Section : Convertible Hoods and Sunroofs

Order Ready Made or Let the Trimmers do it all?? 

Posted By : Lisa Elford, 05-May-2005, 08:09am

• Order Ready Made or Let the Trimmers do it all?? 

  Posted By : Steve Fielder, 05-May-2005, 12:39pm

  Hi Lisa,
  
  my two pennys worth as follows, after the hassle I had trying to get a ready made tonneau to fit getting one trimmed to the car was good value! Are you going to fit a ready made hood yourself? Do you have the tools and skills to do this, I'm not trying to belittle anyone but if you have no garage or undercover area it could turn into a trial. However if you're confident then there is no task that is more satisfying.
  
  Me.........I'm a coward so trimmers every time for me, plus the fact that my Vitesse is oddly shaped!!

  • Order Ready Made or Let the Trimmers do it all?? 

    Posted By : Tim Willis, 05-May-2005, 10:47pm

    I can't really see any point in having a hood cut specially when good quality ones are commercially available. A good hood is nothing if fitted badly so buy a decent one and have it fitted professionally, should take around 4-6 hours if including recovering the header rail and fitting new side seals etc.
    The only cars where trouble is encountered are the ones with badly sagging bodies or bent hood frames where getting a good seal around the door glass becomes difficult. Convertibles are nearly always compromised by weakness in the body structure, hoods fit best when they are taught and drum like, but on a Herald/Vitesse this tension can pul the screen frame and bulkhead back a little so the doors don't fit so well. Like I said a compromise has to be found, but a good fitter will sort this if need be.
    
    Tim
    Willow Triumph

    • Order Ready Made or Let the Trimmers do it all?? 

      Posted By : Lisa Elford, 06-May-2005, 09:36pm

      Thanks guys. Spoken on the phone to a couple of people too... each time they recommended the same fitter.
      
      The long and the short of it is that have heard not such good things about the pre-cut vitesse hoods from the likes of Rimmer!!
      
      Am not fitting myself, best left to the experts I felt.
      
      The fitter can't book me in until the 17th!! and will take three days, he said they use the 'real' Everflex and will put in 30 not 40 thick windows, with velcro down the sides as well.... so I think that I am going to go for this option, just hope it doesn't rain too much in the meantime. (Dashing out in the morning for some duck tape for the current holes!)
      
      But hey, am happy, picked her up today and drove her back 90 miles from home, my lad (aged 11) was well chuffed with the looks she was attracting.
      
      I am chuffed too!

      • Order Ready Made or Let the Trimmers do it all?? 

        Posted By : William Davies, 06-May-2005, 10:06pm

        The manufacturers of the original hoods used by the factory are still in business, still supplying Herald/Vitesse hoods, which are still made on the original tooling. I don't know who supplies Rimmers, but many specialists use the original supplier. I've never received a single complaint about one of these hoods, there are several other hood manufacturers who are considered to be just as good. There are certainly some very ppor quality hoods out there, but in general you get what you pay for. Avoid mohair or double duck, very nice if you like that kind of thing but the material is too thick for the limited space available in the Herald/Vitesse hood well.
        I really can't see any good reason for having a hood for one of "our" cars specially made. Have you shooped around for alternative trimmer to see what they have to say?
        Cheers,
        Bill.

        • Order Ready Made or Let the Trimmers do it all?? 

          Posted By : David Bowers, 24-May-2005, 02:17pm

          Hi Bill
          
          What is the name of the supplier of the original hoods?
          Cheers
          David

• Order Ready Made or Let the Trimmers do it all?? 

  Posted By : Jackie Forsythe, 13-Jul-2005, 03:33pm

  Hi Lisa
  just wondered how you got on with the new hhod. Which manufacturer/fitter where you looking at?
  Jackie