Jam Mad Posted March 18, 2002 Share Posted March 18, 2002 having just fitted an fia rollbar, i was surprised to find that my hood no longer fits. it is not a tall bar, and the shortfall of hood to poppers is only a centimetre or two.. but it's not going to budge. i realised that if the smaller of the hood frame pieces was shorter by a couple of centimetres, ( the one that attaches to the main hood frame that hinges on the car ) it would release enough of the hood for it to fit again.. but i didn't realise i'd need to modify/ replace my hood frame, i only thought that it was the boot cover that needed changing. does this ring any bells to anyone ? it shouldn't be too hard to do but i'm puzzled nevertheless.... j Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted March 18, 2002 Share Posted March 18, 2002 Jam, I almost had the same problem when I fitted my FIA bar, although the hood just about fits it is stretched very very tight and is a real b@rstard to fit. It seems to me that its all down to how the poppers and bases were originally fitted to the hood/boot. Some cars obviously have more slack in the hood than others. I have now solved the problem. I bought some aeroscreens teeth.gif Hopefully someone else will be along with the definitive answer to your problem. Chris Alston Se7ening - it's all miles and smile.gifsmile.gifsmile.gif 1800 Supersprint - Loud and Proud teeth.gif ...well it only sounds fast officer blush.gif Edited by - c7cat on 18 Mar 2002 11:19:02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Arnold Posted March 18, 2002 Share Posted March 18, 2002 Is this a High Viz top? I have been planning to fit a FIA bar to my car with NON-hi-viz top. I have asked several people whether it will cause problems with the top and got roughly 50/50 answers yes and no - including both from Caterham. I spoke to several people who could say that they had successfully fitted the FIA bar without problems, but all were Hi-viz. Does live verses dedion make any difference? I too would like to know before I order the FIA bar. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jam Mad Posted March 18, 2002 Author Share Posted March 18, 2002 mine is a high viz top on a live axle... as i say, it's not hard to fix.. i'll just need to lightly modify the hood frame, but i just wasn't expected to have to do it. but it does make sense that it will be different depending on the car, as to where the poppers have been placed. i think you just have to go for it, and sort it out afterwards.. there doesn't seem to be any way of knowing in advance. j Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1400rs_0of30 Posted March 18, 2002 Share Posted March 18, 2002 I have an FIA bar, and was having REAL trouble fitting, until some guy on here recommended unzipping the rear screen when fitting. Now the hood fits well easy thanks who ever that was sean The original 1400 K Series Roadsport Prototype My Caterham Website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don_g Posted March 18, 2002 Share Posted March 18, 2002 Another option - contact Oxtead Trimming who will, almost whilst you wait, insert a new 'band' around the base of the hood. I've not yet had mine done, and I agree that it is a real pig to fit a standard hood over the bar. Andy Harding had his hood adjusted in this fashion last year, and is well chuffed with the result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mav Posted March 18, 2002 Share Posted March 18, 2002 No problem on the SV - fits with about 5 cm clearance!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
POP7 Posted March 18, 2002 Share Posted March 18, 2002 I fitted an FIA bar to my short cockpit, live axle ready for the track day at Oulton last summer.The hood will no longer fit and neither will the "boot" area cover which will need modifying. Caterham merely said that they don't do a hood suitable for this set up.It will mean modifying the hood frame and a new hood. Originally, couldn't decide wether to bother with a hood or not but on the way home from the International Meeting at Oulton last year, in torrential rain, the road at one point was partially flooded. I hit said flood, the resulting bow wave came over the screen and deposited itself in the cockpit. I couldn't have been wetter if I had jumped in a river..... I think I will a hood after all ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFA Posted March 18, 2002 Share Posted March 18, 2002 James, You should be putting the hood on and doing all the poppers up BEFORE you erect the hood frame inside anyway. Are you sure you are doing it the proper way??? Fat Arn This is a Testid=red> See the Lotus Seven Club 4 Counties Area Website hereid=green> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jam Mad Posted March 19, 2002 Author Share Posted March 19, 2002 eh ? that's a new one on me ?!?!?! if you put the hood on you wouldn't be able to lift the hood frame inside the car... the tension around the base of the roof would prevent it, i'm sure. i'll give it a try though, along with the excellent window unzipping tip. oh, skypilot, do you have contact details for oxstead trimming ? is that the lady called gill ? j Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Line Components Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 I have to have the frame straps nice and loose allowing the frame to be well out of the way when doing up the poppers, make sure the hood is not stretching over the frame as you do the poppers up. When my FIA was fitted the hood got tighter as it is slightly pushing up on the hood - try getting the hood nice and warm first, it makes a big difference. Edited by - minty on 19 Mar 2002 09:10:09 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 try getting the hood nice and warm first, it makes a big difference. You can't beat a good bit of theory smile.gif. In practice you only fit the hood when its cold and pi**ing down sad.gif Chris Alston Se7ening - it's all miles and smile.gifsmile.gifsmile.gif 1800 Supersprint - Loud and Proud teeth.gif ...well it only sounds fast officer blush.gif Edited by - c7cat on 19 Mar 2002 09:57:09 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Line Components Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 true enough, but its always warm in my footwell... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Green Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 I know a couple of people in my local (Bristol) L7C group, who have live axle cars and went to FIA bars. They can't fit their hoods either. Seems to be a feature of the FIA bar fitted to the live axle chassis. Sounds like the Oxted option is the best bet, if you want to keep the hood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jam Mad Posted March 19, 2002 Author Share Posted March 19, 2002 now he tells me !!!! wink.gif quite straightforward to fix it... just nice to know that i'm not going mad ! j Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Crickmore Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 Don't you end up pressing the wrong pedal with the hood stuffed down there Minty? wink.gif You know what I'm getting...I'll shut up now teeth.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradbys Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 Oxted Trimming Co. Sometimes they get a bit funny about doing work on Caterhams as they have an agreement with the Caterham factory - at least thats what they told me 2 years ago when I went to see them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jam Mad Posted March 19, 2002 Author Share Posted March 19, 2002 contact details please ? j Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now