Hood new information thread

[Paul Alexander]

hi all, been a while since i last posted anything due to the god awful weather for the last month or so, putting on hold any work i was going to carry out on my elan. so, i've been saving money towards a new hood, but as most folks know, there are many different companies out there who supply / fit new hoods for our beloved cars. but not everyone has the seals.

but i thought i'd post this just to let everyone know:

1. it appears trim technology now have some kind deal back on with m100hoods, as i e mailed them a couple of months ago, and their reply was

"Good morning Paul,

Yes do still make those hoods/kits with seals, however you will need to go through our agent for these parts.

You can order them on line @ http://www.m100hoods.co.uk

Chaps name is Mark Burrage, I have copied him in on the email.

Kind Regards

Dean Holt
Project Manager"

i also got an e mail from mark at m100hoods, saying he was abroad but would contact me on his return. 2 months later, and ive heard nowt.


2. sj sportscars are looking into the front header seal, and steve did say he is hopeful he may have something this coming April (fingers crossed). if you e mail steve and tell him you are interested in a new header seal, he will put you on his list (plus he can gauge how much interest there is sourcing / manufacturing new seals).


i now need a new hood as mine has separated from the rear deck frame on the drivers side, plus the rear window is opaque and scratched, and there is a small hole at the front right corner. i do have a couple of options as to which way to go in regards to having a new hood and seals, and i will post updates in my minor project thread (plus pictures).

just one side note, m100hoods don't have any rear deck seals left, but i managed to obtain a new one about a month ago.


i do have one question though, does anyone know what material trim technology use to manufacture their hoods. are they mohair?

[Tuga2112]

plus the rear window is opaque and scratched,

have you tried the polishing compound used to restore these ?

I have used in mine and the difference was very considerable. It wont restore it to glass clear but the improvement will be noticeable.

this is a picture i took of mine with only half of the window done when i first tried

note, this was done by hand, i have seen people have better success with a proper polishing wheel on youtube I suspect its because the amount of "mr mihagi wax on wax off" work i did in 20 minutes by hand gets done in 20 seconds... and they spend a good 5 minutes around the window with it

[lotusflasherman]

plus the rear window is opaque and scratched,

have you tried the polishing compound used to restore these ?

I have used in mine and the difference was very considerable. It wont restore it to glass clear but the improvement will be noticeable.

this is a picture i took of mine with only half of the window done when i first tried

note, this was done by hand, i have seen people have better success with a proper polishing wheel on youtube I suspect its because the amount of "mr mihagi wax on wax off" work i did in 20 minutes by hand gets done in 20 seconds... and they spend a good 5 minutes around the window with it

That looks good. Have you any info or links for the polishing compound? I've got some surface scratches on my old hood's window where it looks like a previous owner used a brillo pad!
I have noticed the rear windows can go a little bit 'milky' in this cold wet winter weather and then get a bit clearer in the spring. I know cross-linked polyethylene insulation (XLPE) on power cables can absorb water and I suspect something like this is happening in the plastic of the window.

[Artaban]

I've used Maguiars PlastX Headlight Restoration Kit; though its designed to polish all plastics. I think they sell it in Halfords as well. Just use the buffing pad in the drill and you'll find the rear window comes up clear after a couple of applications (about 10 mins work). I also used it on the rear lights and they came up like new.

See http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MEGUIARS-ONE- ... 3641.l6368

I wouldn't attempt to do it without the buffing pad in the drill.

Andy

[V8vroom]

thanks for this tip Andy! Just ordered it off eBay for some winter garage fun!!

[Artaban]

If you do the rear lights as well just use the liquid compound and buffing pad and not the abrasive pads which are also supplied. I did use the abrasive pads on the very cloudy headlamps on our Honda CRV. That took hours but did work well in the end.
Have fun.
Andy

[lotusflasherman]

Thanks for tip - already got a headlamp restoration kit for my wife's ST170 plastic covered Xenon HID headlamps that have gone cloudy and new one's are £500 plus each! I'll try a bit on the Elan rear screen.

[Tuga2112]

That looks good. Have you any info or links for the polishing compound? I've got some surface scratches on my old hood's window where it looks like a previous owner used a brillo pad!
I have noticed the rear windows can go a little bit 'milky' in this cold wet winter weather and then get a bit clearer in the spring. I know cross-linked polyethylene insulation (XLPE) on power cables can absorb water and I suspect something like this is happening in the plastic of the window.

Meguiars Plast-Rx

bought it off ebay if i recall correctly.
i was very pleased with the package and price.

the package included the little sponge and a microfibre cloth as well as the compound.

i got the invoice still, it came from a company called GetRetail 8.95 with postage included.

and some pics just for the sake of spamming.

[andys2cars]

Does anyone know of "Hoods Galore" in Southend, they said they can supply and fit a new hood for £650.00. m100hoods are quite tricky to get hold of

[Tuga2112]

Does anyone know of "Hoods Galore" in Southend, they said they can supply and fit a new hood for £650.00. m100hoods are quite tricky to get hold of

At that price you will probably find that they will put back the same previous/old seals.

if they get a new set of seals. then let us know. cus im sure for that price, a hood, fitted with seals would get a few other owners interested.

I think M100hoods was doing a similar price without seals when i was at brands hatch last year.

[Paul Alexander]

Does anyone know of "Hoods Galore" in Southend, they said they can supply and fit a new hood for £650.00. m100hoods are quite tricky to get hold of

hi andy,

my car is booked in with m100 hoods next weekend. i can ask him to contact you if you like, via the forum. it is hard to get old of him but i have spoken to him recently - he spends quite a lot of time out the uk at the moment. m100hoods are fitting the S2 hood with all new seals apart from the rear deck seal as they have run out.

i have spoken to hoods galore, and carhood warehouse in chessington. they both refit your existing seals to a new hood.

[andys2cars]

Hello, Thanks for that info Paul, let me/us know the total cost (if that is not too crass) and the quality of the job, as I was told that some of the fittings/suppliers are using ill fitting hoods, ie 1/4 inch too thin so does not cover windows properly, hope yours is spot on, cheers Andy

[andys2cars]

when I said too thin, I did not mean thickness of material, actually the width

[clemo]

i had the last 2 complete hoods from trim technologies back in 2004 .
complete with seals and full canopy .

They tried to sell me all the left over bits about £6000 worth of gear .
They ended up selling a stack of kits roofs and rubbers as full sets ( without canopy)

Not sure who bought them all up but i seem to think they where up that their north .... Bolton ?

[Fredjohn]

i had the last 2 complete hoods from trim technologies back in 2004 .
complete with seals and full canopy .

They tried to sell me all the left over bits about £6000 worth of gear .
They ended up selling a stack of kits roofs and rubbers as full sets ( without canopy)

Not sure who bought them all up but i seem to think they where up that their north .... Bolton ?

Trim Technologies are a Coventry based company. They do a lot of work for current cars both design and replacement, as well as non-automotive trim etc.

I think they sold their Elan stock to M100hoods: hence M100hood's (limited) ability to supply and fit new hoods with seals.

[lotusrepair]

Has anyone been able to contact M100Hoods? I sent an email last week and tried calling today and yesterday.

Any other sources for a new Hood?

Chris

[Paul Alexander]

Has anyone been able to contact M100Hoods? I sent an email last week and tried calling today and yesterday.

Any other sources for a new Hood?

Chris

i spoke to mark today.try his mobile number 07771 990585.

should be collecting my car on 5th March.

[Paul Alexander]

i had the last 2 complete hoods from trim technologies back in 2004 .
complete with seals and full canopy .

They tried to sell me all the left over bits about £6000 worth of gear .
They ended up selling a stack of kits roofs and rubbers as full sets ( without canopy)

Not sure who bought them all up but i seem to think they where up that their north .... Bolton ?

hi clemo. it may have been kinsey jones in cheadle, as my car had their sticker in the rear window, and i have seen another car on ebay with the same sticker.

[andys2cars]

Hi Paul, how is the new roof???

[Paul Alexander]

Hi Paul, how is the new roof???

hi andy,

sorry for late update on new hood, as ive been decorating (now done) and looking for a new car for my daughter (bought one this weekend).

i picked my car up from m100hoods on 5th march. have to say, the hood looks great, so do the seals, and i also had the frame removed, stripped back to bare metal and powder coated. it all looks new. there is a slight tweak required on the drivers side intermediate seal to stop one drop of rain getting through to ensure the cockpit is completely leak free. the weather on the way back from Norwich to the M1 and then north to Derby was horrendous - torrential rain, sleet, high winds. but it was a great test for the new hood. mark from m100 hoods is comin up to do the adjustment and to check if everything else is ok.

i will post pictures of my old hood and how it is now for comparison, in my minor projects thread, along with the costs. but i need to wash the car first - it's dirtier than a mud wrestlers thong.