Bestop Supertop,Windshield Angle & Misc.

[81CJ5Renegade]

As I'm increasing my list of things to work on, removing my seats and cleaning up the accumulated gunk from the underbody, axles and gear cases, I'm assessing what I need to do to successfully pull off a soft top replacement.

I mostly ride around in the warmer months (sometimes colder as well) with just the bikini top on and no doors. My OEM soft top is nearing death. After reviewing many (most?) of the past soft top posts, it seems the strong preference is the Bestop Supertop. So I'm headed in that direction for the colder months.

Here's the deal for me:

My old one piece soft doors fit the current angle of the windshield to the cowl. The measurement from just inside the top of the windshield to the outer edge of the body is 66". For the CJ5 , Bestop Supertop installation guide indicates this measurement should be 67 1/2". So, I need to change the angle to increase the spacing.

In all the posts I read, I did not really see a clear explanation on how to pull this off without too much angst. Maybe I missed that magical post. Any guidance, pictures, links to other sites with clear illustration would be greatly appreciated. I'd like to know what to do and what to purchase before I shell out the $ to buy the Supertop which is the way I'm leaning.

Second part of the question is that both new interior seats and the soft tops seem to be Limited to certain colors. My CJ5 is grayish (anyone know the exact color?) with blue interior and top. When I eventually have the body repainted, I'll be keeping the existing color and replacing the Renegade decals. Looks like I'll be switching to gray seats and a black denim top. I'd consider reupholstering the seats with the blue fabric that's available, but their pretty well shot after 32 years. Comments from the aesthetic style gurus would be welcome.

Thanks much in advance,

Bob

 

[Petescj]

It doesnt show up very good on the computer but I would think your color is Steel Gray Metallic. I vote on reuphoulstering the seats in blue or finding some ones that are blue and in decent shape. Good luck with that.

As far as moving the windshield Id recommend a new cowl gasket first if yours is as worn as mine was. After that I just added washers on the windshield brackets to shim it and move it forward. Im talking about the "Y" shaped brackets on both ends of the windshield frame. One bolt has a large knob on it.

 

[81CJ5Renegade]

I did find that Garage Pro has a blue seat, but apparently for a CJ7 ...doesn't indicate it would fit the CJ5 . Also, I was unable to locate a new rear seat in blue (my nieces and nephews like to ride in the back).

I'll keep looking for blue seats...now what about the top?

I'm always in need of more help! And I'm trying to keep the $ in the reasonable range.

 

[Petescj]

There shouldnt be any difference between a CJ5 / 7 seat. If the seat reclines it just wont recline as far in a CJ5 due to the rear wheel well being closer. The seat brackets are the same. Ive heard a few bad reviews on the Bestop Supertop since they moved their production to Mexico. The old one I had on my 78 CJ5 was pretty good even in the late stages of its life.

 

[Petescj]

And when looking for NOS parts like blue seats and such Ive found the Scrambler guys to be pretty helpful. Post a want ad over there if your looking .

Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler Forums

 

[TroyaCantrell]

Here's the deal for me:

My old one piece soft doors fit the current angle of the windshield to the cowl. The measurement from just inside the top of the windshield to the outer edge of the body is 66". For the CJ5 , Bestop Supertop installation guide indicates this measurement should be 67 1/2". So, I need to change the angle to increase the spacing.

In all the posts I read, I did not really see a clear explanation on how to pull this off without too much angst. Maybe I missed that magical post. Any guidance, pictures, links to other sites with clear illustration would be greatly appreciated. I'd like to know what to do and what to purchase before I shell out the $ to buy the Supertop which is the way I'm leaning.

Bob, I ran into the same problem with the top on my 6. The difficulty is that I really couldn't get all the correction that was required. A couple things that I ended up doing was to insert a shim in between the dash and the windshield. Sometimes depending on condition the rubber between the two breaks down and you loose that space. A metal shim, squat piece of steel, large washer will also work but you don't want that rubbing around in there. Shim both sides, too to keep it even. I had replaced my window hold downs with ones from advanced adapter and had to turn the bottom over to get the wholes to line up.

I also ended up cutting down the bow in the rear about an inch. It isn't perfect but looks pretty good now.

Also, wait until the weather warms up. Trying to install a cold vinyl top is hard. It will stretch over an inch when it warms up.

Before adjusting

 

[81CJ5Renegade]

Petescj,

Thanks for the paint chart. Checked the metal id plate for the paint code and it appears to be "1L". So that would make your supposition spot on.

I'll keep searching for other stuff.

Bob

 

[Petescj]

I wish I could help you out with finding the correct blue top. I wish somebody would start repro's of them. Theres some paint schemes out there that look great with a blue top and the right decals. Yours is a perfect example.

Petescj,

Thanks for the paint chart. Checked the metal id plate for the paint code and it appears to be "1L". So that would make your supposition spot on.

I'll keep searching for other stuff.

Bob

 

[81CJ5Renegade]

Petescj,

And Rugged Ridge also makes a blue front seat but no rear. Unfortunately when I pulled the old rear seat it was falling apart. That's how it goes sometime. I guess I could just live with a two-seater, but I would get demoted out of the "cool Uncle" category.

Bob

 

[81CJ5Renegade]

Troya,

Appreciate the feedback...it's beneficial to follow in the path of others who have encountered the issues and developed solutions. My hardware and door frames of the existing top are not totally shot, but I'd probably faint at what my canvas guy would charge me for a custom top. Looks like a compromise may be in my future.

Bob

 

[johnnyreb]

I've got the same problem with mine. We bought an 1980 with a brand new bestop on it, discovered the first rain that it rains inside too. the front of the doors hit the windshield frame. I currently installing a new cawl seal and i'm hoping it fixes the problem or i'll be shimming too. Glad to know the washer trick.

 

[TroyaCantrell]

The frames on the doors can also be manipulated (bent) to help aligned as well.

You want to be carful about the water getting inside, my PO stored the rig outside with holes in the top. The water went down the steering column and destroyed the steering box. Caused some other issues as well but that was the big one. Oh and the tool box under the passenger seat was just about the only thing that had rust, and it was bad.

 

[ChuckD]

Bob,

I have a 59 CJ5 and put a Best Top Super Top on it and love it. I also ran into the problem of windshield angle. The installation guide says to “shim the windshield to get the correct angle. However, I couldn’t find shims that would hold the windshield firmly at the correct angle without welding in some steal stock so I took a different route that worked very well for me. I made two simple brackets from ¼ inch steal flat stock that look like a squared off “C”. Then drilled and taped into my front roll cage and drilled through the top of the windshield surround. This allowed me to anchor my windshield to the front roll cage hoop. Now my windshield holds the correct angle and is as firm as the roll cage. This makes the top very stable and the windshield doesn’t move when doing some rough off road’n. Additionally, the doors fit perfectly. You can check out the pics I have posted and I’ll try to post some pics of the bracket I made in the next few days.

 

[johnnyreb]

I look forward to pics of your mounts and roll cage.

 

[81CJ5Renegade]

To ChuckD,

Thanks for the reply. Checked out your gallery. Rebuild looks great and I like the half doors the Supertop provides. Looking forward to your bracket pics as well.

Bob

 

[johnnyreb]

That's one thing I like about the bestop doors. instant half door.