New Chimaera hood
Discussion
The stitching on my hood has been looking a bit worn recently, and finally on Saturday, while very kindly cleaning my car, my boyfriend stuck his hand through the back windscreen.... It looks like it may have happened recently while at the garage, as there is evidence of some superglue having been used. Nice.
As luck would have it this isn't covered by windscreen insurance (not being glass). And as superglue is not really the Treatment I want to give my Chim, I'm going to buy a complete new hood (rear window and surrounding hood material). I just need to get it fixed now.
Does anyone know if there's somewhere in the Guildford / Surrey region who would fit a new hood?
Cheers,
Sena.
As luck would have it this isn't covered by windscreen insurance (not being glass). And as superglue is not really the Treatment I want to give my Chim, I'm going to buy a complete new hood (rear window and surrounding hood material). I just need to get it fixed now.
Does anyone know if there's somewhere in the Guildford / Surrey region who would fit a new hood?
Cheers,
Sena.
Folks, (sena's other half here) FYI its the whole rear section and new material for the targa panel. TVR original from TVR Gear. £305.
I spoke to a chap selling a roof (was the wrong colour) and he said the rear section was a piece of cake to remove - but I guess we'll need to remove the "hard" parts such as the lower leather section and upper brace that the targa connects to...
I still think changing the whole rear section cant be much more work than stitching a new window in?
I spoke to a chap selling a roof (was the wrong colour) and he said the rear section was a piece of cake to remove - but I guess we'll need to remove the "hard" parts such as the lower leather section and upper brace that the targa connects to...
I still think changing the whole rear section cant be much more work than stitching a new window in?
eowen said:
Folks, (sena's other half here) FYI its the whole rear section and new material for the targa panel. TVR original from TVR Gear. £305.
I spoke to a chap selling a roof (was the wrong colour) and he said the rear section was a piece of cake to remove - but I guess we'll need to remove the "hard" parts such as the lower leather section and upper brace that the targa connects to...
I still think changing the whole rear section cant be much more work than stitching a new window in?
Not according to Austec, who said "it was a nightmare to refit". Recall seeing some other threads about it being an absolute PITA.
Just had a quick glance through the bible and couldn't find anything...
Its not a PITA, but the bolts up inside the bodywork are a bit fiddly to get to. Access from inside the boot, remove the carpet section above the petrol tank to get in (it just pulls out with a bit of manoeuvreing around the petrol filler neck. Two nuts on the uprights, the allen bolts at the pivots (pay attention to how the spacers fit!) then undo the weird combination of allens and cross heads (yeuk) around the back section, taking care to catch the nuts in the boot. Best if you have long arms, or a little helper in the boot. The whole thing will then pop off.
The PITA would be reskinning the targa top to a wrinkle free finish without getting glue everywhere.
The PITA would be reskinning the targa top to a wrinkle free finish without getting glue everywhere.
eowen said:
Folks, (sena's other half here)
I still think changing the whole rear section cant be much more work than stitching a new window in?
You've got to get the tension on the fabric just right so that the aluminium struts go over-centre and stay there, without pulling the rear section too tight. You also want the rear window to be crease free. I think it's probably more difficult than it looks!
Cheers folks for the advice / tips and contacts.
From what some of you say it probably CAN be done "at home" but I'm a bit of a stickler for perfection, and I don't think I could do the job justice.
Having said that..... I've just had some quotes from various places to fit the entire thing - rear section and targa. Carhood.com £400 + VAT, Racing Green about the same, and Gatwick TVR quoted £772 + VAT!!!!!!!
>> Sena picks herself up from floor <<
Will shop around a bit I think! (Superglue idea sounding more tempting by the minute).
From what some of you say it probably CAN be done "at home" but I'm a bit of a stickler for perfection, and I don't think I could do the job justice.
Having said that..... I've just had some quotes from various places to fit the entire thing - rear section and targa. Carhood.com £400 + VAT, Racing Green about the same, and Gatwick TVR quoted £772 + VAT!!!!!!!
>> Sena picks herself up from floor <<
Will shop around a bit I think! (Superglue idea sounding more tempting by the minute).
I did exactly the same, I put my hand through when cleaning it. I tried super glue, which was a complete failure. I managed to find a guy in the yellow pages called David Knight Classics in Doncaster, I removed the rear hood and he stitched it back up for me. cost? £30. He said when the rear screen needed replacing he would do it for me for £100. I know it's too far away for you but at least you know there are people out there who won't rip you off.
Blipi said:
Wow. Makes my quote for a full M100 Elan hood and frame for around the £700 mark seem really OTT.
If that's the frame also then it sounds about right. My purchase only included the material & plastic sections for £300. Then it's £350 + Vat to have fitted.
Well.... I've just spent my lunchbreak 'fixing' it temporarily using Araldite. I can't say it's the most successful job I've ever done. Difficult to get the two materials (plastic and fabric) to stick to each other, and didn't really have the pressure from both sides to aid the bonding. Little araldite strings blew in the wind everywhere, frustratingly near the paintwork - which I've also just had redone.
However, the rear window panel and targa material arrived today from TVR gear. It really looks like it would be annoyingly simple to fit myself. But having spent an hour manipulating Araldite.... I think not!
Sena
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