New top

I have been needing to replace my top for about 7 years. Every year that I have gone to Easter Jeep Safari in Moab I would talk with the Best top people about us "orphan" Jeep's. I would ask for different colors and even better materials, you now like the new Jeeps get. Every year they would tell me that they were aware of the market to supply our need for better tops.
I even told them that they could run just once a year on their slowest week and people would have to pre order and wait for delivery....No love.
They just don't consider us a large enough market.
So.. I made my own, not perfect but very different from what is avaliable today. It is just "roughed in" the top is still wavy and will need more body work, the sides are my first attemp at sewing.
The important part is that I finished enough to go hunting for pheasant this season.

I also made some new half doors, they only weigh about 3 lbs without hardware. They are next to be finnished but I can use my old doors untill they are done.
The top finnished weight is about 50 lbs, I guesstimated it would be 70 lbs. Glad I was wrong.
What do you think?



Some under construction photos

 

Is the top fiberglass?

 

Yes

 

Looks good. What are you using for materials,

 

I like it. I take the roll bar/cage is the roof support? Did you canibalize a hard top to get the roof?

Super cool. Yes, us 6 drivers are limited to say the least. Way to go!

 

I used vinyl ester resin because it is stronger than polyester and U.V. tolerant with 17 oz. knitted fabric glass cloth top and bottom. I used a hex cell plastic core with glass matt bonded to both sides for the structural strength. Down the middle it is 1/2" thick core and the sides are 1/4" core. I believe that I could stand on the top and it would not deflect it, I am not so sure my mounting would hold up though. The rear is supported by the back roll bar; the mid section is supported by the door frame post, it is made from 1/2" aluminum electrical conduit thick walled the size that can be threaded. The front windshield supports the "A" pillar.
I used Sunbrella for the fabric.

 

Wow. So you formed your own glass top, sounds like you have experience with this kinda work. Have you made surfboards?

 

I have to admit I am noddleing a similar top. I have a Koenig full hard top so was going to use the steel top and build side curtains. The problem with the metal sides is the windows are too small. I was going to fab metal corners to support the top, back corners and door posts, up from the tub. Don't have a roll bar. The front attaches to the windshield to hold it from moving from side to side

 

I had no significant prior experience, I just read up on it and decided it was what I wanted to do.

 

It was not so "cheap" of an option. Material costs were probably higher than just a purchase but I don't like the fact that you could only get black vinyl that if used daily does not last very long.
I bought a walking foot sewing machine off of craigslist to sew up the sides.
In all a very good learning experience.

 

Very creative. It looks like it should keep you warm.

 

Very cool Ray, looks good! When are you going to sew in the windows

 

All real Jeeps are home made!

 

Windows are in I just need to finish the doors now.