99-01 Sun roof swapped into 97 y33 q45

Alright, so once my stance is taken care of in a couple months, my next project is interior, headliner is going to be redone and there will be other touches as well.  I am curious if anyone knows about the possibility of replacing this damn metal sunroof thing with the glass ones that come with the 99-01 Q's.  I really dont like having to open the thing to see out of it.

Id assume that it would all just swap over, but Id like to hear anyone who has seen the inner workings of both to chime in before I start amassing parts.

what is a 'metal sunroof thing'?

Seems pretty self explanitory......  Its a metal piece that acts as a sunroof instead of the Galss peice that comes in the newer models.  I just dont know if everything is the same size.

Just cut out your entire roof and retrofit a glass one. :D

While most are eventually eliminated from my cars at some point, id like to keep the safety feature of a roof there.....  just incase.  I just want the factory glass sunroof.

There is a place in town where I live and they do custom moonroofs...I had thought about that as well becuase I like the glass roofs more than the steel roofs as well...its nice to slide back the cover and have some light shining through without having the sunroof open..Especially in tucson summers are to hot to have that open with straight sunlight...IF I ever did have that done I would tint the glass green to match my tint....Good luck on your project I am thumbs up...I wonder if you could pick one up from a salvage yard or online..the only thing I see beeing a problem is where is the glass cover going to slide???you might need some work done.

My metal sunroof slides back and pops up just like a glass sunroof would.  Unless there is some difference in sizes of both panels, glass and metal, by my estimations, I should just have to swap over the rails, glass, maybe a different motor, seals and interior slide cover.  I am just looking for any info out there.  I think it would be my instant favorite mod ever.

what I ment was the slide cover. in both our cars there should not be a slide cover..so there may not be room to add one..dont know though I am sure you will figure it out.

Well on the metal one, the interior cover is part of the metal piece in two pieces, that should leave enough room, and if not, ill just have to source a newer headliner as well.

according to the FSMs on replacing the sunroofs and motors. they are the exact same part. Just one is glass and one is metal and one has a shade rails. So you should be able to swap them over and use the shade rails out of the 99 car.  

However the headliner is different for both and you would have to use a headliner from a 99 model or greater.

Alright, thank you for that info!  I will have to start my search for all the parts needed.  Hopefully i can find a new y33 at a local wrecking yard and save some cash.