Hood with heated window ....

[Dieter]

Hi

I like to keep this secret, knowing that I only have seen two of until now
The first I saw was very pleasant at Mike Nunn's MGTF.
(Tony is aware of it also)

However I was after one, but got confused reading I only would get the fabric kit and would have to install DIY or let do at any hood specialist.

OK, I thought let's see what happens and wait.
More confusion in my old brain after some messages at the BBS.
- you have to unzip the window before lowering if you get the window kit only.

Yesterday I've been at Scotty in Hanover.
www.mgfcar.de/event/2004_roadsterhouse_hannover/index.htm
(He's the new MS reseller for Germany and had invited a couple of us to have a look).
www.4mgf.de or www.roadsterhouse.com

Hmm, he got a new complete softtop kit from Mike and let it fit at a local specialist.

I had a look and compared this one with the first I saw.
d**n, what a crap !!!
It fits sowhat of poor


Don't get me wrong. I still want one, but I want one similar to what Mike N. got.



Did this hidden site of comparison pictures. (Not for public !!)
www.mgfcar.de/softtop/with_glas/
(Scotty and 'Rumpel' (knitting circle user) know about this site.)
I think Scotty will have a word with Mike Satur.

Anything else to consider ?
Discuss.

[dave]

Wow, what a difference :-(

Do I understand correctly? Mike Nunn's hood is a complete replacement hood with the smaller glass screen that folds completely without being unzipped. The other hood is the original hood with a replacement glass screen in place of the plastic one and has to be unzipped before the hood is dropped. Or have I got this wrong and they are both supposed to be the same?

[ScarletFever]

Not good.

Let me know how he gets on Dieter, i'm interested in one of these too.

[TimW]

I understand there there are now two hood frames available, both from the original manufacturer. The original frame results in the above problem, but the new frame allows the glass hood to be folded flat. MGR will be using this sometime in the future.

Tim

[Rob Bell]

Is it an optical illusion, or is the glass rear window that Scotty has fitted in his car larger than the screen found fitted to Mike's Trophy?

Not sure whether this has anything to do with the fact that one hood folds flat and the other does not though. I suspect that Tim has nailed the real reason when he mentions the question of hood frame design. Looks a like a real pitfall for the unaware.

Tim, is the new hood frame design one found on current MGs - or is it a brand new design found only on hoods destined to be used with the glass equipped hoods?

[dave]

Rob said:

Is it an optical illusion, or is the glass rear window that Scotty has fitted in his car larger than the screen found fitted to Mike's Trophy?

This was the reason for my clarification question. Is one a complete hood and the other a replacement rear window or are they both 'meant' to be the same product?

[Dieter]

Hi,

just to clear the facts I know.

Blue hood:
MY 2001 MGF Trophy
Replaced fabric @ MS workshop

beige hood:
MY 1998 MGF
Replaced fabric @ any workshop

I think the glass itself is the same size. (count the amber coloured heater lines.
The glass fitment is complete different.

Blue:
Screen fixture lying *under* a fabric frame (whyever)
Beige:
Just put into the fabric

The difference I 'm sure about is the height of the fabric strip between screen and B-Frame.
Beige looks less then blue, including optical

I have another picture of the beige hood with a paper kleenex put there. No measures unfortionately, but kleenex measures are international.
So this would be an option to asking Mike Nunn to compare with his blue.

www.mgfcar.de/softtop/with_glas/width_below_DSC02869.JPG

Regarding the hood frame differences, Yes I'm sure they are, but changes I know of reffer to 1997 only.
(The rear window height was changed)
Not sure about 2001 changes. There must have been !!
Mind you on the hood scissor effect and affiliated recall.


Thats all currently. I'll drop Mike N. a line and ask for measures then.

However, another theory is wrong fitment of the beige hood. Dunno whether it's possible to get the whole thing more in direction A-Frame. So the rear height would increase and give space for required folds. ??

This point should be asked at Mike S. *carefully*

[Rob Bell]

Yup, I counted the heating elements on the rear screens of both - 9 horizontal bars for both. Probably is just an optical illusion then with one of the windows looking larger than the other...

With regard to hood fitment, to be honest, it *looks* as though Scotty's hood has been installed perfectly well.

So why doesn't the hood fold properly?

I've seen a similar problem to this with a hood that had a liner fitted: perhaps a case of the hood fabric being a bit on the stiff side or not folding properly?

A gentle chat with Mike would probably be a good idea.

[apttony]

This is really exercising the brain cells since it's nearly 12 months since I saw Mike Nunn's yellow Trophy, but I seem to remember that (a) the window was smaller (vertically) and (b) the lower edge was higher than the lower edge of a standard MGR window, which thus allowed the lower edge of the glass to sit on the parcel shelf, and the fabric between to tuck in under the rear edge of the roof.

Tony

[Dieter]

Tony,

have second look please. The same impression was with my younger cells.... at first.

www.mgfcar.de/softtop/with_glas/

It's virtual higher, cause of a hidden part of. Hidden, cause coverd by a fabric *overlay*.

However it must have been higher! I think only 1 inch is missing.

Have tried the beige hood several times to get behind the unwanted secret.

The only minor problem I found was strong T-Bar side carpet. (the usual hidden behind the T-Bar part of the carpet).
The upper lead of the window didn't get down enough cause the carpet boarder had a 3cm interference with the glass upper boarder.
This was cause the reverse U-shape sheet metal bracket (holder for T-Bar) is missing at the beige car. (Dismatled due to roll hoop installation)

Anyway, we got aware of this fact while investigating and a second person pushed the carpet boarder direction T-Bar to overcome this unusual interference.
So the picture above shows the lowest location of the hood.

The screen clearly pulls strong at the rear fabric strip of the hood.

To less fabric to allow the screen lower lead to slipping below the B-Frame.

But why ??

[apttony]

Dieter,

Yes, I can see your point. Perhaps I could email Mike Nunn and ask him to measure the window and it's distance from the rear edge of the hood?

Tony

[Dieter]

Hi Tony,

I emailed Mike N. already on wednesday.
He's been in Kuala Lumpur... poor boy)

Anyway, I hope he finds the time to having a look and re-send a picture with Kleenex placed at the same location.

Wait and see what will happen.

[Rob Bell]

Should be instructive Dieter

[Dieter]

Mike's answer of the day:

As requested

Hmmm, short, isnt it ?
And a picture attached. Huge detailed pic with measure ()No Kleenex)
I reworked and put a virtual Kleenex of 10,5cm to the picture.
See below both hoods again.


and
www.mgfcar.de/softtop/with_glas/width_below_DSC02869.JPG
[/img]

I marked the invisible 'parts' at Mike's hood with 2 dotted lines.
Quotationmark ?
Quotationmark ??

Still not clear what's below the fabric.

If the lower ?? line is the glass-rubber frame, then the height difference between beige and blue is app. 0,5cm to 1 cm only.
... and this measure may be related to 'wrong' or just different installation.

The design is different, of course, but I don't beleave the *fabric double* at the blue does it.

I'm not aware of installation instructions currently.
If I would have to mount a new hood, then I'd start at the B-Frame with the rivets and use measures there as long as possible. Then pull direction A-Frame and adher as recommended.

And now ? Ideas ?

[Rob Bell]

Looks more likely from the single quotation mark '?' line

May not be an installation problem - but why the difference between the two hoods? Seems to me that Mike's is designed to be folded with the glass in place, whereas Scotty's is designed to have the glass unzipped first.

Perhaps Mike has sent out the wrong hood: has Scotty got the version using an original hood but with a glass window substitute for the plastic as opposed to the complete new hood design?