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Meyer Hard Top Doors

Discussion in 'Early Jeep Restoration and Research' started by MrGreenJeeps, Nov 29, 2020.

  1. MrGreenJeeps

    MrGreenJeeps New Member

    I know the hard tops from '55-'75 are different from the '76-'83 but how about the doors? Do the later doors have a slightly different shape due to the windshield or does the windshield bracket cover the gap?

    I have a '76-83 Meyer half cab. I know I will have to switch the windshield to make it fit on my '74 but dont know if my '55-'75 doors will work.

    Thanks!
     
  2. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    I believe the short answer is no, due to the windshield leaning further back on the newer ones. This would make your door angles not match.
     
  3. timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Correct. The pieces that go on the windshield sides and meet the door gasket will be different too, ie incompatible.
     
    Glenn likes this.
  4. Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    this has been discussed before
    I think the top is the same as earlys with the exception
    windshield filler pieces and upper hinge is different for 76-83
    my guess is windshield is aligned with top . so hold downs on dash aren't used
    and I have no proof . if even that's the case
    google picture
    upload_2020-11-29_12-3-33.jpeg
    there is a set of later model fillers on ebay
    Jeep CJ5 Meyer Hardtop Windshield Frame Fillers Door Seals 1976-1983 | eBay
     
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2020
    Glenn likes this.
  5. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Since the windshield leans back more wouldn't the roof itself be shorter?
     
  6. Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor


    you know that's the million dollar question
    I think the top is the same . just windshield needs to angle forward . for the doors . JMO
    who knows . I've only seen the upper hard top hinges on a later model 7 or 8
    different doors altogether
     
  7. timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    The roof has to be shorter from '76 on. Or else it comes with a filler piece that fills the difference between the windshield locations, but I don't see any evidence of that in the above picture or from what I recall. There's no way you can tilt the later windshield forward to meet the old style top - you'd have to disconnect the catches, and you'd have no seal under the windshield. Water would come in under the windshield when it rained. The lid has to shorter, the angle of the front edge of the doors changed, and the sides of the windshield filled in until vertical. This can clearly be seen in the picture above.

    Looking at the parts book, all these pieces change for 1976.
     
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2020
  8. nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    In ‘76 as noted the windshield leans back more but it is also narrower on top. All the ‘76 up tops were different that I have seen and the front window angle of the doors also. I’m sure someone out there made something a little more universal with different filler pieces but I haven’t seen one.
     
  9. Framer Mike P

    Framer Mike P Member

    I am with Ron. I too thought they tilted the later windshield up to match the angle of the earlier windshield - therefore using the same doors. I would think if you had both the later top and the earlier doors you could measure the length at the top of the door and compare it too the length of the door opening on the top. I do understand the windshield filler pieces being different as well as the shape of the windshield cutout at the front edge of the top - due to the different windshield shapes. It seems that Meyers produced there own windshield catches for the earlier Jeeps so why could they not do it for the later Jeeps. I think the cowl gasket would seal at the front edge and a shim could have been placed between the windshield and cowl. And like Ron - I have no proof - if even that's the case.
     
  10. timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Yes, who knows what one-off or few-off modifications were made to these tops to make them fit. Certainly Meyer (via Jeep) had a specific product for these newer Jeeps. Seems extraordinarily unlikely Jeep would have created all new part numbers, and a new separate page in the Special Equipment catalog, for post-75 CJ hard tops if the parts in question were unchanged.