Sun roof

[mike]

Thinkng of buying a car with a missing sun roof, with a vinyl covering which is patched and looks aweful, Did a Lichfield many years ago. which had nothing on the roof at all. Trying to remember how I did it. Think I covered it with thin plywood, stuck on the vinyl then used half round aluminium strip round the edges. What is worrying me is getting the vinyl stuck down evenly with no bubbles, think I used contact adhesive. Has any one else done such a job and have you any tips. Thanks Mike

[phil_taylor]

Did this about 10 years ago by extending the wood frame over the opening, fitting aluminium sheet already covered in vinyl, probably rexine, and refitting the frame in the roof. Did not have a particular problem over air bubbles. Got 2 photos but option for attachments has disappeared!!!

[Ivor Hawkins]

You could always replace the sunroof with what was fitted originally, I’m sure Martin Prior could provide the woodwork and Andrew Goodfellow might be Albee to provide the metalwork, both chaps certainly provide the bits for Sevens and if I remember correctly, they are almost identical.

The workmanship is superb and not ridiculously expensive. I was lucky enough to be able to salvage the original metalwork on mine, but all the rest was missing. I’ll attempt to post a picture, but that can be a challenge!

[Rtucker66]

Hi. Can anyone provide photos or drawings showing the sliding mechanism for the Cambridge sun roof operation please? ATDC has a technical sheet on pre 1937 but my car is 1938. When we took the original apart it fell apart totally and now have no firm idea how it all goes back together.

[Rtucker66]

Hi. Just for clarity: I am trying to reinstate the original sun roof and not seal it up but thanks for any advice in advance.

Thanks to everyone who has replied to this request for help, particularly Peter Duncan, an absolute fountain of knowledge and advice. We now know what is missing and what it looks like, from the info Peter provided. What we need now are ALL the mechanism pieces as when my mechanic took the original apart, it all disintigrated. Is anyone aware of an Austin 10 Cambridge that is being scrapped or is available for parts, please, as we need to cannibalise that mechanism into my roof. Many thanks

[mike]

Hi Mike did this many years ago on my first prewar car a Lichfield. If you are not going to replace the sunroof it is as you said, I think I covered it with 1/4 inch ply making sure the woodwork that is there is sound nailed it down. I marked the centre of the ply and the vinyl in both directions with chalk making sure there is a good overlap each way. Here is where you may need help, contact adhesive on the roof and vinyl, two people plus yourself hold it above the roof and start from the middle outwards smoothing it down, trim it later. Half round aluminium strip with a good sealant not silicone it is rubbish. It never leaked even during thunderstorms. Mike p.s. at the time I used a sealant called sealastic no longer available, but now I use Arbomast a sealant from Dortech Direct, no connection to the company and available in other outlets it is rubber based.