Where to get a new roof fitted ??

[moose]

Hi All

Been pricing up a new roof for my V8S - some crazy and not so crazy quotes so having to consider buying and getting one fitted independently

1. Has anyone used or known anyone that has used AJ Stenning advertises in Sprint, sounds good guy just like to hear what the word if any is ?

2. Autohoods look a good bet and if so does anyone know a Car Trimmer that could fit it ideally in the Midlands or North West, would go further afield for the best fit for the job

3. Has anyone fitted the metal runners on the targa panels to hold the rubber seals uprating to what I understand is used on the griff etc..if so successful or otherwise ??

For those who've had the roof redone any recommendations gratefully received...

Really appreciate any advice received - cheers Moose

[keirangrogan]

moose said:

2. Autohoods look a good bet and if so does anyone know a Car Trimmer that could fit it ideally in the Midlands or North West, would go further afield for the best fit for the job

I had a quote from a guy in Ashton Under Lyne of £150 to fit a new hood, but I fancy having a go myself.

[Colin Blues2]

Hi

AJ Stenning - that's Bourne End in Buckinghamshire?

I've heard good things about him from the Berkshire region RO and I was going to use him. However his wife is about to have a baby and he's not taking bookings until late July I believe.

I had a chat about getting him to do my S around Easter and seems to know what he's on about and regularly does TVR hood work apparently. Might be worth asking in the general TVR forum.

I can't wait that long so I have a hood on order from Authoods and I intend to fit it myself.

Colin

[KentishS2]

Keiran and Colin,

Looks like you are both going for the Autohoods option.

I'm based in Kent and my local Autohoods (surrey based I think) have a fitting service for around £150.

I'd be interested to hear how you both get on, perhaps you can post a summary and photos when you have finished the fitting.

Cheers,
Kevin

[Colin Blues2]

I intend to try and take as many notes and photo's when I'm doing it and write up a guide.

Colin

[aka Spike]

Are you replacing the panels or just getting them re-trimmed?
Reason I ask is that I need to fit a new panel (or both...) after it blew off on a dual carriageway (don't ask). Trying to find a good source for a replacement but they seem pretty few and far between.

[KentishS2]

aka Spike said:

Are you replacing the panels or just getting them re-trimmed? Reason I ask is that I need to fit a new panel (or both...) after it blew off on a dual carriageway (don't ask). Trying to find a good source for a replacement but they seem pretty few and far between.

I am thinking about replacing my panels with a fully folding roof at some point (bespoke fitment) so mine may become available but not for a while.

I'd be interested to hear how those panels of yours said cheerio to the car!

[aka spike]

KentishS2 said:

I'd be interested to hear how those panels of yours said cheerio to the car!

Ah... well, a combination of a bit of bad luck and a bit of laziness on my part. (sigh)
The hinge on the back-hoop (driver's side) siezed one day without my noticing and snapped completely as I was putting the back down.
The fabric and leather still hold the whole thing in place on that side (the other side is still fine... hinge works, solid) but when the stays are locked there's not as much pressure on that side as there should be, pushing the roof panel foward into the top of the windscreen.
You can probably see where this is going...
I'd gotten into the habit of occasionally (when in a hurry) not locking the catches at the front of the panel.
One day, I was in a hurry.
On the motorway, making, er... good progress... wind gets a tiny bit more under the roof panel than it would under normal circumstances, not as much force holding it in place as would be normal... *whoosh*, off it goes. Bugger!
Pulled over smartish and got out expecting to see a trail of carnage across the carriageway, thinking the panel *must* have gone through somebody's windscreen, who would have spun, hit someone else... etc..
Fortunately, the panel was resting peacefully in the central reservation , cars zipping happily past me (wondering why some idiot had pulled over with only half a roof).
Phoned the traffic police. "Don't try to retrieve it" they said. "Don't worry" I replied, "I'm not going anywhere bloody near it".
They came out, lights flashing, copper ran into the central reservation, recovered the panel and breathlessly returned it to me.
"I'm really, really sorry" I said. "Don't know what happened, but my roof catch must have broken". "Never mind", he said. "These things happen". And with that, they were off!
And I was left with a badly mashed up roof panel.
It's actually a testament to the resilience of these things - the panel is still in one piece, still fits (pretty much) and actually doesn't look too bad in place.

It's a lesson well learned and a moral to us all - *never* forget the bloody roof-catches; they're there for a damn good reason!

Did I mention that I need a new back-hoop as well?...

[doddze]

the plastic catches on my roof seem fairly loose and shite!!!! should I upgrade to metal??

[aka spike]

doddze said:

the plastic catches on my roof seem fairly loose and shite!!!! should I upgrade to metal??

As far as I can tell, the plastic original catches seem perfectly adequate (although the metal ones probably look a lot nicer).
You should be able to adjust them though, if they're a bit loose. Have you tried unscrewing the whole catch a turn or two? That should make for a more snug fit when engaged.