Le R4 Decouvrable

[Richard Williams]

Still convinced that the ultimate R4 experience is driving one of these little gems around on a sunny day with the roof open, I am gathering photographic and technical information on the" Renault decouvrable" version of our favourite car.
I was lucky enough to own one of these in the past and have some details from memory but if anyone can help I will certainly post the details of the work in progress. I am luckily in possession of an original roof with tatty covering but it has all the original bars. I'm hoping to weld a rail on to a cut roof and then to add central strengthening bar.
Close up photos would be fantastic, and if anyone has an original I could visit and view well that would be great too.

 

[malcolm]

Can take some photos of my roof, and you are welcome to visit if you are ever in the Bedford area. It's a odd construction but shouldn't be too hard to replicate, but a visit would make things much easier.

Will you be coming along to the R4 run on 27th? I'll be there in a tatty faded yellow GTL with pink bits and black trim.

 

[Richard Williams]

Thank you for the offer, I'd like to come with Liam's old car , will you be there with the car with the open roof? Is it a factory made one? and yes photos would be great!!
rgfwilliams@btconnect.com

Thanks as ever Clem

 

[malcolm]

The roof isn't actually fitted to a car at the moment. The whole roof panel was cut (by someone else) from a scrapper prior to the actual scrapping. It's a factory roof complete with the fabric bit and most of the fittings.

Here's the first pic. Can take some measurements and close ups, though you'll never get it exact without seeing one.

 

[Richard Williams]

Thank you. I must admit to being a little envious, it would be a straightforward job to use a factory roof. Assuming you wouldn't sell it I would really appreciate some close-ups. I have the fabric and levers , I want to know the profile of the rim, the dimensions and fit of the cross bar and positions of the threads to secure the fabric top. Hope you have the time to help, Richard

 

[ian Stanbury]

..Roof pic..

I am not sure these pictures are of much use to you Richard but I send them any way as they are all about roofs.

And .... while I am on the forum, does anyone elses doors remain open by themselve like the top pic - Mine always close, especially when you dont want them to!!

 

[malcolm]

Those doors stay open on the early cars if you are pointing down a slight slope. It's all to do with the external upper door hinge changing the angle of the door. I find that very annoying.

With the GTL you can time your exit so the door shuts itself behind you. With earlier cars you have to shut the door yourself after exiting - which just seems to add unneccessary effort to the whole process.

For pics and measurements Richard - I'll not get a lot of time before I see you next week. But I can do it if it's tricky for you to get up here and do it yourself. I'm convinced you'll still be stuck even after pics and dimensions (I know I would be).

 

[angel]

Here are some photos I took some years earlier on my Jogging. I hope they will be helpful...
In my opinion, it is a waste of time transferring the original measurements (some millimeters will certainly be lost on the way from Greece to England...). The sunroof layout is very simple and symmetrical. The roof opening has exactly the same dimensions as the pressed "hump" on the normal roof, including the corner radii. There is a welded crossbar exactly in the middle of its length (where the fabric is rolled around).
The two frames are identical and their pivot points are in the middle of each sunroof "half". They are simply sheet metal strips (under the fabric) welded on steel rods (the part visible). Sadly a frame from a sunroofed R5 will not fit as it is wider and longer.
There are two more crossbars riveted on the fabric (again in the middle of each roof half). They are small diameter steel tubing specially formed over the ends to seat nicely on the body lip.
The closing fittings are simple M6 screws threading on nuts welded on the lip that press over each frame. Their heads are plastic knobs, exactly the same used for holding the rear seat. They were the same for front and rear until 1981, when the front ones were replaced by the plastic latch you see on the photos. (I think it is impossible to duplicate it...).
All parts (crossbars and frames) are lightly curved to match roughly the curve of the normal roof.
I think the real problem is the "lip" welded around the opening. I find it relatively easy to weld it on the roof (fold the cut edges upwards and spot-weld the lip over them, that's the factory solution). I have not found such an extrusion yet, nor did I find a way to manufacture it. Clementine, can you help us, as you have the original sunroof in your hands, and also a lot more experience on body work?

 

[djoptix]

Is that the one that used to be in our shed Clementine? Or a different one?