Body hard top

[CJ7 81Jeff]

checking to see if anyone knows what other years/models hardtops will fit a 81 CJ7 ?

 

[TSB8C]

I believe '76 - '86 are the same. There are used ones all around, and even new with tinted glass and struts available for about $2,200 (Rally Tops). Now if only someone would make a "MyTop" powered convertible top for the CJ7 like they have for newer Jeeps. My Top

 

[Belizean]

That is pretty cool

 

[CJ]

YJ tops fit with some mods. -->> https://jeep-cj.com/community/threads/the-differences-between-a-cj7-and-a-yj-hardtop.3539/

 

[Waz80CJ7]

My newly acquired 1981 CJ7 hardtop is an inch or so wider than my 1980 CJ7 tub! Should it be? Will only 1976-1980 fit? Is this some kind of fiberglass droop? I thought only the track widened in 1981, not the tub and top.

 

[TSB8C]

Yea, no change in tub or top width from '80 to '81. You got something else going on there.

 

[CJ]

My newly acquired 1981 cj7 hardtop is an inch or so wider than my 1980 cj7 tub! Should it be? Will only 1976-1980 fit? Is this some kind of fiberglass droop? I thought only the track widened in 1981, not the tub and top.

Can you snap some images?

 

[Waz80CJ7]

I'll take some pic's tomorrow. Thanks for the Reponses

 

[CJ]

Great, we just want to help.

 

[R717]

Pictures would definitely be helpful. How are the gaps around the rear lift gate frame? My top flexed a lot one summer when i stored it on an unlevel woodpile, to the point i had to have someone push/hold it while I got the bolts into the tub. It came back into shape after being on the jeep.

 

[Waz80CJ7]

Alright I figured it out, with your unintended prodding. The latches on the back door had rusted so bad that they were pushing the bottom of the Top out. Removed the latches (lost a couple of Tork bits), removed the struts (they were locked solid). Removed ALL the soft top retaining pieces (new to me I wasn't sure what stayed, what went). And wrestled with the heavy a%% top for about an hour until it seated properly. Here's a finished picture.

 

[Waz80CJ7]

Sorry about the amateur file attachment. I don't know how to delete.

 

[TSB8C]

Woo-hoo!

 

[Waz80CJ7]

I don't see any new/repop liftgate struts online. Anyone know of any, or maybe another a set that would work on 1981 hard top?

 

[TSB8C]

Advanced Auto:
Part number: D4418; Collapsed 11" & Extended 17.2"; 40 LBS Rating
Part number: D4514; Collapsed 11" & Extended 17.2"; 55 LBS Rating

McMaster-Carr part number 4138t584

I also read that the struts from a '95 Tahoe work well.

But be careful on a fiberglass hatch. The original stock struts were designed to lift a steel hatch and might be too forceful for a fiberglass hatch.

 

[WHATROAD]

You can also try Rudy's jeep parts out of Ohio. He can be a little gruff on the phone but if you need it he probably has it

 

[Waz80CJ7]

Thanks, I'll let you know how it turns out. I see a lot of rusty pairs online.

 

[Waz80CJ7]

New struts are in. I used D4514. Thanks Senior Jeepers'!

For those Fab Challenged like me, I popped off the metal clips on the backside of the eyelets, Drilled the hole 1/2 inch and all the way through, removed the rubber washers with their metal sleeves from the liftgate bolts Bolts slid right into the new holes. Work great! I was tempted to reuse the metal sleeves but seems to work smoothly without.

 

[CJ]

Looks good and now you have a functional lift system!