New Roof, Roof Frame, Roof Head Lining, Suppliers List. Is There One On Here?

[Guest bingo794]

Just a thought.

 

Is there a list of suppliers of new roof and related items on the forum?

 

Mine had a new vinyl roof some time ago, about 5 years ago, and it seems to have shrunk. It has pulled itself free of the forward fasteners near the top of the windscreen. It has also been cut/split by the movement of the hood and the frame which has come through just at the top/front corner of the door. The frame has rusted there, too.

 

Any easy fixes for the frame?..........it does appear to be sharp, so may need a new one.

 

Needs a new roof no matter what.

 

It looked well until recently, now it is time to freshen it up.

 

Bingo

[Guest escott1973i]

Hi m8 here for a new skin http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Escort-Cabriolet-MK3-4-Car-Hood-Hoods-Soft-Top-Tops-Black-Vinyl-/310937596271?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item486553316f

[Guest Older and wiser]

Just a thought.

 

Is there a list of suppliers of new roof and related items on the forum?

 

Mine had a new vinyl roof some time ago, about 5 years ago, and it seems to have shrunk. It has pulled itself free of the forward fasteners near the top of the windscreen. It has also been cut/split by the movement of the hood and the frame which has come through just at the top/front corner of the door. The frame has rusted there, too.

 

Any easy fixes for the frame?..........it does appear to be sharp, so may need a new one.

 

Needs a new roof no matter what.

 

It looked well until recently, now it is time to freshen it up.

 

Bingo

 

Just a thought.

 

Is there a list of suppliers of new roof and related items on the forum?

 

Mine had a new vinyl roof some time ago, about 5 years ago, and it seems to have shrunk. It has pulled itself free of the forward fasteners near the top of the windscreen. It has also been cut/split by the movement of the hood and the frame which has come through just at the top/front corner of the door. The frame has rusted there, too.

 

Any easy fixes for the frame?..........it does appear to be sharp, so may need a new one.

 

Needs a new roof no matter what.

 

It looked well until recently, now it is time to freshen it up.

 

Bingo

 

 

Just a thought.

 

Is there a list of suppliers of new roof and related items on the forum?

 

Mine had a new vinyl roof some time ago, about 5 years ago, and it seems to have shrunk. It has pulled itself free of the forward fasteners near the top of the windscreen. It has also been cut/split by the movement of the hood and the frame which has come through just at the top/front corner of the door. The frame has rusted there, too.

 

Any easy fixes for the frame?..........it does appear to be sharp, so may need a new one.

 

Needs a new roof no matter what.

 

It looked well until recently, now it is time to freshen it up.

 

Bingo

[Guest Older and wiser]

Hello Mate

 

I am in Lincoln, and it has been a hell of a job to find someone local, I also am in the process of replacing my hood, Vinyl construction as well, I have found two suppliers down south, get yourself some free samples they are willing to post, I also managed to get some fitting instructions after several emails !! they were very reluctant at first!

 

I have found a company in Newark on the industrial estate who specialise in interiors on all cars from classics to American, they seem decent and quoted £200 for the labour only, best quotes I have had on labour has been £300 to £400 quid for what is a five hour job!

 

I am going to order my hood and look to see if I can do it myself, seems it can be done with care and patience!

 

If you need more info let me know.

 

Mark

[Guest tonycolledge]

Hi. I have a spare roof that I am selling if anybody is interested. And just a quick pointer. Pay somebody to attach the material to the roof frame (is a horrible job) but fitting the frame to the car is a 20 to 30 minute job with a 6 x 17mm bolts and 4 x 10mm or 13mm bolts (can't quite remember)

[Guest tonycolledge]

Hi. I have a spare roof that I am selling if anybody is interested. And just a quick pointer. Pay somebody to attach the material to the roof frame (is a horrible job) but fitting the frame to the car is a 20 to 30 minute job with a 6 x 17mm bolts and 4 x 10mm or 13mm bolts (can't quite remember)

[Guest bingo794]

Hello Mate

 

I am in Lincoln, and it has been a hell of a job to find someone local, I also am in the process of replacing my hood, Vinyl construction as well, I have found two suppliers down south, get yourself some free samples they are willing to post, I also managed to get some fitting instructions after several emails !! they were very reluctant at first!

 

I have found a company in Newark on the industrial estate who specialise in interiors on all cars from classics to American, they seem decent and quoted £200 for the labour only, best quotes I have had on labour has been £300 to £400 quid for what is a five hour job!

 

I am going to order my hood and look to see if I can do it myself, seems it can be done with care and patience!

 

If you need more info let me know.

 

Mark

 

Hi Mark

 

Thanks for the info on the Newark company.

Let me know how you get on with them.

To be honest, I am a bit short on time and knowhow to try it for myself and the cash is there for a new roof set up, so I think I'd like it done by the pro's.

The details would be handy.

 

Bingo

[Guest bingo794]

Hi m8 here for a new skin http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Escort-Cabriolet-MK3-4-Car-Hood-Hoods-Soft-Top-Tops-Black-Vinyl-/310937596271?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item486553316f

 

Nice one.

I will give them a look.

If I can find someone a bit more local, it would suit better.

 

Bingo

[Guest bingo794]

Hi. I have a spare roof that I am selling if anybody is interested. And just a quick pointer. Pay somebody to attach the material to the roof frame (is a horrible job) but fitting the frame to the car is a 20 to 30 minute job with a 6 x 17mm bolts and 4 x 10mm or 13mm bolts (can't quite remember)

 

Hi Tony

Thanks for the offer and tips, but I fancy having a bit of choice in colour or type of fabric.

 

Bingo

[Guest Older and wiser]

Hello Newbie

 

What's the hood like? Is it in good condition? Colour?

 

Cheers

 

Mark

[Guest escott1973i]

Right me and Lenny F had a fiddle about with a roof skin hope this helps any Qs just ask nothing pro like but can tell you what we found out if possible

Edited May 16, 2014 by escott1973i

[Guest CathyB]

Hi guys,

 

Thought I would share my experience with you WRT fitting a hood. I had a second hand hood that came with my car when I bought it because the one on it leaked. When we came to put it on (complete with the frame) it was shrunk and didnt fit properly so I purchased a new hood. The company I bought it from advertised it as being easy to fit for someone with good car DIY skills and that a fitting guide was included. When I spoke to the guy to purchase it there was a lot of sharp intakes of breath as to how hard it would be to fit and he said no instructions were included. After a stern email, the company sent instructions.

 

It isn't a difficult thing to fit though there are lots of bits to come off the frame before you can fit the new one. There were also bits of information the company could have given me in the instructions which would have made the fit much easier.

 

There is some gluing involved along the header rail and side rails. The instructions didn't mention glueing. Make sure old glue is removed and surface is clean and free from grease, cellulose thinners and sand paper worked well for that. I used Stormsure glue which you can buy in a boat chandlery or on Amazon. I would say use a marine glue rather than evostick which is not as far as I am aware rated for outdoor use and may not last.

 

The rear of the hood is kept in with a cable which fits in a groove around the back of the car. If you overtighten the cable or allow it to twist as you do up the nuts it will snap. They don't tell you that and I found out the hard way. The cable should more or less disappear from view in the groove when correctly fitted. Mine did but then kept popping out as I put the hood up so I overtightenned it and snapped it in an attempt to get it to fit in the groove properly. When the replacement cable arrived, I decided to call the company before I fitted it to ask if there was any reason the cable kept popping out rather than seating in the groove. They eventually told me it was because the rear screen wasn't fitted and that this was normal. And this turned out to be true. Once the hole was cut for the rear screen some tension was relieved in the fabric which meant the cable stayed put where it was meant to be. If they had only said that in the first place!!!!

 

You will attach the rear of the hood first with the cable then when that is in place, secure the hood with glue at the front of the frame then re secure the metal rail on top with screws. When you position the hood it may seem like it is a bit too short to fold over the front and secure ( I propped the frame up by about 6" which allowed me to pull the fabric enough to secure it) and when it has been secured at the front it may feel like it is too tight when you try to close it. As I said this is because the rear screen isn't fitted.

 

The side tension wires are best fitted at the rear first, then at the front. It is hopeless trying to do them the other way around. Again, they don't tell you this. For the rear screen, you will need a staple gun to staple the fabric to the frame.

 

We found the rear screen went in better with some grease around the rubber (would not go in without grease) and using the string method. There are youtube videos on that.

[Guest CathyB]

If anyone wants a frame I have the original one we took off the car with a good head lining with the padding and which still has the fabric on top of the padding (many of them rot). I don't have all the rubbers to go with it or all the metal retaining strips but the frame and headlining are good. I have pictures if necessary. Make me an offer or swap for boot hinge cover??