convertible hood advice needed

[docgibbons]

my wife took our converted saloon (done a couple of years ago at mid-sussex minors) out while i was away on business, and, despite my constant nagging to always make sure the front nuts were fully tightened, she managed to get a blow back while motoring along at what she says was "about 40mph". she could not get the hood to go back down, and when i got back to take a look, despite the hinges flattening out ok, the hood refuses to push down at the windscreen end, stopping about a foot short, and refusing to go any further. has anyone any experience of this sort of thing, and if so, does it sound fixable, or am i looking at a completely new hood? also, i am a long way from a minor garage (a specialist one) and if it is fixable, wondered whether this was a job that could be tackled by a non-minor repair centre.
any advice much appreciated.

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

It sounds like the hood frame is seriously bent! If it doesnt fit by as much as a foot the bent parts should look obvious as its a fairly simple mechanism. The frame could be replaced alone as long as the hood isnt ripped, theres only about 4 or 5 screws in the head rail and another 2 just above the window, but you would risk it not being such a good fit.

[docgibbons]

yes i thought that also. however, i can't actually see anything seriously warped or bent, and now notice that one of the screws or rivets on one side of the frame assembly has been torn out, and so the concertina on that side is not connected at that point. so i'll have it looked at to see if that's all the problem is. suspect a new frame, though. the hood is ok by the way.

[wibble_puppy]

Sorry to hear about the hood disaster, hope it's fixable!

I'd give John at Mid Sussex Minors a call on Tuesday if I were you, you might be lucky and catch him for advice before he moves down to Dorset

wibble xx