Hi is there a supplier that anyone knows of that does a good deal on either replacing the Plastic windows in a convertible hood or alternatively a complete replacement hood.

 

If anyone knows a reliable supplier that discounts to club members that would be even better

 

 

Thanks for any info

 

Best Regards

 

Marc

Hi

 

In case you haven't seen it, there is a regular seller on eBay.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-300-ZX-1993-1995-Soft-Top-convertible-car-hood/271380276101?epid=1788466040&hash=item3f2f866385:g:DO0AAOxyBjBTR8uG:rk:1:pf:0

Go to a local trimmer I had my window replaced six years ago there is new roofs on eBay as Paul said

Thanks guys, I had seen the Ebay add but they want £ 320 on top of the £444 to fit the hood and to be honest I am not confident that I could fit the hood myself and risking ruining a £444 item, I have tried the few local vehicle trimmers and none are interested in replacing the windows or indeed fitting a new hood.

 

So now looking further afield and just wondered if anyone had had any work done that they would recommend

 

Thanks for the replies

 

Regards

 

Marc

Have that company advised why the cost of installation is so high? It suggests to me that it’s quite labour intensive or specialist with specialist tools maybe; it could be one of those jobs that requires heat in the right places whilst laying it up and stretching it to secure it?

 

I would suggest that if Paul can vouch for the quality of the £444 hood, a further £320 bringing the total to less than £800 isn’t actually too bad for a job of that nature that you can look after and enjoy, trouble free for the rest of the cars life.

Marc, for your reference these are the FSM pages and Owner's manual (LHD) for the convertible roof:

 

BF 796-800.pdf

 

1993 OM Nissan 300ZX p63-71 Convertible hood.pdf

 

In addition this is a Technical service bulletin issued for convertibles:

 

NTB92-092_1OC23_CONVERTIBLE_CAR_WASH_AND_REAR_WINDOW_CLEANING_POLISHING_PROCEDURES.pdf

Edited January 29, 20196 yr by AndrewG

Have that company advised why the cost of installation is so high? It suggests to me that it’s quite labour intensive or specialist with specialist tools maybe; it could be one of those jobs that requires heat in the right places whilst laying it up and stretching it to secure it?

 

I personally didnt think the cost was high.....its a days work at £40 per hour.

Or half a day at £80 per hour.

I personally didnt think the cost was high.....its a days work at £40 per hour.

Or half a day at £80 per hour.

 

I could not agree more Pete,I would happily pay that for roof to be fitted properly by a specialist

I personally didnt think the cost was high.....its a days work at £40 per hour.

Or half a day at £80 per hour.

 

I totally agree, I just have no idea what the fitting involves. I’m guessing that it’s not just a remove and refit hood assembly half an hour job that he could DIY was my angle.

When I had window replace it was done by an old guy who’s been trimming all his life he took the whole roof off and replaced some of the tensioning wires but he’s retired now some of the corners are a bit warn so I’ll be looking in a couple of years and will get someone to fit worth any amount than the stress.

I totally agree, I just have no idea what the fitting involves. I’m guessing that it’s not just a remove and refit hood assembly half an hour job that he could DIY was my angle.

 

What's involved is in the FSM pages posted above.

I changed a soft top on an MX5 a few years ago & that took me a whole weekend.

Looking at the instructions & mechanism of the Z I say go for the specialist instalment.

Just a small Update

 

After many enquiries it seemed that the Ebay Roof was a bought in item and I anticipated a problem if the fit was poor, it appears to be the case with all the company's I initially contacted, they all seemed to buy the hood in and then fit or in the case of one supplier who does all the common hoods and fits them, that they would supply me the hood but could not fit it themselves but would give me the telephone number of a gentleman that could.

 

None of this inspired confidence as I was hoping to find someone who would manufacture the hood and fit it, doing away with the possibility of the excuse of "well we only fitted it mate" should the fit be poor and presumably with a bought in product warranty on the actual hood its self would be sketchy at best.

 

I eventually found a supplier that would manufacture and fit a new hood on the Vert and have had it fitted, however being unfamiliar with the convertible I was unaware that the two "Latch Catchers" one on each A post were badly damaged and as the supplier explained the hood would not fasten to the windscreen surround securely, it was not evident with the old hood as it was so stretched and the stitching was beginning to give way.[ATTACH=CONFIG]116647[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]116648[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]116649[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]116650[/ATTACH]

Above Photo's of the old roof

 

So a very slow drive home to prevent any damage to the roof mechanism

 

The Latch Catcher is no longer available from Nissan even direct from Japan, So I have ordered 2 from Concept Z who supply a remanufactured part similar to the original so once that arrives hopefully it will all fit nicely.

No doubt at some point I’ll have to go through this but roof all good at moment looks good though

Fitment looks good, nice job. What is the name of the supplier?

The supplier was Soft Tops Ltd in Croydon, they make all their own roofs and give the options on Colour of Mohair and colour of windows if they are made of Plastic.

 

When shown the samples I went for the Blue Mohair for the material and a Green tint on the Plastic windows to match the Glass in the car, might sound strange to choose green tint plastic but you don't notice it when looking through it and it blends in better that the totally clear plastic windows, they use "Ultralite" plastic which is as far as I know the same as the original.

 

He did mention when I went back to collect it that it was a complicated fitment and that he would not look forward to doing another one, reinforcing the advice of all on here to let the professionals do the job especially Art who has fitted a MX5 Hood which took some time.

 

Not a inexpensive purchase as it cost more that the suppliers who bought the hoods in but hopefully not something I will have to do again, can't wait to get the bits from the US and at least get the Hood part of the repairs finished.