Author Topic: Mk1 Cabriolet Twisted hood frame  (Read 12215 times)

Offline Jamin

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Mk1 Cabriolet Twisted hood frame
« on: 28 September 2012, 23:39 »
My girlfriend owns a mk1 cab. It's been garaged for a few years now but the weather was nice last week so we decided to wheel her out of the garage and give the once over. The problem we discovered is that the hood frame is warped for want of a better word. The n/s is higher than the o/s. Is it possible to get the hood frame bent back into shape??

Offline chalky white

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Re: Mk1 Cabriolet Twisted hood frame
« Reply #1 on: 03 January 2013, 17:13 »
Hi,
is it a power top or manual?

First you need to oil all the hinge points where the frame moves etc.

Next check the cable that runs in the side of the hood isn't caught anywhere.

If its a power top check the fluid levels. You will need to remove the boot card cover on the passenger side.
It's held in with push pins in the centre of the clips. Once removed you can inspect the hydraulic lines for signs of leaks.
If any undo the the joints and reseal the threads using PTFE tape.
Next unscrew the T shaped screw on the pump body side, this allows manual operation of the top. Lower the top fully to check fluid levels. Top up if needed, by removing the hex filler plug, the level should sit between min and max. Next raise
the roof manually a couple of times. Then tighten the filler plug, but not fully tighten T screw on operate electrically, this should purge the air from the system, fully tighten the filler plug.

On manual tops you may have a defective strut, disconnect the strut from the frame by removing the cir clip etc. Now raise and lower roof to check fit. Connect one side only and repeat, you should soon tell if you have a bent or duff ram, replacement of the strut really is the way forward.

Also make sure that the Parcel shelf is correctly fitted, headliner and hood etc are all fixed into place and are not trapping in the frame mechanism.
If you feel the frame is distorted and want to replace be aware that early frames won't fit later so pre-81 are a  no no on later cars, as VW stretched the cabby in later productions. There are three year variants so try and get the same year frame as the car. Or at least the year car it's off. As if you ever change the headliner you will need the year as these are year dependent, there is no one size fits all.

Be aware also that if you have a manual frame, you cannot replace with a power one unless you put in all the fitments etc, the frame on a power top is held in the down position by the hydraulic rams. On manual there is a locking mechanism. So when folding roof down press drivers side into position trill it clicks, repeat passenger side. Press the release tabs located next to the rear seat upright to release fully, Passenger side first, then drivers side.

cheers

chalky

Offline Jamin

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Re: Mk1 Cabriolet Twisted hood frame
« Reply #2 on: 05 January 2013, 15:49 »
It's a manual hood. I hope it is something a simple as a defective strut cos that sounds like an easy fix and finding a replacement hood frame is proving difficult.

Either way, it's on the back burner till the weather gets a bit nicer. Plenty of other stuff the old girl needs!!!