CJ5 hardtop mounting hardware?

I'm considering the purchase of a '68 CJ5. It will be my first Jeep, and is bought because of fond memories of a base-model Samurai - though I think the CJ is more spartan! It's not in super shape, but it's far enough south that it hasn't been subjected to salted roads. I want to bring it to a enjoyable, loosely interpreted state of stock restoration. That is to say, I'll try to get about the original size wheels and tires, but I might not get the right paint finish under the hood. I might put a roll bar in, or fit a slightly non-standard bumper. I've only seen pictures at this point, and a visit will take a bit of a drive, so I'm left with a question.

The truck includes a hard top that is not fitted. It's been off for "years" and the owner has lost the hardware. The truck is supposed to be highway drivable, and I don't have a trailer or pickup at my disposal. I can't rent a trailer for the CJ without the top on. That means the only way for me to get the top home is by installing it on the CJ. I don't want to leave it behind.

The owner indicated that he remembers the hardware as being standard, quite possibly 1/4" bolts and nuts. I've searched here, and not found the sort of shopping list I need. Does anyone here have more exact information so I know what to bring with me on this trip? I'd rather spend a few dollars at the Pep Boys here than spend an hour searching a strange town for hardware. Original finish or design isn't important, just effectiveness at holding the hardtop on.

 

If you don't care about mounting the doors in the field, there are only two must have parts.

They are the windshield frame interface brackets.

They are about 15 inches or so long and run down the sides of the windshield frame. They are held in with bolts that bolt on the front edges of the windshield frame.

If you look at 'em from the side they are sort of a squared off "S" shape to wrap around the front of the windshield frame and around into the doorway to form part of the door frame. The top will be wider than the windshield frame by a little and will fit over top of these brackets.

You can see the two holes(in each side) in the windshield frame about five to six inches above the bottom of the frame.

Now, if these have been lost you are still in luck!!

I was at jeepacres in South Bend Indiana a couple of weeks ago and found a stash of NOS windshield edges.
(Chuck Dadlow 1-574-654-8649).

If he doesn't know where they are, you can tell him that they are outside in the yard just behind one of the transmission trailers.

Knowing Chuck he'll want a lot of money for them, but they are in nice shape and NOS, so just bite the bullet and get 'em.

As a note -- I never like to tow or trailer a jeep with those bolts missing from the windshield frame (regardless of the top status)

Those two bolts are key in holding the windshield frame on the jeep. Now, there are other bolts that hold it on as well, but when traveling at 70mph it is very bad form to be launching a windshield at the cars behind you.

good luck.

kamel

 

other than those strips both of my hard top had a dosen or so 1/4 x
1 1/2 bolts and nuts around sides and back.

 

I didn't have any of that special stuff you're describing. Just basically some 1/4" by about 1" long bolts w/lock nuts. Along the windshield I jsut screwed in some sheet metal screws. No biggie.

Not sure about the doors. Mine were on piano hinges that bolted to the body with the same 1/4" bolts but some are on the gate style hinges....as long as the receiving part of the hinge is still mounted to the body, you'd just hang them on with no bolts and close the door. Good to go.

 

bring about 36 1/4" nuts/bolts/washers and you should be fine. can always leave out 1-2 per side (mine has 8 per side holding the top to the body) and use them else where.