Roadster Rebuild Diary from Cornwall

**meverett** · 19-01-2019, 09:25 PM

Thanks Adrian,
Still got a lot to do yet.
Brakes, cooling, fuel, finish wiring, finish running boards and arches, fix all body work, check and torque all nuts and bolts and alloys to refurbish.
Hope to catch up one day.
Cheers, Martin.

**angusgrooby** · 20-01-2019, 08:59 PM

Hats of to you for having a go at making the hood, I just would not know where to start.

**meverett** · 20-01-2019, 09:23 PM

It is certainly a learning curve for me, from learning how to use the sewing machine to fixing it and the different types of thread and needle.
After that you just break it down in sections starting with the back part and rear screen to the middle then the larger part of the roof then trimming the edges. Although the roof is fairly small it does get a bit unwieldy feeding through the sewing machine when trimming the edges.
I have just started attempt 2, I’m hoping to get the seams to line up better with the frame.

**meverett** · 07-02-2019, 10:01 PM

So 2nd attempt, that took a while to make. Not convinced the cant rail will hold.
I will probably remove from the rail again and clean off the contact adhesive and try to tension more to get a tighter fit.
Door screens done. Zip in nicely, just some poppers to fit.

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**b_caswell** · 08-02-2019, 11:00 AM

Try making up a couple of wedges to fit between the top of the screen frame and the cantrail so that the cantrail tips forward a bit more.

**meverett** · 08-02-2019, 12:03 PM

When I stuck it to the rail I had it propped in what I thought would be the fitted position but under tension it pulls down as in the picture. I need to separate it again and try to tension more and try to smooth it out. I will make up a couple of wedges to fix to the rail so it can’t dip like that. Otherwise I am quite pleased with the hood.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.

**meverett** · 08-02-2019, 08:29 PM

I know why it’s not tensioned properly.
I unstuck the cantrail and removed all the contact adhesive then retensioned it in the correct position then took some measurements.
There is more overhang on the drivers side to the passenger side so when I had glued it down central it twisted the canvas.
Corrective action, I have removed the side edging, I will trim the canvas on the drivers side to match the passenger then remake the zipped edging.

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Doh! Run out of canvas, better order some more. Report back in a week or so. Soon be spring and I can get on with more bodywork.

**droverpete** · 08-02-2019, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by meverett

When I stuck it to the rail I had it propped in what I thought would be the fitted position but under tension it pulls down as in the picture. I need to separate it again and try to tension more and try to smooth it out. I will make up a couple of wedges to fix to the rail so it can’t dip like that. Otherwise I am quite pleased with the hood.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.

The traditional way of holding the rail in place was with a squash ball.

**phild** · 16-02-2019, 08:37 AM

Martin I have still been following your progress since my impulse purchase of the GTV managed to get in the way of my marlin build. The GTV is on the road now but needs a small bit of body work and fettling plus a respray so is still going to be taking some of my time/money like most old cars, but I now should be able to start giving some time to the roadster soon, if I can remember where I am at. Your build diary is impressive and encouraging me to get restarted on the roadster again, I will be looking at yours and other build posts when I get stuck.
cheers

Phil