split roof
split roof
Author
Discussion

SSPPGG

Original Poster:

2,120 posts

226 months

Sunday 10th June 2012
quotequote all
i know a few people have done this, using various methods of joining/sealing the centre, and also some using alignment dowels, and i heard that someone had a hinged version.

for those that have them, have done them etc....any advice on the best method, or things you would do differently?

my roof needs a trim, so its about the right time to consider this.

ive looked at the surrey option, which seems great, but i don't want to spend money on that atm.



griffdude

1,896 posts

272 months

Sunday 10th June 2012
quotequote all
Angry Jock shout


MPoxon

5,329 posts

197 months

Sunday 10th June 2012
quotequote all
I would personally get Surface and Design to perform the conversion.

carsy

3,019 posts

189 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
Spoke to S & D recently and they stated they no longer offer this service. Stated it worked out too expensive and at the price the demand wasnt there.

angry jock

1,005 posts

223 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
When I did mine I used the Moosehunter method, which involved lots of measuring then using 2 pieces of wood as a guide, cut in the back as to follow the contours of the roof. Then used a self adhesive, expanded neoprene seal on either side of the join. When I'm back I'll try and find the link unless someone would be so kind as to find it for me! smile
Oh to do the cutting itself I used an 18 TPI tenon saw.

V8 GRF

7,298 posts

234 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
Quite a long thread on DIY split roofs HERE

alexcurtis

164 posts

280 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
hi

my griff came with the S&D roof in general it works well, there is a small gap where the seal does not meet but it does not let the rain in/water when left out occassionally or being washed and of course makes removing the roof much easier.

though it can take 30 secs to get the 2 peiecss aligned correctly, it uses a dowl to centre the 2 pieces on the front windscreen and 2 pretty useless clips to hold them together to be honest they are not needed as the folding roof holds them in place perfectly well

alex

SSPPGG

Original Poster:

2,120 posts

226 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
thanks all, the search button doesnt seem to be working well for me, but the posts with the detail have helped a lot.

I like the alignment dowel idea, which should help prevent movement.......any ideas where those might be found...

might have a crack at this...i'm camping at le mans, and my daughter is accompanying me, which will mean a boot full of "girls essentials".....

V8 GRF

7,298 posts

234 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
While the search is poor on here you can 'force' google to just search the pistonheads site by typing your search details such as Griffith split roof and then following it with : pistonheads, so in this example it would be:

Griffith split roof : pistonheads

(Don't put a gap between the : and the p when searching, I left a gap because PH inserts a smiley if you put the two together in a post)

Back on topic we tried using dowels on the S&D roof during our development and found that unless the parts where really well aligned it was difficult to get the dowels to fit. It might be easier on a one off but as we tried to make something repeatable it was a nightmare.

The alloy over centre catches where put on due to a concern about trhe panels lifting but as mentioned teh roof is so well located they aren't really necessary.

The reason that S&D stopped supplying the split roof was becasue they took so much time to adjust to comply with their exacting standards that they reckoned they lost money on every one they did.



Edited by V8 GRF on Monday 11th June 14:14

TVR Beaver

2,874 posts

204 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
If you go to page 4 of the post David tagged above, you'll fing a pic of my roof...
I've put a support strip on it, a location pin in the front... and two over-ctr catches... (set on the bendy bit's so it locks it firm...)
That way I can pick it up as a sold roof and just put it on as a normal one....
No messing smile

SSPPGG

Original Poster:

2,120 posts

226 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
TVR Beaver said:
If you go to page 4 of the post David tagged above, you'll fing a pic of my roof...
I've put a support strip on it, a location pin in the front... and two over-ctr catches... (set on the bendy bit's so it locks it firm...)
That way I can pick it up as a sold roof and just put it on as a normal one....
No messing smile
just saw that looks good . where are the catches from?.....just been to BQ for the necessary saws and bits......so might commence cutting the griff up tonight, as I spoke with SD and RT, neither of whom now offer the split roof service it seems.

Edited by SSPPGG on Monday 11th June 17:21


Edited by SSPPGG on Monday 11th June 17:22

TVR Beaver

2,874 posts

204 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
They are Southco parts.. we have any account so I got some samples smile

SSPPGG

Original Poster:

2,120 posts

226 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
V8 GRF said:
While the search is poor on here you can 'force' google to just search the pistonheads site by typing your search details such as Griffith split roof and then following it with : pistonheads, so in this example it would be:

Griffith split roof : pistonheads

(Don't put a gap between the : and the p when searching, I left a gap because PH inserts a smiley if you put the two together in a post)

Back on topic we tried using dowels on the S&D roof during our development and found that unless the parts where really well aligned it was difficult to get the dowels to fit. It might be easier on a one off but as we tried to make something repeatable it was a nightmare.

The alloy over centre catches where put on due to a concern about trhe panels lifting but as mentioned teh roof is so well located they aren't really necessary.

The reason that S&D stopped supplying the split roof was becasue they took so much time to adjust to comply with their exacting standards that they reckoned they lost money on every one they did.



Edited by V8 GRF on Monday 11th June 14:14
thanks for that, search function using that technique is now far better!!

SSPPGG

Original Poster:

2,120 posts

226 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
TVR Beaver said:
They are Southco parts.. we have any account so I got some samples smile
of all the catches ive seen, those look rather tidy. would you have a part number at all?

bomb

3,794 posts

308 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
Why not forget cutting your roof in half, and invest in a Surrey Roof ??

Light / Folds down in seconds / waterproof / huge space saver.

And you keep your solid roof for the winter.


V8 GRF

7,298 posts

234 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
bomb said:
Why not forget cutting your roof in half, and invest in a Surrey Roof ??
To be frank the ones I've seen look awful with lumps and bumps all over the place. I've never seen one with fabric that matches the rear section and they don't seem to fit properly either with gaps at the edges which IMHO isn't acceptable for the money.

TVR Beaver

2,874 posts

204 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
SSPPGG said:
of all the catches ive seen, those look rather tidy. would you have a part number at all?
Mmmm.. no.. just had a look for the bag but must have gone... have a look on their site.. loads to chose from, but I'm not sure who sells them??... hope that helps smile

SSPPGG

Original Poster:

2,120 posts

226 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
bomb said:
Why not forget cutting your roof in half, and invest in a Surrey Roof ??
I did think about it, but £500 is a lot of money, and I think i prefer the look of the split roof

MPoxon

5,329 posts

197 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
V8 GRF said:
The reason that S&D stopped supplying the split roof was becasue they took so much time to adjust to comply with their exacting standards that they reckoned they lost money on every one they did.
FFS I was planning to take mine up to D&C Trim and Surface and Design to get the roof replaced and get a spilt job done next year. There was one Griff that had a really nice S&D split roof which was also trimmed in leather on the inside to match the rest of the car.

sgrimshaw

7,574 posts

274 months

Wednesday 13th June 2012
quotequote all
V8 GRF said:
To be frank the ones I've seen look awful with lumps and bumps all over the place. I've never seen one with fabric that matches the rear section and they don't seem to fit properly either with gaps at the edges which IMHO isn't acceptable for the money.
You haven't seen very many then.

I know a lot of people who have bought a Surrey Roof and they are all extremely pleased with theirs.

Didn't you spend a lot of time on a split roof solution?

That wouldn't have anything to do with your negative comments would it?