Spyder Hood
From GTM Workshop
The Spyder hood is made to fold down with the frame attached to it immediately behind the seats onto a purpose made shelf incorporated in the rear trim panel. The hood material is glued to the header rail t2208 and attached with studs to the raised section on the main monologue behind the seats. The hood material has Velcro hoops in it to attach the rear hoop t2202 and the top rail t2203. By undoing the Velcro the hood can be taken off the car complete with the front rail t2208.
The main hoop of the hood frame t2201 pivots off the outside face of the top seatbelt mounting. The rear hoop t2202 in turn pivots off brackets weld to the main hoop. Both these hoops will fold down within the car bodywork. The side rails t2204 pivot off brackets welded to the main hoop and fold inwards and within the main hoop when folded down. These side rails locate in the front header rail on brackets t2200 which remain permanently attached to the header rail. The rail t2203 is held within the hood when folded down on Velcro hoops and locates into two holes drilled in the side rails to prevent the side rails from collapsing in when erected and to form the outside shape of the hood. With the frame collapsed the hood can be left attached to the rear fastenings and folded neatly down onto the shelf provided in the inner panel.
It is envisaged that the hood will be able to be left on the car when the hard top is fitted.
Assembly
Start by assembling the main hood rail t2201 to the top seatbelt mountings t623. Take 2 hood tube plug ends t2205 and open up the 6mm pivot hole to 8mm. Fit these modified tube ends to the ends of the main hoop frame. Place 2 hoop pivot sleeves t2209 into the 8mm holes previously drilled and screw the frame onto the seatbelt mounting points using two 6mm diameter 15mm long set bolts The hoop should now pivot up and down on the sleeves with the 6mm bolts fully tighten. Check that the hoop folds down into the recess behind the drivers seats and when you are satisfied remove the main hoop T2201 leaving the plugs still attached to the seatbelt mountings. Rough up the ends of the tube plugs and araldite the main hoop T2201 onto the plugs and leave to dry.
Fit two plug end plugs T2205 to the ends of the rear hoop 12202. The rear hoop attaches to the inside of the small brackets welded to the rear face of the main hoop using two 6mm diameter bolts, washers and nylon nuts. Nip up the nuts so that the frame is just held so that it can pivot against the main hoop but not rattle around. Now remove the rear hoop and araldite as previously described on the main hoop. Check that both hoops will fold together and fold down behind the rear seats.
Fit the cam plates for the soft top lever t2207 into the top of the screen frame on the main monologue TO1011S. These cam plates are handed so it Is important that you sod out how the levers work before fitting the cam plates to the screen frame. Using the cam plates as a template drill out the central hole and file to allow the cam to fit through the glass fibre and check that the levers will work and that you have cleared sufficient. Drill two 5mm holes through each cam plate and clear the back of the holes by back drilling to allow the nuts to pull up tightly on the underside of the screen frame. Secure the cam plates in place using the 5mm countersunk posie drives screws 20mm long and nyloc nuts. Make sure the cam plates are fitting snugly into their location.
Now fit the levers to the hood front rail 12208. The holes are marked with small indentations, drill out 5mm and secure the handles with the 5mm countersunk screws 15mm longs, washers and nylon nuts. Now check that the front hood rail fits onto the top of the hood frame using the levers to pull it up tightly against the hood frame. Make whatever adjustments are necessary for it to work smoothly. Fit the side rail brackets 12200 to the hood front rail T2208 using the 3mm 12mm long pop rivets. Use the brackets as templates for drilling the holes and secure using a pop rivet gun.
The hood material comes over the top lid of the hood front rail and folds over and glues on the inside face of this glass fibre moulding. At the outside edges of this moulding it may be necessary to remove some material so as to allow the hood material immediately above the door glass to follow through smoothly before being glued under the lip. This can be removed using production paper and working carefully taking the excess down to the level of the thickness of the front lip.
Fit two tube ends plugs T2205 to the ends of the side rails T2204. Note that the side rails are handed and that the 6mm hole faces inward and upwards to the centre of the car to facilitate the fitting of the top rail 12203. The 6mm hole is closer to the front of the car than the main hoop.
Fit the two side rails to the main hoop using the 6mm diameter 20mm long set bolts, washers and nylon nuts. Fit the front end of the side rails into the side rail mounting brackets t2200 previously attached to the front rail t2208.
Fit two pop rail ends t2206 to the top rail t2203 and position this into the two 6mm holes in the top rails. Once you are satisfied with the fits and positions glue in all end plugs with araldite as previously described.
Fit the twelve studs onto the upstanding on the rear of the monologue using 3mm 12mm long pop rivets, the stud positions are marked on the monologue.
With the hood frame erected fit the hood material to the rear pop studs and place the material over the hood frame and over towards the front rail. Working from inside the car attach the rear rail t2202 and the top rail t2203 to the inside of the hood material using the Velcro hoops.
It is probably best now if you the top of the front hood rail and over onto the screen. Pull the material down both sides and equalise the material relative to the centre of the car. Mark the centre of the material and the centre of the screen so you can repeat this position. Now fold back the hood material over the hood frame and put contact adhesive type glue onto the top face of the front hub rail. Glue the underside of the hood material in the appropriate place where it will meet up with the hood rail.
When the glue is dry pull the hood material over the screen in line with marks you have previously made and stretch and glue the hood material to the front hood rail. If it is not right first time pull the hood material away from the hood rail and try again. Check that both sides are equal and when you are happy with the fit remove the hood material and the front rail together from the frame. Working from the bench trim the hood material to approximately 14mm from the front edge of the front rail. Glue the underside of the front rail and the underside of the material and fold over and glue together when dry. When dry finally fit the weather seal t2212 to the underside of the front rail in the corner approximately 12mm back from the front edge of the front rail.
Refit the hood to the car and check everything works satisfactorily. When folding the hood down when attached to the hood frame be extremely careful to fold the Perspex rear screen neatly before collapsing the frame on top of it. work with two people. Pull the hood material over
