Roof repair and window replacement
Discussion
First post with a changed username, IWantAWedge seemed a bit inappropriate now that I have one!
Well, I have been looking at the roof of my wedge today, specifically the window, and after its outing on Saturday to the park, the window had started to become detached from the hood (was only glued in with some not very strong glue evidently). So to avoid it doing any more damage to the material I removed it completely. I then started to look at how I might mend the roof, as there are a couple of tears around the window, and obviously no window at present, and decided that its probably going to be easier to do with the roof off of the car, sat in a nice warm living room over Christmas, so after a pretty straightforward process (one of the bolts was a bit stubborn, but got there in the end), my car now has no hood.
I plan to attempt to stitch in a new window made from something a lot more suitable (thinking of .75mm thick, clear PVC), while at the same time stitching/stormsealing the tears.
My question to you all is, how is the window on your hoods done? On mine, there are two rows of holes where there has been stitching previously, about 3cm apart. The inner one looks to me like it is there to form a nice edge when the material is folded back upon itself, and then the outer for attaching the window. Does this sound right, or is it done differently, with the window being essentially double stitched?
Well, I have been looking at the roof of my wedge today, specifically the window, and after its outing on Saturday to the park, the window had started to become detached from the hood (was only glued in with some not very strong glue evidently). So to avoid it doing any more damage to the material I removed it completely. I then started to look at how I might mend the roof, as there are a couple of tears around the window, and obviously no window at present, and decided that its probably going to be easier to do with the roof off of the car, sat in a nice warm living room over Christmas, so after a pretty straightforward process (one of the bolts was a bit stubborn, but got there in the end), my car now has no hood.
I plan to attempt to stitch in a new window made from something a lot more suitable (thinking of .75mm thick, clear PVC), while at the same time stitching/stormsealing the tears.
My question to you all is, how is the window on your hoods done? On mine, there are two rows of holes where there has been stitching previously, about 3cm apart. The inner one looks to me like it is there to form a nice edge when the material is folded back upon itself, and then the outer for attaching the window. Does this sound right, or is it done differently, with the window being essentially double stitched?
Hi Jon280..I think the window is stitched in and then the inner material edging is stitched over that..I have put a link up to one that is for sale but you might be able to see how its put together..
If you are stormsealing the rips then make sure you use some parcel tape..(Brown)..on the outside of the rip and glue the inside..The glue shouldnt stick to the tape and you might need to re-apply some hood colour/renovo..Ziga
HOOD:
http://s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd205/a_bj_q/fo...
RENOVO:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Renovo-Soft-Reviver-500Ml-...
If you are stormsealing the rips then make sure you use some parcel tape..(Brown)..on the outside of the rip and glue the inside..The glue shouldnt stick to the tape and you might need to re-apply some hood colour/renovo..Ziga
HOOD:
http://s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd205/a_bj_q/fo...
RENOVO:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Renovo-Soft-Reviver-500Ml-...
Hi all my roof is totally knackered - doesn't really matter as i never drive with it up anyway but it looks really tatty when erected when I park up so was wondering who is selling the roof - http://s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd205/a_bj_q/fo... how much is it and does it come with the top lift out panel? Was possibly thinking of getting a new one from here http://www.mazdahoodshop.co.uk/TVR.html Just over £300 all in seems reasonable but has anyone used them and comment on the Quality ? How difficult is diy fitting or is it best to get them to fit it?
Hmm, from the pictures, it looks to me like the inner stitching goes through the outer material, through the window and then through the inner extra layer of material. The outer stitching looks like it is through the outer material and the inner material, but possibly not the window, maybe to help with weatherproofing or to stop the edge of the window being exposed when folding it down or if you had anything in the back of the car there.
I don't have this extra bit as whoever bodged it before me evidently chucked it out, though I guess I could use some upholstery webbing sort of stuff.
In terms of new roofs, I have considered that, but seeing as most of the time the roof is not going to be up when I am using the car, am going to see what I can do myself first. If I do go down the route of replacing it with a new one, I would probably give the one from mazda hood shop a go, and fit it myself. Their cost for fitting comes in at £625 when I spoke to them last week, although I also had a quote for £550ish fitted from somewhere else.
Removing the roof was a bit tricky, but I was being careful not to damage it any further, if you were replacing then you would not have to worry so much. There were 3 bolts along the back holding it in, and one of them had rusted quite significantly and was a pain to remove, the other two were not so bad. Access is from in the boot. The hoop attaches with a bolt either side where the seatbelts attach, and is a doddle to remove. Replacing would look to be quite straightforward (cue top gear style 'how hard can it be quote'), simply getting it lined up correctly and gluing to the hoop and the rear bit of fibreglass. The targa panel looks a bit more tricky, as you need to make sure you get it on smooth, otherwise it will just look awful. There are a couple of good guides for this part of it though.
http://www.groutledge.co.uk/targa-re-cover/targa-r... - TVR specific targa panel re covering
http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/996-forum/58... - Window replacement on a porsche, some good ideas from here (PDF link in the 2nd post of the topic)
It does seem to be something that most people seem to pay to get done from what I can tell from searching the net and forums, but I think with a bit of care and planning it should not be too horrific a process to fit a supplied hood, or replace the window like I am planning to do.
I don't have this extra bit as whoever bodged it before me evidently chucked it out, though I guess I could use some upholstery webbing sort of stuff.
In terms of new roofs, I have considered that, but seeing as most of the time the roof is not going to be up when I am using the car, am going to see what I can do myself first. If I do go down the route of replacing it with a new one, I would probably give the one from mazda hood shop a go, and fit it myself. Their cost for fitting comes in at £625 when I spoke to them last week, although I also had a quote for £550ish fitted from somewhere else.
Removing the roof was a bit tricky, but I was being careful not to damage it any further, if you were replacing then you would not have to worry so much. There were 3 bolts along the back holding it in, and one of them had rusted quite significantly and was a pain to remove, the other two were not so bad. Access is from in the boot. The hoop attaches with a bolt either side where the seatbelts attach, and is a doddle to remove. Replacing would look to be quite straightforward (cue top gear style 'how hard can it be quote'), simply getting it lined up correctly and gluing to the hoop and the rear bit of fibreglass. The targa panel looks a bit more tricky, as you need to make sure you get it on smooth, otherwise it will just look awful. There are a couple of good guides for this part of it though.
http://www.groutledge.co.uk/targa-re-cover/targa-r... - TVR specific targa panel re covering
http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/996-forum/58... - Window replacement on a porsche, some good ideas from here (PDF link in the 2nd post of the topic)
It does seem to be something that most people seem to pay to get done from what I can tell from searching the net and forums, but I think with a bit of care and planning it should not be too horrific a process to fit a supplied hood, or replace the window like I am planning to do.
Yes that's me - I wont mention the price or the thread will be banned ;^)
Those Mazda ones look like good value and the big rear window affords more visibility - but they don't look very original - for that you'll want my one - which will cost a little more than the Mazda ones... ;^)
For repairing, Sellotape Weatherproof is better than parcel tape as it's transparent. But I haven't seen it for sale for ages.
Those Mazda ones look like good value and the big rear window affords more visibility - but they don't look very original - for that you'll want my one - which will cost a little more than the Mazda ones... ;^)
For repairing, Sellotape Weatherproof is better than parcel tape as it's transparent. But I haven't seen it for sale for ages.
I did it the lazy way. I removed the whole hood and took it to a local upholsterer that specializes in older cars. The material was fine and they double stitched in a new rear window. I'm not sure what they used; my guess is marine grade isinglass. It is perfect. Cost $50. Not worth doing it myself.
I had to fill and redrill the three bolt holes as they had become too large and water was leaking into the boot. I replaced the three bolts with stainless steel sidewalk bolts and waterproofed with regular silicone caulk.
I wonder what sidewalk bolts are called in the UK. UK pavement is US sidewalk. They are 1/4" bolts with very wide flat heads, available in various lengths. Probably the only non-metric bolts on the car.
Wilf.
I had to fill and redrill the three bolt holes as they had become too large and water was leaking into the boot. I replaced the three bolts with stainless steel sidewalk bolts and waterproofed with regular silicone caulk.
I wonder what sidewalk bolts are called in the UK. UK pavement is US sidewalk. They are 1/4" bolts with very wide flat heads, available in various lengths. Probably the only non-metric bolts on the car.
Wilf.
Hi Peeps...I had a quote today for a new hood and recovered targa panel from mazda hoods..They will replicate the original one which has rounded corners on the rear window at a cost of 595 + Vat..I did ask what they can do for cash but had no reply as of yet...I have seen two TVR hood's that they did and they look really good..The rectangle window is slightly cheaper but i want to keep it as is...Ziga
Hi All,
I had a new roof from mazda hoods (also known as the Coach Trimming Company) in Brentwood Road, Romford.
Ask to speak to Brian and say Ian with the blue 390 wedge recommended you (Brian does a lot of TVR wedges and other classic cars). I paid £575 cash (Brian will accept cash and knock the VAT off). Good chap and a good job too.
You can also select the colour too (he has many shades of colours).
Hope this helps
Ian
I had a new roof from mazda hoods (also known as the Coach Trimming Company) in Brentwood Road, Romford.
Ask to speak to Brian and say Ian with the blue 390 wedge recommended you (Brian does a lot of TVR wedges and other classic cars). I paid £575 cash (Brian will accept cash and knock the VAT off). Good chap and a good job too.
You can also select the colour too (he has many shades of colours).
Hope this helps
Ian
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