Hardtop-Mod

[jbdoom87]

Anyone do anything cool? I'm interested in replacing my hardtop lift glass door with either a roll-up from a soft top or cab curtain. The problem is I don't know enough about the job as I dont have a soft or cab curtain nor do I know of anyone who does. Can anyone help me out with details of what this job would take? Thanks!! -Jason Any other cool mods anyone has done?

 

[Only in a Jeep CJ]

Probably not what your looking for, but my "mods" include an NOS AMC sunroof, a short roof rack from an XJ, and a 3 way dome light from a Trooper.






IF you decide to not run a rear liftgate and use a curtain instead, Id like to buy it if its in good shape.

 

[Tinman22]

I did not know amc ever put sunroofs in jeeps! I've got a sunroof in my hardtop and it looks exactly like yours. Is it possible it's oem? Or we're they for cars and found their way into jeeps? I was going to look for an uncut roof but now I want to keep it if it's a factory/dealer option.

 

[hdgapeach]

Good looking sunroof. Seeing yours reminded me of why I had to buy a new soft top for my CJ5 . The soft top that was on it when I bought it had a leaking sunroof. Same window style as all the plastic windows on the sides and back. Opened with a zipper just like the door windows.

Was that an original option from AMC? It was the first one I'd ever seen. The PO attempted to stop the leak with silicon caulk that looked like a heard of pigeons had spent the winter up there.

Vote once a day!

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

Good looking sunroof. Seeing yours reminded me of why I had to buy a new soft top for my CJ5 . The soft top that was on it when I bought it had a leaking sunroof. Same window style as all the plastic windows on the sides and back. Opened with a zipper just like the door windows.

Was that an original option from AMC? It was the first one I'd ever seen. The PO attempted to stop the leak with silicon caulk that looked like a heard of pigeons had spent the winter up there.

Vote once a day!

The soft top had a sunroof? You mean somone cut a huge hole in the fabric?

AMC had a sunroof, OnlyinaJeepCJ will know more but I think they were a dealer option.

There are also aftermarket kits available to convert to a sunroof currently
I think they have them on quadratec

 

[hdgapeach]

I honestly don't know if it was an original top or not. It matched the color of all the interior dead on. All the snaps lined up with the originals on the Jeep everywhere. It didn't look like it was a modification. If it was an add on, I'd love to meet the person that installed it! Looked factory to me.

The whole top was weather worn and was the first thing to be replaced when I got it home. Kinda wish I had some photos of it now. Back then, I didn't realize it as being rare but I know I've never seen another one. Wasn't a worth-while option in my opinion. It had a clear plastic window in the roof that would cook you in the bright sunlight every time the vehicle was sitting still.

I'm glad the seams started splitting. The Bestop Supertop was the best investment I have made for the CJ since I bought it. The new top is going on 14 years now and at the rate it's going, I'll get another 10 out of it. Of course by then a new replacement will be a thousand dollars by then.

 

[gr8dain]

You don't want a replacement Bestop anyway. The quality is in the toilet.


Dain

 

[hdgapeach]

Figures .

And I'm betting another manufacture's replacement top will require total replacement of all bracket and anchoring hardware.............just like the Bestop did when I installed it.

 

[gr8dain]

Just get a used one if you ever need to. I have just seen some cruddy QC since they moved production to Mexico. The good news is that the customer service is excellent and they will replace the bad stuff. You may just get more bad stuff in return.


Dain

 

[mtnwhlr]

So this thread started with how can I change the back of a hard top and has gone way off topic you want to talk hijack maybe we should get back to the original ?.

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

So this thread started with how can I change the back of a hard top and has gone way off topic you want to talk hijack maybe we should get back to the original ?.

I would just find a way to fix the lift gate. I can't imagine a curtain not looking incredibly "rigged" up and being very efficient at keeping out the elements

 

[gr8dain]

Ate you looking to do the mod just to be different? If so, I can appreciate that. If it is because the lift gate is broken, I agree with "ThisGuy" to just fix it.

Have you thought about making T-tops for the hard top? Or maybe a Targa style top? The fiberglass work would be beyond me, but it would be a challenge for sure.


Dain