New video about replacing the hood.......

[CalElan]

thanks from me too!

[lotusflasherman]

thanks from me too!

Did you get it? I got a 'failed to deliver message ' from email delivery subsystem.

[lotusrepair]

I sent a message to the guy making the series. He was very kind and sent me a link to go around youtube. I watched it last night. Missed out on some sleep but I wanted to watch it. I am hoping to get to the new top at the end of this month. Looks like glue is a major part of putting the hood on.

Chris

[Giniw]

For your information, he posted a new version of the video especially for the ones of us who live in the USA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o27kCCeuSro

[simonbuk]

So who's going to try this first then ??!!

[chrisP]

Did it years ago, but didn't think of making a video

Had to re-do it after as the hood material stretched after a while

[simonbuk]

But was it as easy as the video makes it look ?!

[1kenobitoby]

Thanks guys. You seem to have worked it out but just to be clear viewers in the States will have to watch this version: https://youtu.be/o27kCCeuSro
The rest of the world can watch the original (but you will get bugged by adverts from Warner Music): https://youtu.be/572GryRvMCs

Is it doable? The editing does tend to make all the jobs look easier in the videos than they actually are. But yes, definitely it's doable DIY. That was the first time I have fitted a hood to an Elan. It's a job that would take you an awful lot less time second time. But if you approach it with the attitude that you are more concerned about the quality of the finish than how long it takes and you are good with your hands there's nothing particularly hard or any special tools required.
Tips:
1. Get an assistant (some bits would be extremely hard without). Especially for pulling the tension when attaching the hood to the header rail at the front and for helping to stop the hood sticking to itself after applying the glue.
2. If you haven't used contact adhesive before have a practice first. It's messy stuff to use and at first you are all 'fingers and thumbs' and dribble and dawb it all over things that you didn't intend to glue. That doesn't matter if it's a piece of scrap fabric you are practising on but it's a shame if it's the outside of your new hood.
3. Have some white spirit and a cloth ready for removing any adhesive that you do need to get off.
4. With some contact adhesives you can reposition the piece if you stick in in the wrong place first time. If you aren't confident with contact adhesive, get one of those. In the UK Evo-stick make one called Timebond (not sure if this is available in the States).
5. Concentrate on getting the first bit at the back rail glued on central and square. It'll only get worse from there if this first bit goes on cock-eyed.
6. By far the worst aspect is this current situation with the header rail seals which are reasonably plentiful new but can only be bought as part of a complete hood and seal set. That's fine if you need a complete set of hood and seals. Expensive way to get a header rail seal if that's all you need though. This is being worked on at the moment and hopefully will resolve itself fairly soon. If you have to replace your hood in the meantime, cutting the old seal carefully out of the carrier so you can reuse it is a fiddle of a job and you are guaranteed to do some damage to it.
7.One of those tools that punches holes in fabric (you see me using one on the header rail piece) is useful for making holes for the header rail studs, the holes for the falling pillar seal screws and the holes in the elastics for the rivets to go through (but it's not essential)
8. With hindsight, although the result is perfect paying Car Hood Warehouse £250 to fit it would have been good value given the time it took. Having done it once now though, it would be a doddle next time so I wouldn't hesitate to fit my own next time.
Cheers,
Toby

[HJ2]

Again... Top Tips!, thanks man!

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Thanks guys. You seem to have worked it out but just to be clear viewers in the States will have to watch this version: https://youtu.be/o27kCCeuSro
The rest of the world can watch the original (but you will get bugged by adverts from Warner Music): https://youtu.be/572GryRvMCs
Cheers,
Toby

Thanks Toby for re-editing the video to make it visible to the US owners. Your dedication to providing answers for the DIY community is very much appreciated.