Price for full cabby roof replacement?

I've got one price and getting another next week but as I have never required this before I'm a little in the dark on whats sensible…
I'm hoping Chortle will see this as hes the man when it comes to roofs.
Basically I'm looking to replace the whole lot apart from frame and preferably new rear metal screen surround.

Any ideas on price would be great, thanks Dan. 

FYI

chortle    

I ll send you my number Dan. I can have a proper chat about the subject lol..







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Price is…….. a lot..   

Yep it ain't cheap…,


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Hi ive been trying to research how to replace the hood myself (with no garage I might add) I've read and 're read the how too guides and I think I can do it with my friends helping but what I'm not sure on is what parts I'll need to replace I can't see all parts inside and what new parts I'll need to buy prior to the refit and if I don't have the parts there ready to replace when I take it off I'll be screwed as I won't be able to wait as it won't be under shelter and if I do actually need new top or not as the old one doesn't look too bad so can the one I have be replaced better and be made to be a better fit, there are parts that I know I need but others I'm unsure, like seals (they are expensive and if I don't actually need them I think I'll be wasting money) bit of a vague question but I basically need an experienced person to look at it and advise what parts I'll need any suggestions? Not that many places do hoods around congleton I don't think 

Phil you do understand that's close to impossible to answer, apart from order everything!   
Under your circumstances when you start you can't stop.  

As you know Carl and one or two others can give you advice but in no way is it a get out of jail card for free.
Don't want to put you off from trying, I'm all for it but you don't have a plan B or C!  

Good luck.  

I've thought of buying it all but when each seal is 100 and the material starts at 250 it's looking like a pretty penny, maybe vw heritage would except returns of parts I didn't use? Would still need the money up front to buy it all, I need to have a plan in the first place lol I might video it, and take some pics as it's a powered hood there isn't a guide which includes that I don't think and if I'm taking the top off should I go ahead and take the padding and the liner out and replace them or clean? Want to plan as well as possible and get it right, I'm hopefully coming to the annual gathering finnally so maybe find out more then :-)

Sounds like a plan! 👍😀

Are you fitting a mohair roof or vinyl?
No need to replace the seals unless they are leaking/ripped and any way you don't need to remove the roof or any other bits to slide the seals out as this can be done at any time.
Check the bottom of the rear window frame as that's what rusts and can course problems try to feel and look of any rusty marks as that needs to be treated/painted while the roof is off.
I changed mine on the drive over 2 days and just put some tarp over it but my drive is secure.

The other things I need to replace was some of the square plastic clips which the fixing screw for the metal trim which the seals sit was broken and some of the screws had rusted away.

I also needed to grid back, treat and paint a couple areas of the roof frame before the rust go any worse.

You need some double sided foam tape to fix the metal seal fixing to the frame as well, I used some double glazed window foam sealer from ebay for a few £s as it's much cheaper than vw's stuff.

If you are not sure what you are doing and time is short as you have no where to store the car I would recommend getting a car trimmer/hood fitters to do it for you as if there is any problems with rusty bits etc they can store the car in a dry place.
The last thing you want to do is rush the job and make a mistake as you only get one go at it.

Well I think a mohair one is on at the moment, was hopeing to keep it and clean it up and then replace and refit or would it be wise to replace? I know the side tension cables have snapped and I can see how difficult it will be to get new ones down there the front seal is cracking which sits on top of the windscreen and the rear frame is falling to bits but the seal around the rear glass seems to be okay, the rubbers which can slide out aslo don't seem to be too bad and the foam I have, does the foam need to be dense or quite light? Needs to be pressed between the metal strips and the material itself and the frame, I can get tarp to put over just British weather as long as it doesn't rain I'll be okay, but I could take the interior out as there is no carpet and its just seats water gets in to the passenger footwell and the boot at the moment, so rear window and tension cables I'm guessing are the culprits thanks for the help guys 

I've also had my hand in and around where the rear tension cable is bolted too and there doesn't feel like there is any rust, obviously I would need to see to be sure but that wasn't too bad of a sign just found the end of the side tension cable down there haha the middle padding has seat belt like material which comes out the side half way open and they seem to have come away from something and I can't see what is it they should be attached to is it the frame they have come away from and need re-riveting? 

Side tension cables should not make any difference to the water proofing of the car, they are there to pull the sides down and stop the roof ballooning when driving at speed, you can feed the side cables through a roof if it's open as the cables are stiff but it does take some time and can be fiddly, I've replaced mine a couple of times as I bought some from ebay and they rusted away so I made my own from stainless steel cable which is also covered in a plastic, I found a guide on the web which has the sizes and info on making your own, they do rub where they go through the frame as that's usually where they break.
Not sure what you mean about the padding may be a picture will help?

Replacing the rear window frame can problem as the roof is cut and stapled to a plastic insert in the frame so once it's removed you need to pull and re staple the roof to the frame.
Not ever worked on a mohair roof and only ever fitted new vinyl roofs so not had to work on the window as I was lucky to find a 2nd hand window frame which a cleaned and painted before to took the old roof off.

Guide I used but I did not have or use the brass chain at the ends.
Cabriolet DIY side tension cables | Volkswagen Owners Club Forum

Thread when I replaced and made mine.
View topic: Cabriolet side tension cables - The Mk1 Golf Owners Club
 

If the webbing straps are not affixed then you need to  fix them.
They space the roof bows out and also the rear corner straps form the shape of the hood too.
You don't need double sided Foam tape.
There's folks who sell stuff but it's not the correct material or density.

Generally if you're taking the roof off you'll. run the risk of it tearing if it's old.
Roofs have a finite life anyway.
Mohair isn't just cloth it's actually three later construction. The inner core being a rubber sheet the top material and the bottom material are bonded to it.
The rubber stretches and becomes brittle over the years. Prone to ripping.
Worse if you're going to take the rear window frame out and re staple.

When I'm doing roof work I get the owner to bring the car to me for an assessment so I can go through and actually show what's needed and why.
The hole is different for the side tension cables on different year cars frames, plus there's actually 2 different lengths of side cables, as there's three different size headliners..
Mohair is no different to fit compared to vinyl . There's no difference in fitting to either a power roof or manual roof frame.
But a nice red hot day is your best friend.
If you're gonna keep the car then it's worth investing In.
Plus it's a good selling point.
I can supply you all proper kit you need. It's stuff I use on a regular basis.
If you wanted to bring the car to Derby I can look at it and advise what you need instead of buying blind.

 
 





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I'm on my way haha! If you would let me come to visit you that would be so helpful I would even buy the parts I need off you if that would be okay and I want a new roof like you said I am keeping this car and it would be so much better getting new, thanks what days are easy for you? And when is the gathering maybe I could possibly meet you there instead? 

chortle knows his stuff and it sounds a very good idea to see/speak to him and find out what needs doing, a new roof is a well worth investment, there's nothing worse than a badly fitting roof which leaks and lets in loads of wind noise when driving.
Let us know how you get on.  

Yes definitely worth doing, all I can say is thanks and how appreciative I am of this forum and the people on it thanks guys :-) and I will let you know how I go on and I will hopefully make it to this year's agm so you can either see it before or after is there camping nearby? ;-) sure I can fit my tent in my boot haha