ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Technical Discussion - Performance / Modify => Topic started by: strange306 on November 07, 2010, 07:45:40 PM
-
I recently bought a 87 samurai and got the crazy idea of building a hard top for it. Was going to buy a tin top back door and build my own top when I ended up with a whole top off a tin top. Any one converted a tin top into a removable hard top?
Any advise for me? I would like to make one large top and replace the B pillar. Not sure about windshield mount. Small piece of flashing I guess to keep the rain out.
-
That sounds like a lot of work, I wanted a tin top rear door to
build a Safari look top out of an old vinyl top I had, but the hinge
at the top of the door is higher than the top hinge on the convertible
body so I scrapped the idea because of the difference, but that is
on a Sidekick, I don't know in the Samurai has the same design configuration
Wild
-
Here is what I have.
-
ive seen it done nicely on a sammy in arizona...ill see if i can find pictures for you
-
Damned if it doesn't sound like a good and doable project to me.
-
Anything is possible with a welder and enough time. ;D
-
Sure wish i had a tin top to try with i have the back window for my removable hard top that mounts to the tailgate wonder how it would fit ???
-
Remove top, b pillar and roll bar. Then set uncut tin top on just to get a look at it. Doesn't look like that hard of a project.
-
Wow man I think that would be awesome, I really hope it works out for you.
-
I remember in high school the thing to do was to take the mini trucks and turn them into convertables. It was a sawsall deal with a couple pieces of rubber trim for the seal and a handful of cam locks. Looks like it would work on your project. Maybe do some searches on those types of sites. I believe you would need to cut the donor top off about 4-6 inches above the windshield hole to use the kits I have seen. Either way it looks like a fun project and don't for get to take pics along the way for the build diary at the end.
-
Hey, ya, I remember that, I was just thinking make it a removable steel
top like the old Scout II and the 70's Ramchargers, that would be really
cool
-
Wild, is that like how the late 60's early 70's Broncos were? Can't picture how the Scout II and Ramchargers were.
-
Ya, all those old classic wheelers had those pop off tops, I have friends that have
a Scout a Ramcharger and a 74 FJ and they all can take the top off, tho the Scout
top takes 4 people to remove it, and I'm sure the Ramcharger is like that too, but
he's wheeling a Suzuki these days ;D
-
I like it too. To join the windshield to the top, you could use the Draw Latches off a Tracker/Kicker, or get some metal ones like I use to hold the back of soft top down (maybe heavier).
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_86HP5-adsWc/ShDm7R_FUdI/AAAAAAAADiI/qr0RNFZsknQ/s640/CIMG3419.JPG)
Good use for a dead Tin top.
-
Getting close. Still fighting the windsheild fitment. Like to see this thing done soon.
-
This is a really cool mod. Not sure on the windshield attachment points, but for a seal go to napa & have them look in their catalog of weather stripping. They sell a U-channel type with a tube-like seal on the side. Shaped like this: UO ... Napa part# 770-3175. Maybe you could attach it along the front edge of the roof section with the tube facing the into windshield frame to provide a front seal. Not sure how big of a gap you need to fill, but iirc it's about 5/8" hollow tube. If the front edge of the cut piece of top is thin enough to fit in the U, it might/maybe/could work?
I used the stuff to make a rain-gutter on the front section of my Trackers fiberglass hardtop. It's not cheap, but it's a real good quality seal imo.
Hth,
Fuzz
-
Sounds like the same stuff used on most car trunks. That is what I planned on using for a seal once everything fits the way I want it.
-
Your last pictures look great. This is going to be very cool.
-
The old Broncos tops are bolted onto the top of the windshield frame. That makes it about 1-1/2" taller when the top is mounted. It won't work for a Sammy. You may have to put some type of fastner paralell with top (cam lock?) to make it pull snug to the windshield frame. That would keep it stock hieght and clean. Keeping it water tight is a whole different story.