vinyl roof

[80Sprint]

I am starting to think about replacing my vinyl roof. It's a later seamless version.

Is this type easier to fit as you don't need to line up any seams ?
Any recommendations on where to buy it in the original style ?
I have a sunroof and I will replace the vinyl on that at the same time. Is the gap likely to make the vinyl roof easier to fit or harder ?

[Carledo]

There is more work involved in dealing with the sunroof, in fact a fabric sunroof is more work to re-cover than a normal vinyl roof all on its own! The sunroof frame also needs to be removed (loads of pop rivets and odd little screws) before the vinyl can be fitted. You don't save any material either since the vinyl has to be cut to cover the entire roof and then have a big hole cut in it, this material is wasted as its too small for the sunroof. the only plus point is the seamless roof is a little cheaper to buy and slightly easier to deal with.
I used to work for a firm, unoriginally called "Car Hood Company" which had branches in Ladbroke Grove London and South Harrow. they were pretty good but may have stopped trading since I worked there in the late 70s! Other than that, I can recommend Aldridge Trimming in Wolverhampton and Martrim have a good name too. Or Jonners may well know a little man!

Steve

[AndyJ]

I've just had mine replaced and bought the roof and glue as a kit from www.littleportboathaven.co.uk. The first roof supplied was faulty as the seams were stitched wrong, but this was replaced without any quibbles. My car is a later model and should have had a seamless roof but they only had seamed in their range, however in later conversation I think they might have been able to use their pattern to cut a seamless one - I think it worth asking anyway. The result is good, but a couple of lessons learned along the way. First the glue has to be free flowing, if it's at all stale and has lost any of its fluidity don't even try. The glue originally supplied had gone off a little and couldn't be spread evenly so had to be replaced to avoid an uneven finish.
The second lesson is to work from the middle out and don't hurry. The roof should be glued down and left to fully dry before attempting to replace the glass or gutter trims or it will move and stretch or crease.
You should also prepare yourself for the possibility that removing the roof could reveal some corrosion around the edges. I'm off for my MOT this morning but I'll try and put some pics on later. I'd use lbh to supply again but I'd ask for seamless and tell them not to bother with the glue. Buy your own, nice and fresh and set aside plenty off time. I had mine fitted by my local garage as part of a body resto and complete respray and they found it tedious work.
Andy.

[Edin Dundee]

Check out Mad Mart's restos, I'm sure there were some detailed pics on some of his earlier ones.

[Reg]

I bought from these guys..

http://www.segalmotortrimmings.net/inde ... =:10:70155:

I also bought the high temperature impact adhesive (Alpha) from them too...excellent service.

As for fitting, no seams, so I found it easy peasy...though thankfully, I haven't got a sunroof to make the job any trickier!

When applying the glue (has to be high temperature because normal impact glue can un-stick on hot days), only apply to one surface.

[80Sprint]

Thanks guys. Some useful tips.

I thought the seamless would be a bit easier and I assume it would best to fit the vinyl as if it did not have a sunroof and then leave out some of the glue and trim to fit.
I had seen the LBH site but really don't want a seamed one. I will see if they do both now.

I have found a sunroof cover but need to look in to that more first. I am not sure of the manufacturer of mine yet unless it is inside somewhere. Added complications is it is electric so I may look to check out the motor as well as it can be quite slow.

Seems more like an autumn / winter project now.