brokenpath
Member
- :
- 2002 mazda protege 5
I'm expecting to get wildly flamed for this but I'm going to try it anyways. Any advice before i destroy my car would be greatly appreciated. I also though it would be entertaining to post.
So basically, I Bought this car and it had a Hollandia 400 (Canvas folding roof) which didn't work anymore and was sealed shut.
It was perfectly fine with no leaks and no noise.
However... Curiosity got the best of me and I started to wonder if i could fix it or find what was wrong with it.
it was sealed shut for a reason as many of the parts were no longer operable so i decided i might seal it shut again.
well.. curiosity got the best of me again and i started to take the thing apart.
After searching EVERYWHERE for replacement parts and also searching for a new roof the best price I got so far for a BRAND NEW folding roof was $1400 installed which seriously isn't bad considering that after researching it Many people paid much more to have theirs put in (I think it helps that I already have the hole cut)
This is affordable and considering how cheap I got this car for if i installed the roof I would still be able to keep what i spent on the car under KBB.
I started thinking though..... Since I have time.... And I already know where I can get a new roof... Why don't I Try to DIY a panoramic roof and if it fails I will just get the legitimate replacement canvas roof professionally done?
Search after search I found that my best bet is probably using plexiglass or lexan.
This roof is going to be about as jerry rigged as it gets....
I'm going to be using the old bracket that the Folding roof went into as a frame. (I don't want to bolt or attach anything to the Roof itself, because if i screw it up I will no longer have the Hollandia 400 as an option)
Here are some pictures
Yes, i have a gigantic hole in my roof with probably 1 month left before rainy time.
Like i said though, this will be a fun project and if it leaks, or starts rattling like crazy i'm taking it off immediately and putting the hollandia in.
Since i'm expecting it to be temporary i'm going to try and keep it as CHEAP as possible.
Materials :
1. Large sheet of lexan
2. Self tapping Screws.
3. Steel Grommets.
4. large pieces of rubber.
5. A ridiculous amount of waterproof/weatherproof caulk (OR whatever other good sealant I find.)
6. Rubber or plastic Moulding trim to cover up the slop and try to make it look as nice as possible when i'm done.
I'm going to try to do this as nice as possible but don't expect it to turn out very well.
ONE leak or ANY amount of crazy vibration and i'm taking it straight to the shop to get a new canvas roof. Just though it wowould be fun in the meantime and probably cost less than $150. which to me, is worth it to do something like this to a newish car that is in perfectly good running order
.
Wish me luck!
Any advice from someone who has even done something remotely similar would be greatly appreciated. Thx.
So basically, I Bought this car and it had a Hollandia 400 (Canvas folding roof) which didn't work anymore and was sealed shut.
It was perfectly fine with no leaks and no noise.
However... Curiosity got the best of me and I started to wonder if i could fix it or find what was wrong with it.
it was sealed shut for a reason as many of the parts were no longer operable so i decided i might seal it shut again.
well.. curiosity got the best of me again and i started to take the thing apart.
After searching EVERYWHERE for replacement parts and also searching for a new roof the best price I got so far for a BRAND NEW folding roof was $1400 installed which seriously isn't bad considering that after researching it Many people paid much more to have theirs put in (I think it helps that I already have the hole cut)
This is affordable and considering how cheap I got this car for if i installed the roof I would still be able to keep what i spent on the car under KBB.
I started thinking though..... Since I have time.... And I already know where I can get a new roof... Why don't I Try to DIY a panoramic roof and if it fails I will just get the legitimate replacement canvas roof professionally done?
Search after search I found that my best bet is probably using plexiglass or lexan.
This roof is going to be about as jerry rigged as it gets....
I'm going to be using the old bracket that the Folding roof went into as a frame. (I don't want to bolt or attach anything to the Roof itself, because if i screw it up I will no longer have the Hollandia 400 as an option)
Here are some pictures
Yes, i have a gigantic hole in my roof with probably 1 month left before rainy time.
Like i said though, this will be a fun project and if it leaks, or starts rattling like crazy i'm taking it off immediately and putting the hollandia in.
Since i'm expecting it to be temporary i'm going to try and keep it as CHEAP as possible.
Materials :
1. Large sheet of lexan
2. Self tapping Screws.
3. Steel Grommets.
4. large pieces of rubber.
5. A ridiculous amount of waterproof/weatherproof caulk (OR whatever other good sealant I find.)
6. Rubber or plastic Moulding trim to cover up the slop and try to make it look as nice as possible when i'm done.
I'm going to try to do this as nice as possible but don't expect it to turn out very well.
ONE leak or ANY amount of crazy vibration and i'm taking it straight to the shop to get a new canvas roof. Just though it wowould be fun in the meantime and probably cost less than $150. which to me, is worth it to do something like this to a newish car that is in perfectly good running order
.Wish me luck!
Any advice from someone who has even done something remotely similar would be greatly appreciated. Thx.
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