The 'E' Type Forum

In preparation for fitting the soft top and just in case I have missed some notes or guidance, I have searched the archives. Then thought about checking on you-tube, and found this one which I had to play twice:

Hi Ralph,
I also had to watch it twice and I hope that you have a better ambition than that. Suggest you work from inside out and do the sides last, apply more tension to remove wrinkles. Maybe I have over done it but I like the fit, its watertight and not flapping around. Hood is from one of the Wolverhampton companies purchased some 20 years ago.

Sorry, but I am not sure that watching this even ten times would be of any help.

Aimless waving of the heat-gun .......... Banging staples in with a hammer ...........

It beats me why anyone would bother MAKING a video of doing something that he has a) done so badly and b) apparently never done before, but whilst it fails to help anyone who might want some guidance, it obviously helps the producer since YouTube is loaded with similar pointless vanity publishing examples.

Given the scope of all the adjustments and variables that apply to the shell-to-hood-frames-to-windowglass-height-and-inclination-to-cantrail-lateral-position, and the number of cars I've seen where most of these are off to cock, this is the one task that I will be getting someone else to do for me (BAS in Wales this summer) as I just know that it's a job I'd do better the next time I did it, and yet I've only got one E-type.

I was going to suggest to Jack that he let me film them fitting my hood, including the trimming of the pan and the front spar, and fitting all the rubbers ; now THAT would be worth watching.

I suspect that whilst it could be seen as giving away secrets, diluting the magic, and losing business, it's probably one of those things where once you've seen professionals doing the job you are actually more inclined to use their services ?

Thanks fellows for the comments. To be frank I did not have any words coming out to comment after viewing this. I did fit the soft top on my S2 some 20 years ago and still am proud of the job every time I look at the car. But I wanted to gather some extra knowledge on eventual details or hints could have missed before I tackle the new one now.
Amongst all the rest, you surely did note the generous silicone sealant surrounding the tacking strip,, the "I don't know what is this for so leave it out", the lack of any protective covering, creases, ... simply frightening.
Cheers!

For Ralph - Les mots me manquent = Words Fail Me ! Tu m'aideras un autre jour.

Yuk! What a mess! I have a Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder over in Florida, & I just fitted a new mohair top myself. I bought a neat little air stapler to put all the staples in. It's a lined hood and was a fiddly job - took me about a week of nibbling away at it bit by bit. But it came out a lot better than this amateurish attempt. Why do people post stuff like this on the internet?

What a mess, and that was his second attempt after the first one ripped