repairs or replacement of auto free top roof

[auspolly]

How much would it cost to have the auto free top roof replaced?

How much would it cost to have two cracks in the fibreglass repaired? The roof crashed down under the weight of snow. It still goes up and down but it has about a 6 inch crack on either side.

Who would you recommend for doing this work in the Midlands?

[mikeonb4c]

How much would it cost to have the auto free top roof replaced?

How much would it cost to have two cracks in the fibreglass repaired? The roof crashed down under the weight of snow. It still goes up and down but it has about a 6 inch crack on either side.

Who would you recommend for doing this work in the Midlands?

Ian Taylor at Market Drayton is an excellent longstanding Bongo specialist would be worth contacting. Also Paul at LPG Imports in Coventry as they have started coming on here more recently and seem very competent. Really, it should be possible to repair this things, and in place, with luck. But I think they are not fibreglass, but some kind of plastic moulding (ABS?) so it needs someone who understands what materials and techniques to use.

[321Away]

Have seen this before, the roof outer edges crack n breaks where the gas struts fix to the roof, we sent the customers to our body work shop who reinforced the roof with metal plates fibreglassed inside the roof,if that makes sense!
Julian

[You've Been Bongod]

i had a new roof fitted to my old bongo i purchased the roof for a bargain price of £200 everyone else wanted £500+
got ian taylor to colour code and fit it my total cost was around £300 painted and fitted
also have to remember that a freetop aft is heavy so need at least 4 peeps to lift it

[lpgimports]

Picture of the damage would be great to see to understand where the cracks are.

I have been offered a few in Japan with damage to the roof before and these were either chunks out of it where it had hit something low or one where there were cracks both sides about 3 ft from the back of the roof running up the sides to the flat of the roof, like the roof had collapsed?

The roof looks to be standard fibreglass and gel coat construction, and as such best port of call would be someone who specialises in repair of this.

A used roof is the best solution.

Grinding back on the inside and glassing in a repair/reinforcing panel then doing the same on the outside then repainting may work but only someone good with fibreglass should try this.

Kolorshack in Aldridge have an excellent reputation for fibreglass repairs on TVR's and old Damiler Darts etc or try someone who repairs boats, they will be used to repairing cracked fibreglass and gelcoats.

It wouldn't be something I would want to take on.

Paul

[mikeonb4c]

The roof looks to be standard fibreglass and gel coat construction,
Paul

That's interesting as I for one had it down as being some other kind of (reinforced) plastic. I'd have expected to see the usual shadow of the matting and gel on the interior surface of the roof if it was basic fibreglass work, but it looks from things like the roof tent inserts etc. like it might have been made in a full mould. But I'm not expert. The only thing that matters I think is that whatever it is made of may have a bearing on what kind of resin (e.g. aliphatic or polyester) you need to use for the repair in order to get the best bond. But again, I don't know much about it except the little I picked up from model aircraft work!

[lpgimports]

I saw one once somewhere think it was docks with a big chunk out of the front corner and it had a ragged edge and bits of fibreglass strands sticking out...

Though knowing Mazda they probably varied the construction though production.

Paul

[francophile1947]

Pretty sure it's a fibreglass shell over a plastic inner.

[mikeonb4c]

I reckoned it might be glass reinforced plastic - made somehow in a full mould using short fibres in the mix rather than resin over matting. Buts that's a complete guess and I've never had the chance to see a fractured one

[dandywarhol]

Moulded fibreglass - I drilled holes in mine for a solar panel

[mikeonb4c]

Moulded fibreglass - I drilled holes in mine for a solar panel

Thought as much. I wonder though if it could be an ABS type plastic single piece moulding rather than the polyester resin and gelcoat technique (which often smells of dried spit I always think when it is drilled etc.). Any thoughts on that ?

[dandywarhol]

Dried spit came to mind when I drilled it................................

[mikeonb4c]

Dried spit came to mind when I drilled it................................

I'll take it that's the Scotsmans way of saying its polyester then