Hatch for roof panel storage???

[jonesy80]

For a while now I have been contemplating the best solution regarding storing the roof panels without losing all my boot space.

I am not keen on replacing the spare wheel with tyre weld as with my luck I know I’ll need the spare the second I take it out.

To me the best idea seems to be to cut a hatch into the bulkhead between the parcel shelf and the boot. I'm thinking a simple hinged door big enough so that the roof panels could sit on the parcel shelf thus retaining nearly all the boot space and also meaning you wouldn't have to open the boot to but the roof back on.

Has anyone done this or knows of any reason this couldn't be done?

[Deeman]

Maybe I'm being stupid, but isn't that where the fuel tank sits

[steve j]

That is a neat idea, it means losing the originality though. If you do it let`s see some pics

[jonesy80]

Deeman said:

Maybe I'm being stupid, but isn't that where the fuel tank sits

No in the boot there is the step where the fuel tank sits underneath so just cut above this into the cabin / boot - basically cut along the red lines below:

[oldgeebee]

The 3000S has a lockable, removable panel into the boot - see attached from my 1979 model with and without panel in place.
With some ingenuity it should be feasible to modify an S so that it's wide enough for the Targa tops and give some security to boot contents by making it lockable (mine locks with the same key as used for the doors).

[GreenV8S]

I think it might be workable, but you'd have to be careful to keep that part of the boot clear which would cut boot into the boot storage space. On mine I think it would be quite hard to get the panels into the hatch because roof up the seats are in the way, and roof down the folded screen is in the way.

Something that might be a little more work but I think may give a better solution is to re manufacture the roof in three parts. It seemed to me that it could be secured using the existing slots (so no change to the structure of the car) and the individual panels would be narrow enough to sit on the parcel shelf. Maybe an alternative to consider before you get the hacksaw out.

[Gerald-TVR]

Roger Morris of Cambrian Cirrus has been investigating producing a folding roof for the S

http://www.cambria-cirrus.com/

He has produced a prototype but not developed it as yet and it will fit behind the seats resting on the upper seatbelt mounts leaving access to the shelf below or in the boot

[Alan Whitaker]

Hi All
A bit back I was in our upholsters who re cover our dental chairs and he had the rear part where the window is but he had made this as a solid unit with a glass window, like a Porsche 911, anybody know anything about this guy, it was in a reupholsters in Bradford.

Alan

[Gerald-TVR]

Alan Whitaker said:

he had the rear part where the window is but he had made this as a solid unit with a glass window, like a Porsche 911,

Nope but I wish I had given it some thought before having my new hood!!

[theronkinator]

We've already done this, I might have a picture.

Sorry I've not got one from the other side but you get the idea:
Oh yeah, roofs a custom hard top hence the one piece.






Roof still needs some work and spraying. I can get one from the other side of the car but not till mid July-ish.

Edited by theronkinator on Sunday 12th June 12:27

[jonesy80]

that looks like the sort of thing I was talking about. Do you have any issues with the struts or screen fouling when the roof is down?

[theronkinator]

We don't have that part of the roof anymore....




Work in progress:

Alan Whitaker said:

Hi All
A bit back I was in our upholsters who re cover our dental chairs and he had the rear part where the window is but he had made this as a solid unit with a glass window, like a Porsche 911, anybody know anything about this guy, it was in a reupholsters in Bradford.

Alan

Was it a maroon S? Might have been my dads, see pics above.

[GreenV8S]

Heated rear window, eh?

That'll definitely come in handy come winter.

[theronkinator]

In theory... It's not wired up yet, not sure if we'll bother tbh. The car doesn't get that much use during summer unfortunately nevermind winter! The option is there though. Will hopefully get the roof finished this summer, it's been on and off for a few years. Just needs cosmetic stuff done to it now. Apart from that the car is fine, recarpeted it and relined a lot of it (inc original roof panels) a few years back, the dash lights are now LED's as are the indicators (car's dirty but you get the idea):




Ultimate aim is a fully electric roof, but we'll stick to this one for now.

[ketvrin]

GreenV8S said:

Something that might be a little more work but I think may give a better solution is to re manufacture the roof in three parts. It seemed to me that it could be secured using the existing slots (so no change to the structure of the car) and the individual panels would be narrow enough to sit on the parcel shelf. Maybe an alternative to consider before you get the hacksaw out.

That sounds a great idea Peter as they would probably sit on the shelf inside the boot as well but give loads more room than the current arrangement... were you thinking of three separate parts with overlapping joints (like the sigle joint now) or a single unit in three sections joined by hinges ?

K

[jwoffshore]

The problem with cutting into the bulkhead through to the boot is that you have breached the firewall to the fuel filler area. You've now got direct path from the fuel filler through to the passenger compartment. Depends on your own attitide whether this is of concern or not. But suppose somebody hit you in the rear quarter and the fuel filler connection to the tank separated? Just a thought anyway. Might make one reconsider cutting holes for rear mounted speakers too.

Still interesting to consider all these different roof options! The folding hard top is quite ingenious, as is Norman's folding roof panel.

[GreenV8S]

ketvrin said:

That sounds a great idea Peter as they would probably sit on the shelf inside the boot as well but give loads more room than the current arrangement... were you thinking of three separate parts with overlapping joints (like the sigle joint now) or a single unit in three sections joined by hinges ?

K

I was thinking of three separate panels with overlapping joins similar to the current ones. I worked out that they could be secured by the existing four mounting pegs and clamps. From memory the outer two sections would be secured by the pegs and clamps, and the inner section would be held down by the outer sections. Looking at the width of the three panels, they would all fit on the parcel shelf. I was starting to think about making them myself but then I got diverted onto making the car go and stop better and I never got back to it.

[ketvrin]

GreenV8S said:

I was thinking of three separate panels with overlapping joins similar to the current ones. I worked out that they could be secured by the existing four mounting pegs and clamps. From memory the outer two sections would be secured by the pegs and clamps, and the inner section would be held down by the outer sections. Looking at the width of the three panels, they would all fit on the parcel shelf. I was starting to think about making them myself but then I got diverted onto making the car go and stop better and I never got back to it.

If you ever get back to it, it would make an interesting mini-project to read about. I like the idea that you could simply return to using the original roof sections at any time too (unless they were the donors for the new roof). when you gonna start then ?

k

[phillpot]

jwoffshore said:

The problem with cutting into the bulkhead through to the boot is that you have breached the firewall to the fuel filler area. You've now got direct path from the fuel filler through to the passenger compartment.

All very true but the Chimaera has petrol tank and filler actually in the boot and two vents in the rear bulkhead (presumably to prevent the possible build up of fumes)?

[Russ35]

GreenV8S said:

I was thinking of three separate panels with overlapping joins similar to the current ones. I worked out that they could be secured by the existing four mounting pegs and clamps. From memory the outer two sections would be secured by the pegs and clamps, and the inner section would be held down by the outer sections. Looking at the width of the three panels, they would all fit on the parcel shelf. I was starting to think about making them myself but then I got diverted onto making the car go and stop better and I never got back to it.

This did get suggest a few years back. I came up with this with the new centre section holding the two outer pieces in place.




With the seats fully back you have a depth of about 420mm and width of about 720mm.

I did approach a local company that used to manufacture their own kit car. He said it would be possible but would be time consuming to do and be very expensive.


I suppose I could call into Surface and Design at the old TVR factory. They have done a 2 piece conversion on a Griff roof.