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Sun Mar 07, 2010 4:11 pm

my metal sunroof has no cables, it a mess because the PO decided rubber spray with a layer of caulk was better than fixing it, kept it rust free, but to get it off.....you shoud see my hands, question is, can i put one of those cool vinyl sunroofs in the opening or find orginal parts for the metal one BTW its a 72

Sun Mar 07, 2010 5:20 pm

I believe what you need to do is remove the interior handle and then remove the drive gear, this should hopefully free up the sunroof and allow you to push it back. I'm sure some more knowledgeable sunroof experts will chime in though. I've only fixed one sunroof and I was lucky enough to have it open a little bit for me.

Sun Mar 07, 2010 5:21 pm

do not pry on anything or you will destroy it. I will explain shortly.

Sun Mar 07, 2010 5:30 pm

I put this together for someone here and thought it might be a good post for anyone who has a sunroof bus. How to open a sunroof that has a busted or broken cable. There is no other way to do this without damaging the inner panel.

To get it out if the gears are stripped you turn the handle like to open it and remove the handle - 1 screw. Pull the metal gearset out 2 screws.

With your fist/palm hit/slap down a few times on the REAR outside of the sunroof on both sides and the back will drop a few inches. Force open the roof about 4 to 8 inches with your hands. If it is sticky spray some wd-40 etc along both sides. Sometimes you just have to standup and push with your hands and some gloves to get it to open about 4 to 8 inches. The first inch is the hardest and sometimes a wooden shim or wide screwdriver will help BUT IT WILL deform the sheet metal which you will have to straighten before you can re-install things. ONCE the back of the roof drops the roof will slide UNLESS you or a PO have buggered the sides of the inner panel by prying on it.

Once it is about 4 or 5 inches open, from the inside of the bus you use a screwdriver between the panels to pop the inner panel clips out of their holes that hold the front of the inner panel up to the front of the outer panel.

With the two seperate, the inner panel slides back into the area where the sunroof goes when it opens. Then you return the sunroof to almost closed and take out the screws underneath and unlatch the cables. It will lift out the top.

One or both of the rails have to be loosened, along with the plastic pieces up front and then the inner panel will slide forward and can be taken out. Cables can be replaced etc.

Assembly is reverse. Adjusting is shown in Bentley.[/quote]