Appreciate the pictures. I will be making a video of me following the TSRM this weekend. If it is the proper way, then someone will have a good video to reference how to. If not... I am sure someone will hook me up with some knowledge lol
Rescue: 1985
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Today I got the headliner out. It didn't have as much damage as I thought. A few little chew marks that I patched up with fiber glass just to give it some reinforcement down the road. I also peeled up the back end of the liner it self and gave a few shots of glue and flattened it out. After that the other side also got a good alcohol wiping and painted that up. I know 80s cars never had black headliners... but I couldn't resist! I'm a sucker for black headliners lol
Also got all the other top trim alcohol wiped/cleaned and painted up. I will be putting everything in tomorrow.
I gave the sunroof a try... motor clicks and moves what I think it pretty good. I tried following the TSRM for manually adjusting by the flat head screw... will not budge. I gotta get some better pics of how it works. I even tapped everything around the entire sunroof with a hammer to try and get it to budge, no luck. Really wanted to have this solved before the liner goes back in. I guess it wouldn't be that difficult to get to the motor with the liner in.
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Tomorrow I will try and get everything in. If I have enough time I still have to do my diag on cyl 3... pretty sure its going to be a sticking valve. Can't see it being bent since its a non-interference motor. As always... we shall see.
Also got all the other top trim alcohol wiped/cleaned and painted up. I will be putting everything in tomorrow.
I gave the sunroof a try... motor clicks and moves what I think it pretty good. I tried following the TSRM for manually adjusting by the flat head screw... will not budge. I gotta get some better pics of how it works. I even tapped everything around the entire sunroof with a hammer to try and get it to budge, no luck. Really wanted to have this solved before the liner goes back in. I guess it wouldn't be that difficult to get to the motor with the liner in.
Tomorrow I will try and get everything in. If I have enough time I still have to do my diag on cyl 3... pretty sure its going to be a sticking valve. Can't see it being bent since its a non-interference motor. As always... we shall see.
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I don't think hitting the sunroof panel will help in any way. There is 4 sliding points, one each corner. The 2 fronts are really just sliders, won't go up or down, just slide back and forth. The motor drives 2 spring/cables, one each side, that attach to each rear corners, through a little lever link. Going backward, the lever link is pulled flat horizontally (lowerong the rear corners), then moving everything backwards. When going forward, another funny shape lever keeps the first lever link down when moving forward, until the front of the panel hits the roof. Then, with the motor still pulling forward, the lever link will tilt vertically (overcomming the level holding it flat) , which raise the 2 back corners.
So, hitting the panel to go down will only risk of breaking the rears lever links.
These lever link parts are the only replacement parts you see to fix defective sunroof mecanism.
There is a clutch between the motor and the spring/cables.
If you remove the motor, you will see the 2 spring/cables, one each side of the track. I don't remember which of the 2 spring/cables goes on which side, but look at motor rotation for "opening", it will indicate how they need to move to open the panel.
So, hitting the panel to go down will only risk of breaking the rears lever links.
These lever link parts are the only replacement parts you see to fix defective sunroof mecanism.
There is a clutch between the motor and the spring/cables.
If you remove the motor, you will see the 2 spring/cables, one each side of the track. I don't remember which of the 2 spring/cables goes on which side, but look at motor rotation for "opening", it will indicate how they need to move to open the panel.
Red, I appreciate the break down! I tried messing around with it again, ended up breaking the head of the screw off 
Half the day was spent using a tap, die and extractor set to make up new threads. Needless to say it is still not working. I was only lightly tapping around the housing just to try and free it up. I did see the wires that connect to the gear of the motor. They look rusted up. At this point that's a later project since I needed to get the headliner in today before the rain came in. I also tried pressing down on the corners from the outside while operating the motor. Maybe it is just not strong enough...
Half the day was spent using a tap, die and extractor set to make up new threads. Needless to say it is still not working. I was only lightly tapping around the housing just to try and free it up. I did see the wires that connect to the gear of the motor. They look rusted up. At this point that's a later project since I needed to get the headliner in today before the rain came in. I also tried pressing down on the corners from the outside while operating the motor. Maybe it is just not strong enough...
A little bit pricey at 10 bucks a can. I have used this in the past and it never let's me down. Flat black is the way to go. It doesn't look dull like primer and doesn't over shine like it's soaked in oil. I'll get more pics of the interior in detail as I reassemble the car for you.
Did you ever consider publishing your restauration story in a magazine? Hemmings Classic Car runs various resto stories and I'm sure they'd be interested in yours. Would make a great read to be honest! It's just terrific what you do and document!
I really do appreciate the kind words. I like documenting my restoration for motivational purposes (mine and others). If I ever get discouraged or over whelmed I can easily go to page 1 and see how far I've come.
As far as a published story... I would obviously have to wait till it's fully restored, but I would not mind at all doing something like that. These older JDM's definitely do not get the spot light of restoration publications.
yea I noticed the bolts holding it in on the sides and the front and I was like "wait a minute... I could... oh shit nevermind its sealed!" lol
As soon as I saw the body adhesive I said screw that (no pun intended). I do think that the motor is just weak... but then again maybe its also rust welded in place.
As soon as I saw the body adhesive I said screw that (no pun intended). I do think that the motor is just weak... but then again maybe its also rust welded in place.
Appreciate that... maybe the motor is too weak after all? I want to remove the assy since the sunroof portion of the liner has a 4 inch rip in it, otherwise it's just a matter of rust repair for the outside tbh
New sunroof motor came in... but I was excited to get another package as well I forgot to post up the finished fiber glassed spare tire well. Again I only gave it a light sand with 200 grit and just POR 15 it. I decided on getting sound deadener. Pretty nice quality stuff, used two boxes of this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0751CBXBT?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details . The box was surprisingly really heavy. Very easy to work with though.
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Friend came over and he looked over my engine issues... it ran tonight because of him. ignition timing was off one tooth on the distributor. We squirted a little gas in the throttle body and it idled for a few seconds. Still smiling hours later.
Going to work on getting the interior back together and getting everything ready for the gas tank once its done.
I forgot to post up the finished fiber glassed spare tire well. Again I only gave it a light sand with 200 grit and just POR 15 it. I decided on getting sound deadener. Pretty nice quality stuff, used two boxes of this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0751CBXBT?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details . The box was surprisingly really heavy. Very easy to work with though.
Friend came over and he looked over my engine issues... it ran tonight because of him. ignition timing was off one tooth on the distributor. We squirted a little gas in the throttle body and it idled for a few seconds. Still smiling hours later.
Going to work on getting the interior back together and getting everything ready for the gas tank once its done.
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Congrats Bro!! This is huge
POST NUMBER 100!!! Wow it has been a great ride.... or lack there of so far lol.
Got some more stuff done.
A bunch of interior, mostly rear and rear passenger area, trim is cleaned, painted and reinstalled. Used new black hardware for the screws that are not hidden. Got the spare cleaned up so I can store it back in the car.
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Heres one of the headliner installed... hate the fact that there is a giant rip in the sunroof panel part. Thats the only damage aside from a small 1 inch tear in a rear panel.
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I ended up installing another sunroof motor I got off ebay... no luck. Not sure what in the heck is keeping it locked in place. Motor definitely seems stronger than the one I had, plus no rust on the gear. For now I can live with it, but when it comes time for paint it must be solved obviously.
Since I am still highly motivated over the engine not only running, but with no abnormal noises of any kind, I more confidently ordered a bunch of stuff for the next few weekends.
Priority list had to shift a little due to I will not have access to either of my shops for the entire summer. Getting the tires mounted and balanced will be first. Still have to locate a windshield, and while its off, figure out the extent of the rust in the cowl... seems to be the only cancer spot other than my rear hatch.
All in all a very accomplished day... very sore
Got some more stuff done.
A bunch of interior, mostly rear and rear passenger area, trim is cleaned, painted and reinstalled. Used new black hardware for the screws that are not hidden. Got the spare cleaned up so I can store it back in the car.
Heres one of the headliner installed... hate the fact that there is a giant rip in the sunroof panel part. Thats the only damage aside from a small 1 inch tear in a rear panel.
I ended up installing another sunroof motor I got off ebay... no luck. Not sure what in the heck is keeping it locked in place. Motor definitely seems stronger than the one I had, plus no rust on the gear. For now I can live with it, but when it comes time for paint it must be solved obviously.
Since I am still highly motivated over the engine not only running, but with no abnormal noises of any kind, I more confidently ordered a bunch of stuff for the next few weekends.
- Front pads & rotors
- Rear pads & rotors
- Thermostat (for when I flush the coolant)
- Radiator cap
- Drive belt for alternator (already have the other two belts new)
- Idler pulley (while I'm there, and its 12 bucks)
- 16 lug nuts (ones on currently are a bit chewed/rusted over)
- 5 BF Goodrich tires.... ouch.
- 3 piece carpet from stockinteriors.com (all black, mass backing)... smaller of an ouch....but still an ouch.
Priority list had to shift a little due to I will not have access to either of my shops for the entire summer. Getting the tires mounted and balanced will be first. Still have to locate a windshield, and while its off, figure out the extent of the rust in the cowl... seems to be the only cancer spot other than my rear hatch.
All in all a very accomplished day... very sore
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