Now I needed to mark the underside of the top of the boot, in order to drill a pilot hole through to be used as a marker for drilling the main holes for the legs from the top. For this I used an idea from Simon Rudman and purchased some 12mm threaded rod. In the top end of the rod I drilled a 6mm shaft which would be used as a guide for the hole saw mandrill when drilling the main hole from the top. I bolted the rod to the now exposed chassis holes (having checked that the rod was straight) with the end just touching the roof of the boot. I stuck a bit of masking tape above the end of the rod and marked it. I now proceed to drill a pilot hole from this mark, through to the topside of the boot where the Roll Hoop legs will come through. From the top, I now drilled a 25mm hole to expose the top of the threaded rod. Now that I could see I was pretty much in line (there is about 5mm flexibility with this hole as it needs opening to fit the Grommets). I proceed to drill a 51mm hole (the diameter of the leg) through the top of the boot..............after measuring, checking and measuring a million times!! The first hole was a little ragged on one side but I'm not bothered as I will have to open it out 3 or 4 mm in order to get the Grommet in. I will use the trusty Dremel to do this, so the hole will be perfect when I have finished.

Having now got the hole for one leg done, I couldn't resist fitting one Roll Hoop in to see if it was OK. With much relief everything was in line and it fitted!!

That was all I had time for this weekend, but hopefully will finish the hoops next weekend.

Having got this far, I then fitted a template made from MDF to the legs, and marked the position of the rear hole for the supporting leg. I then drilled this out with a 40mm hole saw. This needs opening out a bit more with the Dremel as I did with the front holes but that's for another day! I then temporarily fitted the first hoop into its correct position (third picture below. Not bolted in hence looking a bit skew whiff in the holes!). I then used the same template to mark the position of the cut-out in the floor of the boot to accommodate the bracket for the rear leg. This bracket, supplied by GD is just to high to go in without a cut-out. I will sort some washers/grommets out for all three holes in the boot eventually.

By this time I was tired and ready for a drink so called it a day. All I need to do is tidy up the holes so the grommets fit OK and then temporarily bolt everything into place. Of course it will all have to come out again when I fit the Carpets!!

Oh, and there is just the matter of doing the other Roll Hoop. Same all over again I guess, this time (hopefully) it will go quicker and smoother!! Watch this space!

14th Nov 2009 - Fitted the second roll hoop today. Not a job I would want to do again!! Despite measuring a million times I only got one of the holes perfect. One was slightly out but was fine with the grommet on and the back one was a fair way out at the front of the hole (probably 3mm to much). I still don't understand why this happened. Its nothing that anyone would notice and with the grommets in place, everything looks fine, but it niggles me!!! Just to make sure the back grommet sat OK I put a small collar of Iosopon round the front of the hole behind the grommet line and is fits fine now. I just need to create some kind of grommets for inside the boot to cover the holes that go through to the chassis. I'm not taking the roll hoops out again now after the struggle of fitting them and when its time to fit the carpet I will slit it with a razor blade to fit round the legs. I've seen this on a few cars, and once glued down it isn't noticeable.

 Even though I am happy now with the look of the hoops and grommets after the stress of fitting them, I still may go for some aluminium collars eventually to make a more permanent\secure fitting, Se the last picture below for what I mean. Can only find them in the States at the moment at about $80 per set (!!) but will keep looking.

10th Nov 2009 - One thing I forgot to mention...... While I was at GD the other day, Andy asked If I had filled the hoops with foam. This threw me as I had seen no mention of this anywhere. When I looked into it, it seems a few people have done it to negate the resonance that may happen because the hollow hoops bolt straight to the chassis. I took Andy's advice and filled both hoops with foam, but it was a bit of a messy job to say the least!! I used Polycell foam and it seemed to do the job. Only time will tell!!

8th Nov 2009 - Back to fitting the Roll Hoops today. I thought I would get them both finished but I was wrong!! It's a long job and a bit nerve racking, especially when your drilling holes in the body!! I started by drilling the second hole for the main legs. I tackled it the same as the first really and it went OK. Once the two holes were drilled I bolted in the Roll Hoop back to front so the rear leg went into the cockpit, and then scribed round the legs (using a washer up against the leg and something sharp to scribe, which is how GD do it), giving me a 5mm gap. I opened the holes up to the scribe mark using a Dremel and a flap wheel making nice neat holes. I then fitted the two grommets, for no reason, other than to see if they would fit OK and what they looked like!!

31st Oct 2009 - The moment I have been dreading, cutting holes in the body to fit the roll hoops!! Having now got the right hole saw attachments I set about the first stage of the fitting.

Firstly I drilled two pilot holes, using a Dremel, from the underside of the boot, and through the hoop fixing holes in the chassis that the two front legs bolt to. I put a 12mm MDF collar on the Dremel drill bit in an attempt to keep it central within the hole as it is difficult to work and see in that area. Then from inside the boot, I marked the pilot hole and using a 61mm hole saw, cut two holes where the main hoop legs will go through to attach to the chassis. (I had to use a right angle attachment on my drill because of the limitation on space within the boot). I will deal with the third supporting leg later.