Tr4aJim Posted August 3, 2022 Report Share Posted August 3, 2022 Folks, I just wanted to share a project I just completed. Ever since I got my TR4A, I always thought about getting a hood cover for it. However they aren’t cheap, and I had plenty of other things to buy on my to do list. When I first got the car I had purchased a tan interior trim kit from Moss. It came with a roll of vinyl that I never used, and that vinyl had sat ever since in my “spare parts bin”. So about a month ago I came up with the great idea that I would try making my own hood cover, using that roll of vinyl. In those immortal words of Jeremy Clarkson, “how hard could it be”? The first thing I did was make a pattern using some house wrap I had in the lying in the garage (it’s flexible and won’t tear), by trial fitting many many many times, until I found a shape that worked and would not need more than the vinyl I had. However one extra issue I would face was I had added a roll over bar, so I had to take that into account too. Now let me say that I have never sewed anything more than a button, and had never used my wife’s sewing machine. So I watched a lot of YouTube videos, bought some exterior quality thread and binding (I found that Marine Upholstery supply shops were the best sources), and started in. The first thing I found was the wife’s sewing machine barely had enough power to drive the needle through the layers of material. The second thing I learned was I had no clue how to feed/manipulate the material. But after several false starts and do-overs, I finally started making some progress. When the hood was almost done, and I was flush with confidence, I decided to add an additional panel that would hang down between the roll over bar uprights, and act as a storage cover for the shelf behind the seats. As the carpeting is black, I bought some black vinyl for this, as it would blend in better. Anyway, I have to say I’m pretty proud of the results, though I’m sure a professional upholsterer might think it’s a dog’s breakfast. Cheers Jim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bfg Posted August 3, 2022 Report Share Posted August 3, 2022 I'm well impressed ..very nicely done Jim. Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hamish Posted August 3, 2022 Report Share Posted August 3, 2022 Just now, Bfg said: I'm well impressed ..very nicely done Jim. Pete +1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Morrison Posted August 3, 2022 Report Share Posted August 3, 2022 Great job and so satisfying John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tr4aJim Posted August 3, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2022 Thank you! And believe me, if I can do it, anyone can (well if the wife isn’t looking). Jim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Z320 Posted August 3, 2022 Report Share Posted August 3, 2022 Congratulations! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mikej Posted August 4, 2022 Report Share Posted August 4, 2022 Jim given the price of these, it may be of interest to a wider audience. If you would like to publish in TRA drop me a mail at 'technical'. Great job. MikeJ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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