Triumph Repair: TR6 hood........not water tight, fitting tops, british weather

Question
Jim,
i've just bought a TR6 (1973)...The hood doesn't fit very well, and there are gaps everywhere!
Is this normal ?
Can i buy/fit a new hood at a specialist?

I'm desperate to know as i haven't got a garage yet, and i'm concerned about the lovely British weather.
I've only had it a week, and i'm thinking of selling again already !
Help
Sam
p.s i could email you photo's if it would help

Answer
Sam,

I presume you're talking about the soft top (convertible top) on the car.

There are several reasons why it might not be fitting right.

1)  After 30+ years the frame inside the top has been bent by over enthusiastic owners.  Not uncommon and it can be remedied...  with lots of careful thought before bending any of the pieces.

Or replacing outright.  Not cheap, but sometimes it's all you can do.  See #2.

2)  The top is of poor quality.   It's reality, you do get what you pay for.  There are aftermarket tops of very poor quality on the market.. but they are "affordable".  Robbins used to make some of the better tops, but I don't know if they're still up to snuff.

3)  The top was not installed properly.  It'a an art to get a good soft top installed so that it fits correctly, both on cool days and on hot days (the tops stretch/shrink with temperature).

I'm not sure what the situation is like in your area, but there are both suppliers and specialists in the UK that can assist you.  If there is a local club, see if you can visit a meeting and observe who's got a decent fitting top on their TR6, they'll be able to point you to a good shop.

Unless you're very skilled at working with vinyl I don't recommend you try to fit a new top yourself.   The basic process isn't bad, but the problem is in all the details.  

I do know that it's possible to get a good snug fit to a top as I've seen local club members with decent fitting tops on their TR6s here in the southwest.

Having said all that, remember that you now own a convertible in the sunny English isles.  Many owners here in the states feel that the tops were designed in Arizona, where keeping the sun off the driver's head is the only consideration.  

Cheers (and dry thoughts)


Jim