Which Hood Supplier

[smoking joe]

I have decided (or rather her in doors has said its OK) that the time is right to go for a new hood and, would appreciate some feed back from members on their experiences of
the best suppliers to go to, for quality and value for money and customer service.

I think its is likley to be a vinyl one, of sorts, mohair too pricey and not sure correct for the period.


Thanks for help.

SJ

[jclay (RIP 2018)]

Big topic of debate on the TR7/8 Mailing list. We are trying out a different supplier.

Clay

[url="http://www.jclay.me/"]My Triumph Site[/url], [url="http://www.triumphtechnical.me"]Technical Stuff[/url], [url="https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0B8MWEvqOpX3udEF4SmFQUW9RS09hbU5uNW5Wd0xrUQ/edit"]My Public Folder[/url],

[silverseven]

could we have a like to that discussion Clay ??I'm interested into what is being said, I'm also on the market for a new roof.

Ron.

[jclay (RIP 2018)]

http://www.triumphwedgeowners.org/mailing-list-forums-clubs.html

The discussion has been about Robbins and E-Z on Tops. E-Z On has said that they are willing to make or revise the TR7/8 patterns. We are trying to find a good top to send them as a good example.

There is another suppler that has sent me a new top to try on my car for fit. If it fits well, we will have to work out a way to supply tops for us. Right now they can only be bought from professional trim shops. PS, they have an amazing selection of colors for the tops.

I will keep you posted.

Clay

[url="http://www.jclay.me/"]My Triumph Site[/url], [url="http://www.triumphtechnical.me"]Technical Stuff[/url], [url="https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0B8MWEvqOpX3udEF4SmFQUW9RS09hbU5uNW5Wd0xrUQ/edit"]My Public Folder[/url],

[supercass]

I believe the original style hoods made on the original lasts in a material that is all but identical to the original are still available from the usual suppliers. Iirc the originals were made by Tickford??? supercass

[smoking joe]

I think the on going debate mentioned relates to our
<font face="Century Gothic">north american friends.

Some of us must have had experience of changing our
soft tops in the UK ?

Don Hoods.
Premier Hoods

Etc
Thanks.

SJ</font id="Century Gothic">

[Ianftr8]

Joe,

The normal suppliers (Rimmers, Robsport & S&S sell the full range of replacement tops for our cars.

I have had experience of fitting vinyl roofs from Rimmers and Robsport and have to say that I have been pleased with the results.

Follow clay's method of fitting and you won't go far wrong - the most important thing to say if you are fitting vinyl is to do it on a warm day in a warm garage.

Cheers

Ian

Ian Freeman
1979 TR8 DHC KDU 315V Poseidon Green
Triumph Courier
Triumph owner for 32 years

[jclay (RIP 2018)]

OK, there is an article that I found on my computer. <font size="3"><b><font color="red">I DID NOT WRITE IT NOR DO I KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM!!!</font id="red"></b></font id="size3">

"
The TR7 hood is quite straightforward to fit, it is all about taking your time.

1.Remove old hood.

2.Depending where you get the hood from the first job will be either to remove the rear rail from the old hood and fit it to the new hood with the 4 studs/pop rivets and glue.IMO the better quality hoods have a new rail prefitted with the studs so you can just bolt the hood to the rear deck with the 7 studs on the rail.

3.This is the bit that makes or braeks the hood fit, with a hairdryer warm up the rear window until it becomes really supple. Engage the header rail into position and lock the handles down. Then apply the contact adhesive to the header rail and the hood material which will glue to the header rail. Keep applying the heat to the window as you don't want in to start contracting yet. Once the glue is ready, pull the material forward into position on the header rail. This is easier with at least one other person helping.
Once you are happy with the position of the hood, release the header rail handles.

4.Fold the material over the underside of the header rail, trim to suit and fit the header rail seal with pop rivets.

5.close the roof again onto the screen frame and fit the 4 studs on either side starting with the front ones on either side.

Once the window cools down it will contract and therefore be tighter.
A bit brief I know but hope it helps

"

[jclay (RIP 2018)]

Yes, we are having difficulty finding replacement tops here in the North American Continent. We do not know who the suppliers are in the U.K. When we asked for help finding a supplier in the U.K. for the rear motor mount, all we got as a rast of %#*& for our effort. When we got an answer it came from the US. Thank you Mildred!

I guess we are on our own, again!

Clay

[url="http://www.jclay.me/"]My Triumph Site[/url], [url="http://www.triumphtechnical.me"]Technical Stuff[/url], [url="https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0B8MWEvqOpX3udEF4SmFQUW9RS09hbU5uNW5Wd0xrUQ/edit"]My Public Folder[/url],

[FI Spyder]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by jclay</i>

Yes, we are having difficulty finding replacement tops here in the North American Continent. We do not know who the suppliers are in the U.K. When we asked for help finding a supplier in the U.K. for the rear motor, all we got as a rast of %#*& for our effort. When we got an answer it came from the US. Thank you Mildred!

I guess we are on our own, again!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

OK, now I'M confused. What rear motor? The only rear motor I'm aware of is the one in my Beetle back in the day. I guess we're a lucky in some respects in that we don't have cheap shipping from/like the US but we do have local Moss dealers where we can order parts from Moss UK or Moss USA without paying duty or overseas/over border shipping or we can order from specialist (Robsport or S&S Prep) for the same shipping price as the US (so long as you can get the county accents)[:p].

So I gather that the UK people are happy with the UK supplied tops?



- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

[trekcarbonboy]

I've still got the original hood on my car and it is in nearly new condition. No cracks, tears, fading, or hazing of the windows. Still fits perfectly! [:D][:p]

Craig '75 2.0 FHC

[FI Spyder]

Me too. It still looks like new but it's a little stiff when it's not hot out like central California from whence it came. Have to use a hair dryer to soften it up a bit to set the latches and snap the snaps. Now we know where the saying "a hair dresser's car" came from.[8D]

- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT