Suggestions, Anyone ???

[1 Bravo 6]

:stupid: :stupid: :stupid:

Has anyone ever heard of a company called COENEN that makes sunroofs ????

Wouldn't be surprised if they are no longer around. Can't find them on the web.

I know they had patents in Europe.

I'm HOPING !!!!!

Rick.

[seerex]

only thing I can find is about this jag

http://www.jcna.com/library/tech/tech0027.html

[1 Bravo 6]

:classic: :classic:

You beaut Seerex,

Thanks for your trouble, I'll try to follow up on it.

Rick.

[seerex]

Rick, I sent you an email, I think I found the german company for the sun roof , I don't understand german very well , I know they didn't mention anything about beer or where the redlight district was in the webpage , I think either a older jag or bimmer roof rubber might work or be able to be made to work , good luck and would love to see the end result , Jeff

[1 Bravo 6]

Yair, Jeff,

Received your email, thanks mate.

As soon as I clear off this site i'm going to look them up and see if I can email them. (Let THEM worry about translating into english).

:devious: :devious: :devious: :devious:

I'll let you know how I get on.

Rick.

[WaltsZed]

Hi Rick,

I have also been searching for ANYTHING related to a Coenen sunroof for a while, which I have in a '73 240Z I bought in SA 18 months ago. Photo is attached...does yours look like this? Usual problems with it (leaks in heavy rain and whenever i wash the car), but I've managed to solve most problems by installing some decent drainage using std water reticulation hosing parts you get from the garden shop! Have decided to keep it as the car is fairly neat and rust free in the roof, and the previous owner reckoned it was installed as a dealer option in 73..

Did you manage to get hold of the original manufacturer in Germany?

Mark

[WaltsZed]

Woops...forgot to add the Coenen sunroof photo to the last post.

Mark

[1 Bravo 6]

G'Day Mark,

I'm in total sympathy with you mate.

No doubt you've read the posts from Seerex. I followed them up without any luck whatsoever.

I've been in contact with Jag clubs in Australia and England, (2 Pom clubs didn't even bother to reply), all without luck.

To the best of my knowledge, Coenen is no longer in production, which is not surprising after 30 odd years.

The best I've been able to come up with is what I'd call "Piping", normally seen around the edges of a seat. Not a perfect seal but it keeps out most of the water and the drains take care of what slips past. I've tried several different weather seals and the "Piping" is the best so far.

I'm the second owner of "Precious" and was fortunate to find a contact address of the original owner in the glove box, so I was able to get answers to several questions, one being the origin of the sunroof. Your info is correct, it was a dealer option.

Bloody sunroof gives me a headache on a bumpy road though. I spoke to a panel beater friend about the feasability of having the sunroof removed and was told it would be cheaper to replace the entire roof so that idea went out the window.

Sorry I can't be of more help to you.

Regards,

Rick.

[WaltsZed]

G'Day Rick,

Great minds think alike mate! I also use a type of piping in the sealing of the sunroof. It's a "C" section neoprene extrusion which I bought from a Sydney Coy called "Grippy Rubber Products" (specialist manufacturers in early model auto rubbers in Syd). I "clip" the section into the roof hole (NB: piping not shown in the photo) and used a neoprene contact cement for sealing SCUBA wetsuits to join the ends. On the sliding roof section I bonded felt to the rubber sealing gasket, which reduces the rubber-rubber friction problems when opening/closing. Grippy told me the non-UV stalised rubber will probably degrade over time, but I've got no idea how long, as I've had to replace it already (on the freeway coming back from the Z Car Nationals in Goulburn over Easter I had to close the sunroof, and the seal flew off !) If you want photos of my design, I can email them to you.

BTW, I notice your Z seems to have the original vinyl trim on the sunroof. Mine has dodgy material and have booked her in to have a custom vinyl headliner made up. If you "Precious" has original headliner perhaps you could email me some shots of how the dealer sovled trim details in areas around the rear drain pipes, sunvisor mounts etc! In exchange would be happy to send a copy of the 1950 Coenen patent (in English) I downloaded! Not real helpful, but the diagrams are interesting.

Cheers

Mark

[1 Bravo 6]

G'Day Mark,

No, mate, that vinyl aint original. With the exception of the seats and hood lining, professionaly done, my wife and I have replaced all other vinyl.

Original vinyl was tan in colour but, as it needed replacing anyway, I decided I'd prefer black. The plastic panels in the hatch I cleaned with vinegar, then a good rub down with metho followed by three coats of black vinyl spray paint.

Any reasonably proficient motor trimmer shouldn't have any trouble with installing a new headlining. I'll check through my photos and see if there are any that might help.

If you're having a new headlining put in, when the windscreen comes out, be prepared for a possible shock. You can imagine my surprise. I was fortunate to find a bloke who took pride in his work. Before painting, it was hard to see where he had welded in the new section.

Rick.

[dogma420]

If you weld...and are in the states, I'd recommend finding an Acura Integra or Honda Civic/Accord in the junkyard, and cutting out the electric sunroof...know someone that's done that and it looks good...but he didn't do it in a Zed, don't know if it'd fit.

[WaltsZed]

Thanks Dogma420...I'll keep my eyes open for cars with these sunroofs here in Oz and try and determine if one will fit! But frankly, I'm kinda resigned to keeping the Coenen sunroof, as it is arguably an "original" feature of the car!

Rick...sounds like your 260Z and my 240Z were quite similar originally! Mine was originally an Auto with tan interior too; body colour was #113 Metallic Green. She's now Chrysler Vitamin C Orange (that great Valiant Charger orange from back in the 70's...check out my Avatar!) and the ineritor trim is also now 100% black. Used a plastic/vinyl spray paint from SEM to do the trick! After about a year of putting up with the Auto tranny band/clutch slipping more and more in 2nd, along with excessive backlash from the std 3.5 R180 diff, I swapped over to an early model 280ZX/Skyline 5-speed and 3.9 diff. The engine has been thanking me for it ever since - better fuel econ, more RWHP etc.!

Anyway, thanks heaps for your heads up re the possible windscreen rust probs. Will keep you posted on how we go with the custom headlining fitout. Am sure I'll learn some more tricks about how to improve the Coenen sunroof too, and will pass them on to you.

Take care guys!

Mark