Replacing bubbling rooftop panel

**pv-camaro** · 07-07-2011, 10:15 AM

Hi,
It looks like mine 2001 Camaro (T-tops) is creating some bubbles on the roofpanel.
I think it needs to be replaced, GM has stopped making these panels.

I'am thinking of buying a panel from 6LE Designs, or is it a better option to remove a panel from a pre 98 donor car, the original panel is ABS plastic (if i am correct) and the 6LE is fiberglas ?
Has anyone already tried this panel 6LE designs ?

How is the fitment, will it fit just like the original one ?

**jiveass** · 07-07-2011, 10:18 AM

not sure of the fitment....i know the cost is around $600....the "glue" used by gm is what caused the bubbling....i have yet to see anyone use the one from 6le..
i believe pajeff has a thread about this situation...

**pv-camaro** · 07-07-2011, 10:31 AM

the costs are not the problem, the orginal one is just as expensive

I am just a little bit worried about the fitment, and will it look just as the orginal one.
I have had a 71 Camaro for several years, and had to replace most of the intior parts with "repo" parts, and some just won't fit.

**02fbody35th** · 07-07-2011, 05:46 PM

I asked the same question a couple months ago and the panels were still in pre production, I believe this is still the case so know one actually has one yet. but I too was worried about the fitment so i got one off a pre 98 car in the scrap yard. not an easy task. but if you would like i can let you know how I went about getting it off.

**az gt eater** · 07-07-2011, 06:06 PM

You should share it here. I have heard that it is impossible to get off wo breaking it.

**pv-camaro** · 07-07-2011, 08:25 PM

In februari i went to a yunkyard, and tried to get it of a 94 Firebird.
It didn't work, maybe it was to cold and the glue was to thick.

I used a thin iron cord

**02fbody35th** · 07-08-2011, 01:27 PM

yeah its imposible to get thru the glue without heating it up, what i did was have the junk yard cut off the roof section where the panel is. then i loaded it into the back of my suv and when i got it home i cut as much metal from the underside as i could in order to reach the layer of metal where the panel is actually glued to. then I heated it from the underside with a heat gun, once the glue was warm enough i used a piece of heavy gauge guitar string and it went thru like butter. now dont get discouraged at the begining because on the bottom portion of the panel where it meets with the quarter panel is gonna be where you first enter with your wire and there is alot of glue there, so its gonna be tough at first. but once you get thru that section its smooth sailing. you may be able to heat the panel from the outside if you dont feel like having it cut off and bringing it home but you would have to be very careful not to damage the panel, im not sure though because i didnt do it this way.

**cammed goat** · 07-08-2011, 03:57 PM

I overheard a discussion at Carlisle with friends about the removal method. I can't remember if one friend talked about using a curved tool like a hooked knife to remove the old panel.

**az gt eater** · 07-08-2011, 04:28 PM

Would painting the panel stop it from bubbling? I plan on painting mine. And I dont have ANY bubbling now. It sits in the garage.

**cammed goat** · 07-08-2011, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by az gt eater

Would painting the panel stop it from bubbling? I plan on painting mine. And I dont have ANY bubbling now. It sits in the garage.

From what I have read on this forum and heard from friends who own F-Bodies, if the bubbling has started on the current panel, the panel is toast and needs to be replaced. GM has either changed or reformulated the adhesive so it won't seep through the replacement panel. I think there are members who removed the panel and glue and just painted what was underneath.

**pv-camaro** · 09-25-2011, 08:00 AM

I went to a guy who takes Firebirds (mostly totaled by a crash) apart, and i bought a roofpanel from a 1996 Firebird.
They removed the complete roof for me, for € 100,00 (about $ 135,00).

At home i took a paint stripper, and heated the underside of the metal roof, so the adhesive gets soft a litte bit.
I took some cutting wire, and removed this panel without a problem.
One the side of the window panels (T-roof) you have to bent the metal, so it's easier with the cutting wire.

The complete roof:

Cutting wire:

The panel is removed:

The metal you have to bent, for easy acces with cutting wire.

The underside of the good panel,
Only i have to remove the rest of the adhesive:

My 2001 Camaro has a few little bubbles (no damage to the paint), so i don't remove my roofpanel yet, but now i am sure, when the time has come, i have a good panel, so i can solve this problem.
I think this is a much cheaper sollution than a new repro panel, and the car stays orginal , and it fits exactly.