Cabby Fitting Used Roof?

Hi Guys,

First post here and hope you can help.

I have a 1990 cabby with electric roof but it isn't in good shape and leaks.  I managed to pick up a used mohair hood including frame but unfortunately its the earlier manual variety.  After reading numerous threads I understand they are not interchangeable.  My question is would just the hood part from the earlier model fit on my electric frame?  Preferably with the rear screen and frame still attached as the frame on the replacement is in a lot better shape.

A fitter was not prepared to do it as he said the hoods shrink and change shape and he said the rear screen won't line up.  Does this sound right?

Many Thanks,

Lee

Chortle will probably agree a bit.

The issue is that the hoods Roofs. or Tops are all custom fit to the car, everyone has to be finagled a tad.

I have replaced quite a few over the years, and the Mohair, Stayfast install a tad differently than vinyl.

While it probably would fit, and look ok, it is up to you, if you want to swap over from Electric to Manual. If you go that way you have to decide if you want to remove the pump, and hoses and things.

For the rear window I can't say, as I have never seen the Electric but on the manual ones I have replaced, NOT TOTAL HOOD/PAD/Headliner/FRAME  But Frames by them selves the rear windows usually bolt right up.  There are only 4 10mm bolts on the lower edge of the window that
holds the frame to the hinges that are attached to the parcel shelf wings. You will need a Helper to install it as it is heavy and cumbersome.

The cost of the Mohair isn't too bad, as if your padding and headliner are ok.

You can read Chortle's or my how-to's and over a good WARM weekend (preferably rain free) you can swap all 3 layers.  It isn't that hard and you only really need a "pop" rivet tool and a Very Good Stapler…
 

Sell the 2nd hand roof and buy a new roof, they don't last forever and if you wish to keep the car for a few years it's a better investment.

As above,

Waste of time and money and you're making work for yourself.
You don't know how old the roof is how it's been looked after, does it leak?

The frame etc is called the top assembly.
So it comprises of four components.
On a bare frame first to be fitted is the headliner, then the interliner, followed by the padding. Finally the outer cover. (Top/hood/roof).
If the hood is ok and the headliner ripped or discoloured, or the inter liner has gone or the pad worn thin then you got to take roof off anyway to deal with them.
So you may have a good roof on one frame better other parts on the other.
So you end up taking them apart to get all decent bits.
That's time consuming and you may end up having to renew anyway.
Your fitter would charge a lot to mess about with that lot. It's labour intensive.
Your fitter is correct to a degree. You could swap them over and fettle the material maybe get the steamer on it.
The rear window frame if left in place would be a fixed position and the rest of the hood may not fit that great elsewhere.
But you'll never get it as good as a new install and you run the risk of damaging anything as you take it off.
The hoods do stretch and settle on the car from new, but once transferred onto another car may not fit the same. Some areas baggy.
Others shrunk so can end up splitting on you.
You can pm me your phone number and I can give you a call to clarify options if you like.

 


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Wow!

Thanks for the replies guys.  Very informative and useful.

With all the work it sounds like it will be a bit of a nightmare trying to get it all together for potentially very little gain if it doesn't fit anyway, leaks or doesn't last that long.  Definitely don't want to go down the route of switching to mechanical…the electric hood is the only modern convenience on the car!  I did get my terminology wrong when I was talking about switching the hood over (sorry), I was thinking of switching just the mohair and back window surround (not frame) from the old hood.  But based on Chortle's reply that seems like a no go as well.

If you don't mind Chortle I think a quick chat would just get things clear in my head on the best way forward, I will send you a PM.

Thanks again for the replies guys, greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Lee

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