Roof panel in the boot

[FFMan]

New Griff owner here - had the roof off today - followed the book to get it in the boot, but can't seem to get it in with the spare wheel strapped in place in the r/hand back of the boot (towards front of the car - if you see what I mean).

Is there a trick that I'm missing out on ?

What ever the problem - I forgive it everything - overtaking 5 cars on full gas - what a blast !

[roy e6]

Chuck spare wheel away replace with couple of tins tyreweld,this will make life easier.But not much, usual shite tvr design here but it does go in exactly as the book says it does.Took me a while but you never get the hang of it.complete pain in the ass if you ask me.

Edited by roy e6 on Sunday 29th October 16:38

[steve-v8s]

It will go in with the spare, tools, CD changer etc in place. It’s all down to technique and just needs a bit of practice. Hold the roof with the inside facing you and the front towards the ground. If you have the cover fitted then you can tell the front by feeling for the notch that locates above the mirror.

Feed the lid into the left hand side and push it all the way to the left. The right hand side should now drop into place. When it is in grasp the bottom (Actually the front ) and pull it slightly towards you. Take a look at where the boot lid hinges are and adjust the position so as they don’t foul. Usually you have to shuffle it back to the right a bit.

If you find it difficult then try the frame tent arrangement used on an Elise and it will suddenly seem very simple.

[shadowfax]

I have never tried putting roof in without removing spare first; I always take the wheel out first, put lid in, then replace wheel and the assorted bunjie toes that stop it slamming around. It's mercifully quicker getting roof out to put on when it starts raining. But I'd sure pay for a folding roof that just pulls up and clicks into place.

[bjwoods]

Put the spare as far over to the right as you can..

roof goes inleft fron corner first into the left side of the boot,

BUT as the wheel you are taking off the car, DOESN'T fit in the boot, you might as well take the tire weld/AA route

B

Edited by bjwoods on Monday 30th October 11:01

[FFMan]

good point bjwoods - if the punctured wheel you take off doesn't fit in the boot, then either hope you got no passenger or put it on their lap - hmmnnnn

[richb]

steve-v8s said:

It will go in with the spare, tools, CD changer etc in place. It’s all down to technique and just needs a bit of practice. Hold the roof with the inside facing you and the front towards the ground.

Agreed, never had a problem. Curved edge to the bottom and carbon side facing to the rear. Fit's with spare wheel, tools etc.

[steve-v8s]

Sorry to be a pedant over this but you can get both front wheels (15 inch) or one rear wheel (16 inch) in the boot. Both rear wheels will also fit on the parcel shelf if need be, along with a Gazebo, Race suit, Helmet, Tools and other bits and bobs.

[richb]

roy e6 said:

Chuck spare wheel away replace with couple of tins tyreweld

Mind you I used to put the spare in the boot for long journeys, like when I went to Le Mans. Then last year when I was doing some Waxoyle I just wanted roll the can back a bit so I went to put the spare wheel on as it was quicker only to discover... that since I fitted bigger brakes back in 2001 it doesn't fit over the calipers! Doh!!!

[barreti]

Are you putting the roof in a cover before it goes in the boot?
Although its the best thing to do, mine is a complete git to squeeze into the boot with the cover on but easy without it. If you do have a cover on it would be worth taking it off and playing until you've figured out how it all goes in, then putting the cover on again the best way around to get it into the boot.

[The Moosehunter]

I find this helps a great deal

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=312025&f=9&h=0

[jollygreengriff]

LOL - the first time I tried to put mine in the boot on a hot sunny day in the Cotswolds, good lady wife and I spent ages trying to force the damn thing in the boot - edge first, then the corner,then turn it round, then upside down, then around again and only found that removing the spare wheel allowed it to squeeze in.

I bet most of the roof panels have got scuffs on the corners from these antics.

The old S with its split roof was much easier although the carbon roof of the Griff is much lighter.

Oh, bless TVR.

[nicbowman]

It is possible to remove some metal from the LH boot hinge mount (the one bolted to teh body), to make more clearance. I did this in-situ with an angle grinder (very carefully!). Then place some edging strip along the metal. This makes it easier to fit, and stops the metal edge damaging the roof or cover.

Nic