Rear Window Replacement

[ROOODBOY]

Hello again folks!

Aside from my erratic engine, I've also got big problems with the rear window unstitching itself from the hood. Not great on a daily driver in England!

So,as my window is badly scratched and cloudy too I've decided to have a go at stitching in a new one.
My vybak plastic sheet arrived today , and I have some heavy duty thread and some needles.

I haven't got a sewing machine and wouldn't trust myself with it if I did!
As I suspected, it's almost ipossible to push a needle through the plastic, but just a small amount of heat and it glides through very easily, so I can deal with that.

Anyone here ever done this job?

If so, any hints or tips before I start?

Thanks,
Martin.


I'm off to mull it over in the local!

[dixiebabes]

A mate with a tamora tried it. His words were waste of tome he is in blackpool tomorrow to get it repaired properly costs quite a bit mind

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Mate..
I should imagine its going to take you hours and with a warm needle if you wiggle it about too much you then end up with bigger holes than needed and if the needle becomes blunt and the holes are close then theres a chance of the plastic splitting from hole to hole..I hope none of that happens but yourll need to take it off obviously and make sure its flat before sewing..I think i would of used some stormseal adhesive as that stuff really works..I have a chaise lounge and the stitching came apart about 2ft..You put parcel tape on the outside and use a bead of stormseal on the inside covering the opening..Lay flat and in the morning..Job done..You can pull it real hard and it wont rip and it is waterproof..You wont need the tape as you could apply a bead each side of the plastic and as long as its flat it will do the job..You could then get a seamstress or someone to stitch over it later..Just an idea..Heres a link if you want alook..Good luck with it mate..Ziga
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&am...
You will probably need a few tubes..I used 3/4 of the tube on a 2ft opening..

[ROOODBOY]

dixiebabes said:

to get it repaired properly costs quite a bit

That's why I've got to try it myself!

[ROOODBOY]

mrzigazaga said:

Hi Mate..
I should imagine its going to take you hours and with a warm needle if you wiggle it about too much you then end up with bigger holes than needed and if the needle becomes blunt and the holes are close then theres a chance of the plastic splitting from hole to hole..I hope none of that happens but yourll need to take it off obviously and make sure its flat before sewing..I think i would of used some stormseal adhesive as that stuff really works..I have a chaise lounge and the stitching came apart about 2ft..You put parcel tape on the outside and use a bead of stormseal on the inside covering the opening..Lay flat and in the morning..Job done..You can pull it real hard and it wont rip and it is waterproof..You wont need the tape as you could apply a bead each side of the plastic and as long as its flat it will do the job..You could then get a seamstress or someone to stitch over it later..Just an idea..Heres a link if you want alook..Good luck with it mate..Ziga
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&am...
You will probably need a few tubes..I used 3/4 of the tube on a 2ft opening..

I know, it will take many hours to do!

The sheet I've got is bigger than I need, so I've done a bit of testing.
A hot needle works brilliantly through it, and the holes aren't really that close together, so I can't see that being a problem.

The window is stitched to a strip of hood material, then that strip of material is stitched to the rest of the hood, that's why there are two rows of stitching, like this;



I was wondering about using some adhesive / sealant as well, so that link could be useful, thanks mate!

I won't be doing it straight away, I'm doing some research into this first.

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Mate
Have you asked in a trimmers how much it would cost just to stitch a window in..Surely it shouldnt cost that much..There is one in maidstone..Get a qoute and ill ask the one that has been recommended to me.
It might be worth it in the end..Cheers..Ziga

[ROOODBOY]

To be honest, I haven't asked.

I think I will do, I might be surprised, and I'm sure it would turn out better!

We'll see.