Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[welder]

I feel sure that someone on this cracking forum will be able to help me. I'm trying to remove the sliding sunroof from my 1937 Morris 8 and, for the life of me, can't see what I need to do.

When I try to slide the section back it's fine for the first 8 or 9 inches of travel then stops. Abruptly. It's not a gradual thing, more like a positive stop.

The panel in question has suffered from some delamination and I'm determined to restore it to a useable and attractive item. If only I can get the perishing thing (no pun intended) off the car.

Help, please.

Ian

[peter scott]

Hi Ian,

If it uses the same system as on my SS Jaguar then you need to feel for two holes hidden beneath the head cloth on the sliding section of the roof. There is one on each side and they are possibly 0.5" to 1" in from each side and are the same distance from the front edge as the control handle. The holes are about 1/4" diameter.

Once you have located the holes you can either pull back a little of the head cloth or just puncture it so that you can push a screwdriver up into the hole. Then give the screwdriver a sharp upward tap and this should release the catches that retain the roof in its runners. I think you may need to open the roof a couple of inches before doing this.

When you have released both sides the roof panel can be raised at the front and pulled forward and lifted clear.

Getting the catches to lock again when replacing the roof panel
is done by having the panel slid back a few inches so that you can slide something like a screwdriver under the catch. Then with a downward blow on that corner of the panel the catch should rotate back into locked position. Repeat on the other side.

HTH

Peter
_________________
http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[welder]

Peter, I couldn't have hoped for a more succinct response.

Thank you.

Ian

[welder]

Done it! It wasn't like Peter Scott's SS Jag, rather more pragmatic, actually.

After a good mooch about I noted that both runners/slides are attached to the car with screws from above the car so I took a runner out, along with the roof panel. Quite straightforward.

Regrettably, the sliding roof panel is fit only as a pattern to enable a replacement to be manufactured, it's rotten and nasty and has been cobbled together, at some point in it's history, by an uncaring lout.

Oh well.

Ian