Fitting a new roof to a mk1 - any tips?

[anonymous-user]

I've ordered a new vinyl roof to replace my absolutely knackered one, hopefully it should arrive this week while it's still sunny so I need to fit it ASAP, and I've heard it's a tricky job.

Anyone got any tips as to the best way to approach the job, as I'd rather not find out after an epic struggle that "..you should have just done this...".

[hornetrider]

Any tips? Yep, just the one.

Get someone else to do it.

[anonymous-user]

No way I'm doing that, £100 saved is half way to a Hard Dog rollbar.

Besides, I hand-made a viny roof for my kit car, I'm sure I can fit this roof myself, just need to know if there's a knack to doing it right.

[Risotto]

I only did one but it wasn't that hard. From memory, my advice would be:

Take photos as you remove the old hood - close-ups of any folds, rivets, rubber trim, etc so you can refer back to them if you get stuck.

Remove the hood frame from the car and temporarily bolt it to a workbench or similar - makes it much easier to fit the new hood to the frame if you can easily access it all.

Umm...that's about it really, you'll be fine!

Edited by Risotto on Wednesday 1st September 21:41

[anonymous-user]

Thanks, I wasn't sure if removing the frame was necessary or would possibly even make things trickier.

[skinny]

i did mine myself - takes a day if you work leisurely. kept frame on, there's a few guides on the internet to guide you through it, it's not too bad tho my cables had snapped so had to take it apart a few weeks later

[JFReturns]

hornetrider said:

Any tips? Yep, just the one.

Get someone else to do it.