Hood (part 2)

OK so I have fitted the bows to the screen in part1. So now it is time to move to the back of the car.

The GRP skirt moulding was in two parts (not one as stated in the instructions).

Mouldings may be one part or cut in two as mine was

 I applied plenty of masking tape where the moulding would fit to avoid any scratching of the body.

Masking tape applied to the body

Next I drilled 8 pilot holes where indicated on the mouldings. I sanded the mouldings to remove any sharp edges and the hole marking 'pimples'.  Then the mouldings were lined up on the rear deck, so that the overhangs were tight up against each door reveal and the centre rear trailing edge was 60-65mm from the boot shut line. The mouldings were taped in place. Once in place, the pilot holes in the skirt moulding were used as a guide to drill through the body. These were then opened out to 8mm using a step drill bit. 

Mouldings held in place with masking tape prior to drilling

Holes drilled in body

The M8 thread inserts were fitted in to each hole in the body and secured from inside the boot and wheel arches with penny washers, shake proof washers and nuts.

Inserts fitted

The pilot holes in the mouldings were opened out to 6mm (allows clearance for the thumb screws). The mouldings were trial fitted using the thumb screws and the holes adjusted a little to fit. Once I knew they fitted, the skirt mouldings were removed and trimmed back 6mm from the door shut line and the rear was cut to the marks provided by GD (This is where you cut it in two if it is in one piece).

t was 

Rear of moulding cut to allow hood to fold

Then I fitted the two pivot brackets to the mouldings using the countersunk screws provided. The pin ends of the bracket face towards the inside of the car. The centre line of the bracket should be 30mm back from the door shut line and approx 30mm in from the cockpit roll edge. 

Pivot bracket in place

The hood frame was put together (it needed the inside of one of the frame legs reeming out a little) before fitting in place (note that the frame main legs are cranked so that the hood can lay back over the body).

Hood frame fitted

The next job is to start fitting the hood fabric.