Discussion
Hi guys. time has come to get my girlfriend's mk2 a new hood. We've decided on a std vinyl type but now need to know the best place to source one given the tight budget.
Also how much are we looking at to have it supplied and fitted mindful of the fact we live near Bishops Stortford (happy to travel within the south east). Are they easy to fit yourself?
Would really appreciate any info or help.
Also how much are we looking at to have it supplied and fitted mindful of the fact we live near Bishops Stortford (happy to travel within the south east). Are they easy to fit yourself?
Would really appreciate any info or help.
They're not that difficult to replace but it does take a fair bit of time. Took me about 8 hours, that might be reduced to 5 or 6 if I was doing it again. I kept the frame on the car and took the old roof off carefully step by step to see how it was fixed so that I'd know for putting the new one on. You will need a pop rivetter and a drill to remove old rivets. Consider you may need new roof tensioner wires as well. The rain rail should be OK to use again but check it for damage and dirt when you remove the back of the roof from it.
8 hours to fit a hood? 
You can do it yourself with a 10mm socket, a 12mm socket and a screwdriver.
Loads of instructions online (try youtube), but it's really quite easy, and hard to get wrong.
My first one done in daylight took 4 hours, including a trip out to B&Q to buy a pop rivet gun.
Second attempt when I had everything available to hand took 3 hours (and that was in the dark, by lead-light!).
With two people you could easily shave an hour off that, most of the time is spent running round the car replicating everything on both sides to get the hood off.
Some people will say you can change them without taking off the hood frame, but it's ridiculous not to, given the frame is only held in by three bolts each side, and you can make such a better job of it by removing it.
Apparently the fitters can get one done in 1 1/2 to 2 hours, which I can well believe.
A haynes 2 spanner job....
You can do it yourself with a 10mm socket, a 12mm socket and a screwdriver.
Loads of instructions online (try youtube), but it's really quite easy, and hard to get wrong.
My first one done in daylight took 4 hours, including a trip out to B&Q to buy a pop rivet gun.
Second attempt when I had everything available to hand took 3 hours (and that was in the dark, by lead-light!).
With two people you could easily shave an hour off that, most of the time is spent running round the car replicating everything on both sides to get the hood off.
Some people will say you can change them without taking off the hood frame, but it's ridiculous not to, given the frame is only held in by three bolts each side, and you can make such a better job of it by removing it.
Apparently the fitters can get one done in 1 1/2 to 2 hours, which I can well believe.
A haynes 2 spanner job....
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