| 394 RV8 rear window zip repair When the zip for the rear window on his RV8 failed, Peter Wallis sought help from fellow members on the V8 Bulletin Board. Peter Wallis said "I know Autotrim in Devon are recommended but can anyone give me a recommendation nearer to home in North Hampshire? (June 14) Richard Wood responded saying "I sympathise and know the drill having had the same thing happen to me last year, unfortunately my Autotrimmer is probably further away being situated in Lancashire. However can I advise whilst awaiting other replies that it will be helpful if you spray all the hood fixings liberally with lubricant to ease their removal. The rear central ones are captive nuts but the side ones are not and will require removal of the interior side panels to get to them. The job is not difficult but is time consuming. I would also have a look at the "big black bolts" - four I think, two on each side - which connect the main part of the hood to the frame of the car. Mine had already been removed at least once before and were beginning to look past it, so I |
ordered four more from Brown & Gammons to reaffix the hood with. These bolts
are best removed with a screw bit in a socket set to get the extra leverage. Mike Lane noted "my local Andover vehicle trimmer might help - Andover Upholstery. They always have classic cars of one sort or another in their yard being fitted with new weather gear or seats and trim. I used them to fit my original RV8 replacement hood purchased from Heathrow Services a few years ago. I do need to see them again shortly about another job I want doing on my RV8 and I could take my car to them so that they could see my hood. Let me know if you want to visit them". Just a week after the zip slider failed everything is resolved - thanks to 'Matt' at Andover Upholstery located at SP10 1HT and by telephone on 01264 323144. It may be the obvious to some but the reason why the 'slider' failed was principally caused by my not releasing the windscreen catches when opening and closing the hood . This places undue tension on the zip slider which over time miss-shapes the slider out of shape, hence the difficulty | with
sliding the zip backwards and forwards. This will become a common fault as the
cars age - rather like some of the owner's! Also remember to occasionally apply
a little WD40 to the zip . Might I suggest that we add Andover Upholstery to our
list of approved suppliers whom I have found to be exceptionally helpful. |
 |  |  |
| RV8
information and support See our popular RV8NOTES listing, information gateways, top tips, spares and services specialists and spares for sale and wanted. | RV8
Workshop Notes Information Gateways Top tips for new RV8 enthusiasts | Technical
topics Spares & services specialists V8 spares for sale and wanted |
