with some particular primer?

I probably wont get home to ring flexiglass this arvo as I'm at uni finishing off an assignment on 'Drive train noise in motor vehicles' lol. Anyway I will ring them and find out for sure whether they still make them or what.

Longbaser: I like the idea of taking the back panel out, thats a substitute for rolling up the back on the softop!

The only black one I've ever seen for sale second and was attached to a suzuki. I almost bought it, and fixed the busted (broken conrod) then engine, then sold the suzi keeping the hardtop for mine, but I didn't really have access to the money at the time (I think it was $3300 total price, excelent specimen of a stock '89 WT SWB still with softop too).

Thanks guys, I think I'll have little choice in particular features when it some to buying one anyway.

[Guy]

Sorry guys, its a SWB (car in my avatar). What are opinions on painting a white one black? What sort of paint, method etc. Powdercoating maybe, hard enamal with some particular primer?

The tops are fiberglass .. so painting it will be the same as painting any other fibergalss product.

[want33s]

Sorry guys, its a SWB (car in my avatar). What are opinions on painting a white one black? What sort of paint, method etc. Powdercoating maybe, hard enamal with some particular primer?

I probably wont get home to ring flexiglass this arvo as I'm at uni finishing off an assignment on 'Drive train noise in motor vehicles' lol. Anyway I will ring them and find out for sure whether they still make them or what.

Longbaser: I like the idea of taking the back panel out, thats a substitute for rolling up the back on the softop!

The only black one I've ever seen for sale second and was attached to a suzuki. I almost bought it, and fixed the busted (broken conrod) then engine, then sold the suzi keeping the hardtop for mine, but I didn't really have access to the money at the time (I think it was $3300 total price, excelent specimen of a stock '89 WT SWB still with softop too).

Thanks guys, I think I'll have little choice in particular features when it some to buying one anyway.

If you want to recolour a white fibreglass top black forget about powdercoat, it only works on materials that conduct electricity.
You can paint fibreglass with acrylic, enamel, 2 pack or Poly U , thats the easy bit, the problem lies in the textured surface on most tops.
The wrinkly finish needs to be cleaned out and sanded, primed, sanded and topcoated resulting in the wrinkly finish being filled and looking uneven.
The best solution is to sand the top smooth prior to refinishing. You won't end up with a wrinkly finish but a glossy smooth surface. Some canopies come smooth anyway, so if you get a nice enough paint job done it will look great. .... OR.... Be patient, wait a few weeks and one will pop up on Ebay or in the for sale section of this/a forum.

[CHOPS1]

a couple of years ago i went to flexiglass here in adelaide to get a price for one(swb) and it was $1600. more if coloured. none were sitting around in australia it would have to be made on request.
Too expensive new, look for second hand. and spare wheel in the way is a pain.

One thing i'd love to inquire about is an alloy powder coated top, i spoke to a tradie on a job a little while back and he'd just had a canopy made for his navara ute. it was powdercoated white had lockable door each side and rear. all with gas struts.
It also followed the shape of the cab and curved well for less wind resistance. all dust sealed.
reinforced up top for roof racks. intergrated lights. He said they could do almost any configuration he wanted.
Window aswell. awesome workmanship.
nice and light.
Price wasnt too bad considering his was big, $2500
done by a boat builder.

Chop

[Pinball]

Pinball, you say Flexiglass are still making canopies for Sierras but they certainly can't be bothered replying to enquiries off their website about spare parts! I'd like new seals for mine but I have given up on them and will spend an hour or so browsing at Clark Rubber.

I'd really like an extra front canopy, to cut a couple of big holes in and fill them with shadecloth! I have a full shadecloth top for summer, it's fantastic, and a clip in- clip out version would be even more convenient.

Cheers - Longbaser.

I said they made em... not that they had good customer service or attitude...

Second hand would be my recommendation... i know Graeme had two at suzisport springwood a month or so ago... one was the tourer top, with sliding windows.

Which Uni u at HS? I mighta eyed your rig for spares l8ly..

If anyone is chasing LWB canopy i know of two private sales.. one is bright orange, flexiglass, looked to be in good nick (pity bout the rig under it), the other is an unknown brand... bit rougher fit and finish.

Spock

[Gwagensteve]

IMHO there is only one hardtop to get for a sierra, and that's the factory optional one.

Once you have seen one, you would never put any of the floppy leaky creaky garbage that was sold here by the canopy manufacturers on your car.

The factory optional top is plastic not glass, fits very neatly (it is snug around the windscreen - doesn't overlap) has gutters on the targa section, clips in cleanly and without rattling etc and just looks sooo much better.

Takes 30 seconds to remove the targa section. It is on overcentre latches

the rear hatch doesn't have its own lock, it has a lip that sits behind the tailgate so only the stock tailgate lock is required to lock the car.

We had one car in the club with one of these years ago. They must have only been sold with the NT's because I have never seen one on a WT, but they would fit fine.

Problem is, you might have to buy a whole NT to get one (then swap the soft top over and resell the car) but mate, they are gold.

Steve.[/list]

[Gwagensteve]

IMHO there is only one hardtop to get for a sierra, and that's the factory optional one.

Once you have seen one, you would never put any of the floppy leaky creaky garbage that was sold here by the canopy manufacturers on your car.

The factory optional top is plastic not glass, fits very neatly (it is snug around the windscreen - doesn't overlap) has gutters on the targa section, clips in cleanly and without rattling etc and just looks sooo much better.

Takes 30 seconds to remove the targa section. It is on overcentre latches

the rear hatch doesn't have its own lock, it has a lip that sits behind the tailgate so only the stock tailgate lock is required to lock the car.

We had one car in the club with one of these years ago. They must have only been sold with the NT's because I have never seen one on a WT, but they would fit fine.

Problem is, you might have to buy a whole NT to get one (then swap the soft top over and resell the car) but mate, they are gold.

Steve.

[Highway-Star]

Hey Spock, I'm at UQ St. Lucia. I saw a nice blue NT 1300 there last saturday (may have been a drover), and it had a black fibreglass top on it (what do you think I was 'eyeing off'). I rarely drive into uni, so you probably havn't been able to eye off to many parts if thats where you've been 'part hunting'.

Hey Steve, I have seen Suzuki catalogues from the eighties that mention a body option as removable hardtop (didn't realise they were plastic); and one of these catalogues was from '88 with all wide tracks. So I guess they did come with WT's. Buying a whole Sierra for a roof is an option, If I can do it without losing out (money wise, breaking even would be great!). I'd probably flog the 3.9 diffs too if it was a narrow track, although that would reduce the sellability.

Chops, an aluminium one sounds alright, but I rekon it would a bit on the costly side, I have to look at CV seals, and rear brake shoes soon as it is.

Want33s, yeah I've noticed some are a rougher finish. There is a dutch guy on the web somewhere that has a well built Sierra, that he painted the top on, but its smooth (his is not my preferance in hardtop style though). My reasoning for black, is my car is going with the red and black theme and I reckon white would just look 'off', and like it was just an afterthought haphazardly wacked on the car.

I try ringing flexiglass tomorrow, got home at 5:30 today, tomorrows my first free day in 2 weeks! Thanks for all replies, yeah I'm always on the lookout for bits I want on websites (like the son in 'The Castle', I love the trading post).

[Longbaser]

Highway-Star, I realised I can add a bit of info about painting a fibreglass canopy, as my Flexiglass job was done just after I bought it six years ago to match the paintwork on the car.

Not a real colour change as it was already white and so is the Sierra, but the canopy had a few stains and the body colour was a very different shade of white. As Want33s pointed out, sanding a Flexiglass would remove the wrinkle finish, and it could then be a major job to sand back the whole thing to match. We avoided that by carefully cleaning the entire canopy with Prepsol, making sure to work it into the wrinkles, then it was sprayed with the same 2-pack paint as the body.

Six years later there are no signs of cracking or peeling, so it seems to have worked!

Cheers - Longbaser.

[Highway-Star]

Longbaser, painting sounds good. I just rang Graeme at Suzisport Springwood about Swivel hub seals (he's out! I can't believe it), and I enquired about a roof; he said he has one at the moment, wants $400 for it, and it needs some work. He also said getting a black one is basically impossible, and painting one is doable, and could be worthwhile if patching this one up.

Anyway I rang Flexiglass: "Sorry our office is closed at the moment, our office hours are monday to friday, 9:00 to 4:30. Please leave a message and we'll get back to you as soon as possible". I'll leave my comments on this to: "Bugger".

I tried a strange one (stupid more like it) too, I rang my nearest Suzi dealership, and asked for spare parts div about a roof. The guy reponded by saying: "I know what you talking about, but they were never a genuine article, only aftermarket". I said I'm sure they were genuine at at least some stage, so he proceeded to ask for the VIN number of a car that came with one from factory! So yeah if you have a Suzi with a genuine suzi removable roof, could you please PM me your VIN number so I can interogate this bloke further. It'll probably be unavailable or too expensive, but figure its worth a go.

[smileysmoke]

i want pics !

give me a bit and ill upload some for ya

[Highway-Star]

I finally got through to Flexiglass!

They still do make them, but yes I will have to order one. Features: sliding windows with fly screen, lifetime warranty on shell, 1 year on moving parts and any paint. A 3 week waiting list approximatly. Now for the horror movie material: 'PRICE!' : $1795 inc GST and fitting, + $265 for painting to colour of choice. I sort of expected that. For future reference (searches), todays date is 4/6/2007.

I think I'll be looking 2nd hand, how can a justify $1800 minimum for a car thats worth $5000 maximum, its like fully comprhensive insurance. I saw one for sale in the for sale section, that looked like one of the ones that you can't remove front or rear independently, correct? Anyway I'll be on the lookout for one, and prepare myself for some painting.

Thanks everyone for your answers, hopefully the god of Zooks will bestow a good 2nd hand one upon me now, or else I find a winning lotto ticket on the ground.

[Gwagensteve]

[quote="Highway-Star"]

I finally got through to Flexiglass!
'PRICE!' : $1795 inc GST and fitting, + $265 for painting to colour of choice.
[quote]

How much do they want for the paper bag for your head so you don't have to own up to driving something that ugly?

I reckon if you hold out you can get a whole car with a factory one on for that, grab the top and anything else you want and offload the rest for about the same momey.

PS Vin won't help as the hardtops were a dealer fit item as an approved accessory, they didn;t come from Japan that way.

Steve.

[grimbo]

http://carl.outerlimits4x4.com/viewtopic.php?t=110515

[Pinball]

Hey Spock, I'm at UQ St. Lucia. I saw a nice blue NT 1300 there last saturday (may have been a drover), and it had a black fibreglass top on it (what do you think I was 'eyeing off'). I rarely drive into uni, so you probably havn't been able to eye off to many parts if thats where you've been 'part hunting'.

Yeah that's where mine parks...

good luck with the factory option hunt... suzuki are notorious (particulalry QLD) for being unhelpful on the old sierra bits... try shopping across the border... or there is a guy from kiwiland that has a knack for finding spares numbers on here.

Spock

[want33s]

Here's a black one and a white one. Listing only mentions rear half, don't know about the cabin roof.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Suzuki-4WD-Hard- ... dZViewItem

[v840]

Have you thought about making up your own hardtop?

Im half way through doing mine. I welded some tube to the removable B-pillar and skinned it with 0.9mm sheet steel. I bent up some slightly thicker sheet to go over the driver/passengers seat and secure to the windscreen. The doors/windscreen/body etc are all unmodified.

So far its been a fairly straightforward job. It doesnt look that flash but it keeps the heat in and the rain out and it will come in at around $100. For a removable hardtop thats pretty handy IMO.

I'll post up pics when Im done.

[cjdeane10]

Does the fibreglass tops from a WT (pre 1996) fit onto a SJ80 (96-98 soft top coily)?

Are there any differences, or should this be a simple bolt-on?

[Gwagensteve]

I woudl be surprised. the coil sierras had a different windscreen surround (doesn't fold) and the bar tying the windscreen to the B pillar is different (non removable)

I reckon the clips and seals will be different and won't work, and the profile at the top of the screen is different

You would have to have the side by side to prove it though - It might work with some modification.

The horrible aftermarket ones might work that drop right over the top of the windscreen frame, but i don't think the factory optional one would work.

Just some ideas, I don't know for sure.

steve.

[Highway-Star]

Yeah that's where mine parks...

good luck with the factory option hunt... suzuki are notorious (particulalry QLD) for being unhelpful on the old sierra bits... try shopping across the border... or there is a guy from kiwiland that has a knack for finding spares numbers on here.

Spock

Yep Suzuki don't want to know about Sierra bits usually, and they keep squat in stock at dealerships. It took them 2 weeks to get the stupid rubber grommit for the timing hole on the bellhousing!

Saw your unit at UQ last friday, it had to be yours with the writing on the drivers door. Noticed your f'glass roof is a bit more flush than allot of the aftermarket ones, what make is it?, it didn't have any windows in the back, or were they the hinged pop-out type?

I've been passivly searching still, and whenever I try a wrecking yard, all they have is bloody LWB ones. Longbaser (said they are hard to find), i reckon they are getting easier to find as of the last few months (probably people doing ute chops or something to their LWBs). I'm not keen on buying one that I cant look at first (i.e. not long distance purchase over ebay).

I saw a coily in the local supermarket carpark the otherday, so I conviniently parked next to it. It had a flexiglass f'glass roof on it, looked brand new, along with the brand new looking bullbar etc. Anyway those flexiglass ones really are quite bulky, and do overhang the back section more than allot of others do. I can't tell if this was the same as the one for leaf sierras or not, but when I rang flexiglass they didn't ask what year model I had, I just said it was a SWB Sierra. So maybe these ones will fit a leaf and coily?