removing sail panel IMPOSSIBLE!

**02fbody35th** · 04-09-2011, 05:57 PM

so ive been trying to remove a sail panel from a lt1 camaro from the junk yard and its near impossible. i got a wire saw from harbor freight. looks like piano wire with handles on the end. anyways ive been at it for a couple hours and i got about 1/3 of the way through the panel. and it wasnt easy! if any of you guys done this, please offer up your suggestions. this sucks. and my arms are killing.

**Smittro** · 04-09-2011, 06:36 PM

I've never heard of one being removed without destroying it..

Subscribed..

**02fbody35th** · 04-09-2011, 06:43 PM

i have heard of it being done. so far just doesnt seem practical. thats why im hoping sombody has done it and has some helpful suggestions

**sjsingle1** · 04-09-2011, 07:04 PM

i saw a thread over at ls1tech where the guy did it with lots of pics.....he pretty much destroyed it.......but it did not take him long

**INMY01TA** · 04-10-2011, 12:49 PM

I'd just buy a new one.

**Smittro** · 04-10-2011, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by INMY01TA

I'd just buy a new one.

+2

**02fbody35th** · 04-10-2011, 04:17 PM

Believe me I would. but gm discontinued them a while ago. they pretty much dont exist anymore. I know 6LE is making them but they are in pre production right now and he said it could be a couple months before we see one. so i have no other choice but to remove one from a earlier car.

**02fbody35th** · 04-11-2011, 05:09 PM

update for those of you considering doing this. a guy from another site offered me a very helpfull suggestion that worked. what i did was have the junk yard cut the section of roof of that i needed for $150. then i took it home and removed the mass of metal from the underside of the panel so could access the piece of metal the panel is attached to. then i heated the glue with a heat gun from the otherside. once it got nice and hot the piano wire cut threw like butter. I got a perfect panel undamaged.

**Smittro** · 04-11-2011, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by 02fbody35th

update for those of you considering doing this. a guy from another site offered me a very helpfull suggestion that worked. what i did was have the junk yard cut the section of roof of that i needed for $150. then i took it home and removed the mass of metal from the underside of the panel so could access the piece of metal the panel is attached to. then i heated the glue with a heat gun from the otherside. once it got nice and hot the piano wire cut threw like butter. I got a perfect panel undamaged.

Noice!

**INMY01TA** · 04-11-2011, 05:36 PM

Good job, ya I was referring to the 6LE guy.

**silverWS6** · 04-14-2011, 09:30 PM

Doesn't the sponsor GM site on here sell one? I think Jeff bought his there, if I am not mistaken

**INMY01TA** · 04-15-2011, 02:45 AM

Originally Posted by silverWS.6

Doesn't the sponsor GM site on here sell one? I think Jeff bought his there, if I am not mistaken

Read post #7 ^^.

**02fbody35th** · 04-15-2011, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by silverWS.6

Doesn't the sponsor GM site on here sell one? I think Jeff bought his there, if I am not mistaken

yeah, jeff got his before they were discontinued. most places still have them listed on their sites, but when you call them they all say that the part has been discontinued and their are none available anywhere in the usa

**dragonchick** · 04-15-2011, 11:20 AM

Yep, I believe 6LE is gonna be the only place you'll be able to buy one, if you don't want to go the route of removing one off of an f-body yourself. Classic Industries did have them, but not anymore. I need one for my T/A bad, but i'm gonna have to wait till 6LE has them ready, got too mnay other projects goin on at the moment to worry about my roof panel...

**denegrader** · 04-17-2011, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by 02fbody35th

so ive been trying to remove a sail panel from a lt1 camaro from the junk yard and its near impossible. i got a wire saw from harbor freight. looks like piano wire with handles on the end. anyways ive been at it for a couple hours and i got about 1/3 of the way through the panel. and it wasnt easy! if any of you guys done this, please offer up your suggestions. this sucks. and my arms are killing.

Do you or any one know how why g.m. would make a what supposedly a steel ribbed roof?
with a plastic glued on roof and sail panels, does anyone know why g.m. didnt just make a conventional steel roof duh like every car has had for 100 years???
i mean does this make any sense at all?
What was the object , does anyone know?
To me it sounds like an unnecesary frustraton and expense not a simple design w low maintenance inmind,
Did G.M. think that all f body owners would gladly accept this nonsense well word got around bad quality control!

**INMY01TA** · 04-17-2011, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by denegrader

Do you or any one know how why g.m. would make a what supposedly a steel ribbed roof?
with a plastic glued on roof and sail panels, does anyone know why g.m. didnt just make a conventional steel roof duh like every car has had for 100 years???
i mean does this make any sense at all?
What was the object , does anyone know?
To me it sounds like an unnecesary frustraton and expense not a simple design w low maintenance inmind,
Did G.M. think that all f body owners would gladly accept this nonsense well word got around bad quality control!

The only body panels that are metal are the quarter panels and the hood (non ws6/SS) Saves weight, money, gas milaege, etc.

**denegrader** · 04-17-2011, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by INMY01TA

The only body panels that are metal are the quarter panels and the hood (non ws6/SS) Saves weight, money, gas milaege, etc.

ok fair enough yes im learning and i still would like to know if anyone knows what is under the plastic roof ?
To me it sounds like the roof structure is not metal at all underneath for structural rigidity??