Long cant rail fitting problems

[Bigcatfrankie]

Having real problems refitting the long cant rail trim over the door and quarterlight on my 2+2. I took them off ok and re-covered them (with slightly thicker vinyl!), but when I try to refit them they seem to have grown in length! Have already trimmed about 3mm off the quarterlight catch end, which has helped a bit, but there is no way I can get the lip on the back of the cant rail to fit inside the top of the door opening (particularly at the front corner) so that I can screw the rail in position.
I could try to download a photo if that would help.
Thanks

Tim

1970 ex.US 2+2 - nearing the end (so I thought!) of it's 3 year restoration
1965 Austin Healey 3000

[mgcjag]

Hi Tim...your cant rail hasnt got any longer......but useing a thicker covering may have added to not fitting correctly...i recovered mine on my 2+2 and fitted them ok....however retriming does take patience....so just keep at it....post a photo of front and rear it may help us spot something....Steve

[Bigcatfrankie]

Thanks Steve.
Here's some photo's, as requested, to see if it might shed some light on the problem!
At present the cant rail is held in place by the quarterlight catch at the rear, a loosely tightened G-cramp over the door (in the middle) and one screw at the front, about 150mm from the bottom.
Plenty of evidence of the original Primrose Yellow paint, I'm afraid!

Thanks............Tim

[mgcjag]

Hi Tim....cant really see whats going on their....but re the rear window catch do you have an angled spacer that goes between it and the body......also are you lining up the original fixing holes that were holding the cant rail in position...Steve

[mgcjag]

Hi Tim...just to add i think you would be better starting by getting the front top curved corner in position and securing in the original fix holes....then movein rearwads over the windows.....then the front down the side of the windscreen...getting the fixings in tne original holes is the key.......Steve

[Bigcatfrankie]

Back on the job again.............so thanks Steve for your advice.
Decided to tackle the passenger-side cant rail instead. The quarterlight shims and packers were missing, which didn't help, so I knocked some up. There were very few holes to line up the cant rail as it was held in place by only 4 screws.
What I did find was that the quarterlight catch position was nowhere near the join between the upper and lower cant rails, which was a pity as I had already predrilled the holes in the new rear panel! Anyway it's in position.............just need to tackle the driver's side next!

Tim