gta roof structure?

[Fletch]

Hi there,
could anyone with an alloy roofed Gta advise please....?
I have removed the roof skin on my 1750 ally re-body,and it's ready to receive it's new ally roof,but the original structure of the 1750 roof looks kind of flimsy.....do GTAs have additional strengtheners in the roof frame/structure,or are they identical to a standard steel bodied car?Not much looks very structural,as it's a single skinned pressing.
Cheers,Fletch.

[kengta]

Don't know a detailed answer but do Know of at least one GTA owner who seam welded and boxed in (all/part??) some of that structure.

Where are you getting your Aluminum panels from?

Regards

Ken

[emr5503]

It is flimsy. Just the rivited attachment points at the rain rails. The parts book shows it as 1 piece from the top of the windshield to the rear deck llid (trunk). Does not include the windshield posts, but does include the rear 1/4 panels. I've just replaced the top of mine, but just had to weld across the top of the front & rear glasses and the front & rear posts. There was a picture of a GTA jr at Aren Baze's shop on a lift with all the alu. panels removed. Check with Alex Csank with the MAAROC as I think he posted the pics.
Ed

[dbest]

Ken Geiger said he knows of at least one GTA with a re-enforced roof structure- which is probably mine. The whole structure is extremely flimsey, to say the least, when not tied together by the skin. When we were restoring my GTA Jr it made sense to strengthen the roof supports while the aluminum skin was off the car. Hopefully it has stiffened the car and will prevent premature cracking of the skin, as they all seem to do.

The added weight is minimal, although the cost is not. Once the skin was rivetted back in place it is impossible to tell anything unusual has been done. The only difficulty I had was snaking the wiring into place for the courtesey lights.

I have included some pictures of the A-pillar and windshield opening which should give an idea of how we did it. With a bit of luck the picutes will actually show up...

Ciao, Don

[vintage prep]

Just for fun I'll share this

I once knew an owner of a GTA in Laguna Beach. She had a under dash fire that spread and destroyed the interior and roof of her car. The car was taken to on old school one man body shop in Laguna canyon. "Pete" the old school body guy was only able to find a steel roof for replacement which he used and somehow was able to actually weld the steel roof to the aluminum skin at the front and rear pillars. He did not use lead to join the panels and I examined it very closely before priming (this is in 1976) He painted the car in metalic blue and even 15 years later there were no signs of problems at the weld joints!! BTW she owned the car for almost 25 years.

[Alleggerita]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vintage prep Just for fun I'll share this somehow was able to actually weld the steel roof to the aluminum skin at the front and rear pillars. He did not use lead to join the panels and I examined it very closely before priming (this is in 1976) He painted the car in metalic blue and even 15 years later there were no signs of problems at the weld joints!! BTW she owned the car for almost 25 years.

[Fletch]

Don,thanks for the photos they are extremely helpful!I was with my body guy today trying to figure out how we could strengthen the structure....I will show him the photos and I think we will modify it in the same way.Again,much appreciated!
Cheers,Fletch.

[kengta]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbest Ken Geiger said he knows of at least one GTA with a re-enforced roof structure- which is probably mine. Ciao, Don

[dbest]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fletch Don,thanks for the photos they are extremely helpful!I was with my body guy today trying to figure out how we could strengthen the structure....I will show him the photos and I think we will modify it in the same way.Again,much appreciated! Cheers,Fletch.