The Triumph Dolomite Club - EzBoard Archive

Now then, I am about to order some Vinyl in preparation for replacing the roof. I am going to ramble my thoughts in here, on how to do it, if anyone has anything to add, hints or tips, please drop them in.<br>
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1) Remove chrome trim from rear screen surround, remove the roof gutter trim, pop the front screen out.<br>
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2) Pull off the vinyl from rear, using a wallpaper scraper for stubborn bits.<br>
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3) Sand down the roof to remove rusty bubbles and leftover of old vinyl, but keep it fairly rough to give a nice surface for the new vinyl to stick to. Give it a good wash.<br>
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4) Paint the roof with zinc primer and then a Matt Black finish, so it doesn't rust until the vinyl is ready to go on.<br>
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5) Start at the front, put 1" of glue on the leading edge, and press down. Put the windscreen back in (after ensuring it is straight), to hold the front edge. Tape the bits on the A pillars down.<br>
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6) Apply Glue mixture (i am going to use 3M "Gorilla Snot", Al will know what I mean), mixed with MEK to make a brushable substance. Do six inches at a time, allowing five minutes for the MEK to evaporate before pulling the vinyl onto it. Smoothing as we go, and applying heat with gun as neccersary to remove bubbles.<br>
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7) Repeat step six as neccersary, until the rear edge is reached. As the rear edge is done, fold that over and hold it with bulldog clips.<br>
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<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/glasses.gif ALT="8)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> Wait 30 minutes, smoothing from front to rear with heatgun, until the glue has cured.<br>
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9) Replace rear screen chrome and roof gutter chromes, trimming the sides as we go...<br>
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10) Have a cup of tea and learn how to spell neccersary correctly.<br>
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Does that sound about right, or have I missed anything?

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You will need an old fashioned bottle/can opener and a bit of cloth to get the gutter trims off without turning them into corkscrews; pop it off a couple of inches at a time but DON"T pull it away from the gutter where it will still want to sit until its completely loose. The bit of clothe is to prevent the metal tool marking the stainless trim.<br>
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A heat gun or hot day will help you remove the old roof.<br>
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MEK is likely to act as a solvent for the new vinyl and will definitely attack any painted surface it comes into contact with...smells good though - can I order 5L from you?<br>
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The A pillars use a special clip which holds the edges down.<br>
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The clips which hold the rear trim on also trap the vinyl.<br>
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Don't trim the edges until you know you have finished and it has shrunk back as far as its going to.<br>
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I'd use a 'comb' to spread the glue

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I did mine a few years ago, followed an old,old, article in dolly mixture. Need two of you to work quick and manage the large size of it to avoid bubbles as the glue starts to go off.<br>
The shortcuts - were to leave screen in place, just tuck the vinly under the rubber, also I left my side gutters in place, just trimed vinyl and tucked right up. There is no way to spot the difference and my gutter did not risk a load of ripples that you can get when removing.

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Leaving the 'screen in place would be very temping...but...<br>
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I recall an article a good few years back about a Sprint owner who was struggling with sluggish performance at top end. Quick off the mark, but very poor above 50 ish. Statically the car was spot on; fuel, electric etc, brakes weren't binding at all, couldn't work it out.<br>
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Eventually found out that his shabby old vinyl roof was lifting at speed and filling with air as it had come adrift at the front!

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Alternatively I'll try and find out if the old boy in Lincoln still fits them for £100

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Well, I ordered the vinyl, 2.5m by 54" from Martrim Coach Trimming Supplies in Middlewich, Cheshire (Tel: 01270 767771) - Specified as EV Grain. Yes, I did mix imperial and metric. Details found in the archive <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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The front screen shouldn't be a problem, It has only been in for a month on a new rubber and chrome, so should come out easily enough.<br>
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Now, the BIG question. IF my car is to be one of the projects at the Restoration Show, should I do the removal of the old vinyl (I have a couple of days free next week), or should we do it all in one go at the show. I'm not fussed either way to be honest, and I think it would be nice to have a "clean canvas" to work off at the show, but I am wondering how long the fitment would take, as we don't want to have the job finished by midday.<br>
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I am going to be naughty and cross post this, just to make sure the right eyes see it/take notice.

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I'd be really up for a crack at this. I reckon 'end to end' in one go with the only pre-event prep being the removal of gutter trims. With a few hands, would it take much more than and hour and a half to clean the old adhesive off and prep the roof, would it?.<br>
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Got a feeling that I read soemwhere that one should start in the middle and go for the middle outwards rather than front to back.

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