216 Cabriolet replacement hood

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MikeDX
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Location: Bedford

216 Cabriolet replacement hood

Post by MikeDX »

Dear all

I need to replace the hood on my cab, and I've got a replacement in good condition.

I've pulled the old hood off the frame (unscrewed, etc where necessary) and I've got about 1/3 of the way through putting the new (scrap salvaged) hood on and I've got stuck :|

Is there a document somewhere that shows what screws, bolts etc go where? Or do I need to find another rover, and use it as a reference.

Any and all help appreciated :)

Best regards

mike
tmwsccsh
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Post by tmwsccsh »

Hi.

Did you have any luck sourcing a document / guide at all?

I am going to need to change the hood on our one shortly and it would save some money if I could do it myself?

Did you find it was an easy process overall?

Thanks in advance.

Regards

Tim Watts
MikeDX
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Location: Bedford

Post by MikeDX »

Hi Tim

I havent found a document, nor have i created one

however, you may not be that far from me, and if you want to come and see one "in progress" you are welcome to, and take whatever pics you want.

I have so far bolted the main roof vinyl back on but the lining has yet to be replaced.
tmwsccsh
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Post by tmwsccsh »

Hi.

I am indeed not far from you, so I may well take you up on the offer.

I shall see how things are looking in the next week or so and get back to you.

Thanks for the offer.

Regards

Tim Watts
tmwsccsh
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Post by tmwsccsh »

Hi again Mike,

I have just purchased from eBay a Workshop CD that covers the Cabriolet as well, so hopefully that should give us a good insight into what's required.

I was wondering - I have an opportunity to acquire a new hood (fabric part only) for a very good price. I know I will also need the window section as well, but from your experience so far, can you advise if you think there is anything else I need, or are all the other components "recyclable", so to speak?

I am hoping that I can go for just the hood fabric and the window section and that should be all, but things are never that simple for me...

I don't actually have the car yet - pick it up on Saturday, so I can't look at what's there already to see what I think. I am toying with the idea of not putting a headlining in (such as MX-5's and MG-F's) unless it is absolutely essential, in which case I shall just clean up the one that is already in the car and re-fit. Have you any thoughts on that part - I know you mentioned previously that you have not put the lining back in yours yet.

Thanks in advance again.

Regards

Tim Watts
MikeDX
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Location: Bedford

Post by MikeDX »

tmwsccsh wrote:Hi again Mike,

I have just purchased from eBay a Workshop CD that covers the Cabriolet as well, so hopefully that should give us a good insight into what's required.
Sadly I suspect this is the same cd that I've got, that covers very very little to do with the hood :(
I was wondering - I have an opportunity to acquire a new hood (fabric part only) for a very good price. I know I will also need the window section as well, but from your experience so far, can you advise if you think there is anything else I need, or are all the other components "recyclable", so to speak?
When you say the fabric part do you mean the vinyl?

Yes you can re-use various parts (back window, certain linings, bars, etc) but some of them can be rusted to bugger and be a right pain to get off. I was lucky to get a new roof all in one, literally unbolted from a scrap cab and all i have to do is re-fix it.

What I will say though, when you take your roof apart, take as many pics as possible! I had a nightmare putting some of mine back together because I just couldnt remember where certain bits went. not so much the actual roof but the fittings that go onto the body, such as the tie elastic, bars that screw down, etc.

Where are you picking your car up from? are you driving it?

And how handy are you with a spanner? I'm no mechanic but i have a bloody good go.

I am hoping that I can go for just the hood fabric and the window section and that should be all, but things are never that simple for me...
the hood is 4 parts really

the vinyl top
the frame
the inner lining
the roof lining
I don't actually have the car yet - pick it up on Saturday, so I can't look at what's there already to see what I think. I am toying with the idea of not putting a headlining in (such as MX-5's and MG-F's) unless it is absolutely essential, in which case I shall just clean up the one that is already in the car and re-fit. Have you any thoughts on that part - I know you mentioned previously that you have not put the lining back in yours yet.
I only have the vinyl on at the moment, and bits of the inner lining. it looks pants and I wouldnt have it on the road without all the linings in place. You can do what you want with yours of course :)
tmwsccsh
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Post by tmwsccsh »

Hmm - you've got me worried now. I was hoping that I could just get the Vinyl hood (sorry, yes, I do indeed mean the Vinyl when I say the fabric part) and the Window section and then spend a Saturday stripping down for about 4 hours and then replacing again for another 4 hours (although it should be quicker to replace as I would know what I was doing :laughing2 ...).

Not good on the CD info you just gave either, but we shall see what happens with that too.

The car is being picked up from a place near Eastbourne - I viewed it on Saturday just gone and am picking it up this Saturday coming. My partner will be driving it back - it is going to be her car after all - and then I was hoping to do the roof the following weekend so that she can then migrate across to using the Rover instead of the Honda that is sadly slowly dying at the moment.

You mention the 4 parts:-

the vinyl top - this is the part I can get, I think.
the frame - assume this is the mechanism that will remain?
the inner lining - what's this?
the roof lining - assume this is the headlining inside the cabin?

You didn't mention the window part though - I have seen 1-piece hoods as well, but I think for ease I would go with the 2-parter as is already on the car - I think... I need to replace the window as the hood on the car is currently beige and we are going to go for a Black one when replaced instead.

Like you, I am no mechanic, but I do enjoy having a go at these things. Last year I replaced the rear bumper on my Jaguar XJS (sadly sold now) and that was great - although it did take me over 9 hours all-in to get 2 of the bolts off...

Any chance you could send me a photo of how yours currently looks?

Thanks in advance and sorry to keep asking these questions, but you seem to be the most knowledgable in this area that I have found so far!!!

Regards

Tim Watts
MikeDX
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Post by MikeDX »

Well don't worry too much, it isnt that hard, i'm just very very lazy.

Well, actually time hasnt been kind and im no fan of working on cars in the dark or the cold, and it's been both recently!

I don't have much photos of my car.. let me see what i've got

Image

Thats pretty much its current state, as you can see the roof isnt quite set right, this was before i bolted the roof back onto the roof frame.

Image

Image

Now, this pic ^^ is fairly important as the back window was unzipped. This is actually easy to replace, but you hve to unscrew the back of the hood, then it all unzips. bit of a pain but is doable. Again, I just had the whole section (and my old back window was in a right state)

Don't worry about asking questions, i am glad to help out.

What might be useful if possible, is if you drive your car up here (mine is currently SORN for the winter) and we'll see what we can do, take loads of pics, may even be able to use yours as a reference and get mine back in one piece!

The inner lining is basically a really thin pillow-like sheet, hard to explain, it just makes up the layers, and then the bottom lining which is your normal roof lining.

Let me know if i can help any more at all!

oh one more pic, this was the car when i bought it last year. bit of a mess..

Image

I've since changed the backseat to the red/white out of a tomcat, and will change the fronts over this weekend or maybe tomorrow if it doesnt water falling it down!
tmwsccsh
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Post by tmwsccsh »

Thank you for putting the images up - it's looking good.

Well, you've convinced me - I can do this myself!!! How's that for a show of confidence...

I shall order the roof and the window section later this week and go from there.

Thanks again for everything so far - I shall keep you in the loop...

TMW
tmwsccsh
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Posts: 67
Joined: Sat Jan 26, 2008 8:19 pm
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Post by tmwsccsh »

Well, the deed is done.

New roof and window section ordered and should be with me tomorrow or Thursday.

All I need now is the car...

TMW
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