2002 Ranger w/aftermarket sunroof
 

Like the title says, and I want it gone. Can I more easily acquire a roof skin and install it, or should I have the hole covered up and painted over? What do you guys thing the cost of that would be? I feel like it could be done for $500 or less with less work on my part. I've done a headliner myself before and feel comfortable replacing the headliner either way, I just don't know how feasible it would be for me to replace the roof skin vs. have someone just weld the hole shut for me. Thanks!

Does it leak?

If not just black it out.

But if it must go then I would just fix the hole not redo the whole roof, just my opinion

bump

Easier to weld a patch in the hole than to try replace an entire section of the cab. Any decent body shop should be able to do it.

That's what I was thinking. I just wasn't sure of the cost on something like that, I guess I'll have to ask around.

i work as a welder, I wouldn't say it would be cheap but definitely cheaper than trying to re-skin the whole roof. As a base estimate i would charge around 250 and that doesn't include paint \ finishing work. Just a welded in patch panel. Finished work from a body shop might run you a grand.

$250 seems pricey but what do I know. And a grand to paint one panel? That seems REALLY high. I'll have to call around. It's not a top priority atm but I'd prefer not to have this damn aftermarket sunroof. I'll also have to track down a headliner. Hopefully I'd be able to find one with the same interior color and in good shape so I don't have to redo that too.

Thanks for the replies guys!

So what's the issue with it (other than you dislike it)?

Owner claims it has a broken clip that keeps it from working. I have no means of tracking down this said clip and/or doing any t/s to get it to work. It rattles like crazy when I drive too! On top of that, I could use the headroom. I'm 6'1 and fit perfectly in any other ranger, tacoma, etc. except for this one!

Welp, found a clean matching headliner at pick'n'pull today for next to nothing. Gonna call a welder and body shop tomorrow to get some quotes.

Good luck, Id say $1k is a fair estimate. Alot of time and precision to do it right and not make it looked like its been through a rollover or was installed with a hammer. Then paint they would have to paint the entire top of the cab and maybe tops of the doors to make it match and if you want a quality job out comes the windshield and rear glass along with all weather stripping. if you want a MAACO job where they just stretch masking tape close enough and wont match in color nor orange peel (or metalic flake) with overspray yea you might be able to get it done for $500.

Maaco does full cars for $500 though. I've had small bits of body work done in the past with matching paint necessary after the finished product (no welding before) and I'm surprised that you guys think just one panel, and arguably the simplest to paint, would cost around a grand for just the paint work! I mean, if you're looking for top end work, maybe yeah, but for a decent git'er'dun job it seems mighty high.

I called a local shop and told them I would have every thing removed before the job but not the windshield and rear window, that seems a bit excessive for a job like this, after all it's not a full respray. Maybe the weather stripping along the roof. I'll have to take a close look at it again tomorrow. Anyway, they told me ~$500 to weld in a patch, counter-sink, prep and paint the roof. I still want to talk to them about what exactly they'll be doing and where all the costs come in and for what, and I plan on asking around a little for as well.