DIY Hood Installation

[Grady]

Several years ago I bought a gently used rear (canvas??) section on fleabay (I doubt it's OEM as the stitching is white). It came mounted to the metal hoop. My hood has now dry rotted and split - looks great when folded down. Since the interior leather trim on the replacement is green and coming unstuck, I thought I'd just move the canvas to my frame/car.

What is the appropriate type of glue and does any one have suggestions/tips on how to best to get a good fit? Thanks Grady

[Terence]

Hi I removed mine to fit a new window last year and used evostick to reattach. putting the original hood back on meant I could use the original fixing holes to ensure it was correctly aligned. As you are putting the hood on a different frame that could prove to be an unreliable method for ensuring correct alignment given the difference between cars. You could try using double sided carpet tape for a trial fit as this is relatively easy to remove. Then when happy with the alignment mark the roof and frame, remove the carpet tape and use contact adhesive for the final fit.

[adam quantrill]

I would try it first with the rollbar it's attached to - will save a lot of faffing.

[The Hatter]

Remember that these are hand built cars and they're all different. I remember a tale of a TVR dealer back in the day who had a newbie sales guy... he thought it was a good idea to remove all the roofs from the cars on the forecourt but then mixed them up - took them ages to figure out which went where.

I put a secondhand roof on the SEAC but it doesn't fit very well; I'll get the original roof re-done at some point.

[Grady]

The Hatter said:

Remember that these are hand built cars and they're all different.

Not just TVRs - my neighbor has a mid-1980s 911 and she sent the targa section off in exchange. The replacement doesn't fit properly and it turns out she should have had it recovered as they are also built to the car.

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

I know the 350 and 400SE hoods are slightly different sizes.
most of the hood is held on with small nails as well as glue, I used contact adhesive, and stainless screws in-place of the nails.

Small tip.
Contact adhesive always works best if it can be clamped while it sets for at least 24 hours.

[mrzigazaga]

Personally i would use AF178 adhesive as its strong and heatproof ...You don't want it coming un-stuck..

[Grady]

I check with Alpha and they don't have a distributer in the US. I then started to place an order with the UK distributor (Sil-Mil) and my rather reasonable 12.25 (pound) one liter order jumped to 155.68 with the hazardous shipping up-charges.

I think I'll see what we use over here. Grady

[mrzigazaga]

Blimey...Funnily enough its the same way round when i sometimes need to buy from the states...The item is $5 but the shipping is $50....

You just want a good contact adhesive....

[Grady]

3M makes something called Super Trim Adhesive (090980) that is a spray that may work. I'm looking for a brush/roll version.