Hood Help Needed

[Graham Pops]

Hello Forum
Dropped the hood with no problem before setting off today but when we tried to put it back up at our destination, no end of problems! Eventually got it in position to lock the front down but the whole thing was about 2 inches out of line. The mechanism on the drivers side by the T bar has drooped an inch or so. When we tried to put the hood back down we couldn't shut the cover. SWMBO had to sit in the back on the way home like royalty with her elbow on the cover to stop it blowing open! Got no end of grief about what it has done to her hair as well.

Need to get this fixed for Drive IT Day (hood not the hair) and it is not a job I fancy tackling on my own. Stag lives in Faringdon, Oxon so does anyone know a hood specialist in the Abingdon, Oxford or Swindon area?

Thanks. Graham

[mole42]

Hi,
It's quite an easy issue to solve. You didn't have the clips properly engaged so the hood catches in the stowage well and the frame bends when re-erecting. It's possible to straighten it (guess how I know that).
I know someone in Faringdon, maybe I could help sometime if you need it?

Richard

[Graham Pops]

Thanks Richard. If you know someone locally that knows what to look for that would be a great help.

[Pete]

I live in Oxford so I could pop by sometime, no guarantee I can help though.

[Graham Pops]

Appreciate that Pete. Let me see if Richard's contact in Faringdon can help first.

[Graham Pops]

Now that the red mist has abated after struggling with the hood yesterday I am going to attempt a repair later in the week. What would be really useful if someone could oblige would be a photo of the frame behind the B post with the roof up and the rear section lifted up. A sot of n/ and o/s would be good.
I thought I might find a You Tube clip of how the whole frame should go together but no luck.
Thanks in advance.

[Graham Pops]

Here's an update on my hood problem and a question.
I found the best way to identify the problem was to remove the hood, place it on a level floor and take measurements either side to identify the problems. I removed the small rear hoop and straightened it as it was slightly bent. The main hoop was badly twisted which was the main cause of the problem. As this is difficult to remove, I unbolted it and pulled back the glued flaps to free it. I was then able with some help to get it back into shape. Waiting on some replacement bolts before refitting to the car.
The question I have is, should I glue the two hoops in back in place before or after refitting the the whole thing to the car?

[billywhizz]

Bumped this further up the forum. There must be some experience of frames on here. Sadly not me.

[V Mad]

No need I have already, hopefully helped.

[Graham Pops]

Finished reassembling the hood today and refitted it. It works! Still some final tweaking to be done but I am chuffed that it is back in use. Many thanks to VMad for contacting me and offering his wisdom and encouragement - you need plenty of that with a hood! Thanks also to past posters for their tips and pictures. One thread was titled 'absolute sodding nightmare'. Never a truer word written.