Convertible hood

Post by **charles** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 9:13 pm

Does anyone know of a good technique for erecting the hood single handed..I always have to rush from side to side in a demented fashion, squeezing the frame until it fits!

Post by **Willie** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 9:31 pm

Only if you have seven foot long arms!!!! There is no quick
method it's all part of the charm. You wouldn't want to press
a button to raise and lower the hood now would you???

Post by **Peetee** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 9:12 am

I always stand inside the car astride the transmission tunel in the rear footwell. I raise the frame upright and make sure it's 'flat' before swinging it forward and securing it at the front.
It's some time since I was out in Doris. She's languishing in the garage after being robbed of her exhaust to keep Denzil on the road. I shouldn't think I'd be too popular driving down the road with a bare manifold!

Post by **charles** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 8:27 pm

Thanks very much, as soon as it stops raining I'll try that. I think my hood frame is quite stiff and doesn't go easily in to the flat position. If I could find the button Willie's talking about, I'd gladly use it!

Post by **Willie** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 8:37 pm

Blimey, a hood frame which is still stiff and not worn badly!!
If you are tempted to oil it be warned that any excess oil will
smear all over the interior of the hood and spoil its looks.
On my car I can stand on one side and raise the frame to its
'erected' position(i.e. the top section is pointing straight up
in the air) easily and then just tip it to the windscreen. the
trouble is that you then have to fiddle all round the car tucking
in the draught flaps...I can see no way of avoiding this.

Post by **Kevin** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 10:20 am

Willie
Have you ever tried putting some Graphite on the joints I know the normal source is a soft pencil lead to lubricate and stop squeeks which will be a bit impractical for the hood frame joints but years ago I actually bought some suitable for door locks that was inside a puffer device that you blew into the lock, and it was quite effective and came from our local ford dealer, but it must be available from other sources ie: locksmith perhaps, its got to be worth a try ?

Post by **Willie** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 6:38 pm

That Graphite base suggest that the stuff is quite dark Kevin?
In which case it would mark my Cream hood but graphite is
certainly a grand lubricant.

Post by **Kevin** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 1:28 pm

Yes Willie the same colour as a pencil lead so almost black and I have not come across a paler version so back to the drawing board unless someone knows different

Post by **charles** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 9:15 pm

Many thanks, all. When the sun finally came out I lubricated the hood frame joints with a teflon based oil, wiped it off carefully, and now I can raise the frame easily from inside the car.

Oh! is that rain I can feel......